Brain Cell News and Research

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Study shows astrocytes as breeding grounds of SARS-CoV-2 during brain infection

Researchers evidenced the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human brain, infecting astrocytes and impairing neuronal function and viability.

15 Aug 2022

Novel AI tools accurately predict the role of DNA’s regulatory elements

Newly developed artificial intelligence (AI) programs accurately predicted the role of DNA's regulatory elements and three-dimensional (3D) structure based solely on its raw sequence, according to two recent studies in Nature Genetics.

9 Aug 2022

Women with a history of preeclampsia have increased markers of brain cell damage, inflammation

Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and kidney damage.

3 Aug 2022

Timothy Huang receives $2.8 million to continue research on Alzheimer's disease

Timothy Huang, Ph.D., has been awarded $2.8 million by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to continue his work on Alzheimer's disease.

2 Aug 2022

Newly developed nanobodies could eventually be used to treat neurocognitive disorders

Proteins called antibodies help the immune system find and attack foreign pathogens. Mini versions of antibodies, called nanobodies — natural compounds in the blood of animals such as llamas and sharks — are being studied to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer.

1 Aug 2022

Newly developed nanobody can get through tough brain cells and treat Parkinson’s disease

Proteins called antibodies help the immune system find and attack foreign pathogens. Mini versions of antibodies, called nanobodies -; natural compounds in the blood of animals such as llamas and sharks -; are being studied to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer.

28 Jul 2022

Genes underlying cigarette smoking linked to the perception of pain and response to food

Have you ever wondered why one person can smoke cigarettes for a year and easily quit, while another person will become addicted for life? Why can't some people help themselves from abusing alcohol and others can take it or leave it?

20 Jul 2022

Gene defect underlying Krabbe disease causes degeneration of neurons directly, study finds

The gene defect underlying Krabbe disease causes degeneration of neurons directly, independent of its effects on other cell types, according to a new study publishing July 5th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Daesung Shin of the University at Buffalo, U.S. and colleagues.

5 Jul 2022

Chemical-based sequencing method to efficiently study DNA methylation

One way cells can control the activities of their genes is by adding small chemical modifications to the DNA that determine which genes are turned on or off.

1 Jul 2022

Researchers discover two important novel aspects of APOE4 gene in Alzheimer's patients

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia, affecting more than 5.8 million individuals in the U.S.

23 Jun 2022

New study in mice shows alternate origins of plaques in Alzheimer’s disease

A breakdown in how brain cells rid themselves of waste precedes the buildup of debris-filled plaques known to occur in Alzheimer's disease, a new study in mice shows.

2 Jun 2022

Researchers identify chemical compound that may short-circuit brain cell death in Parkinson's disease

In studies in mice, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have identified a chemical compound that stops the final events in the pathway linked to the death of brain cells in Parkinson's disease.

1 Jun 2022

New therapeutic approach harnesses the body's immune system to protect against brain damage

A therapeutic method for harnessing the body's immune system to protect against brain damage is published today by researchers from the Babraham Institute's Immunology research program.

27 May 2022

UCLA researchers discover key molecular mechanism behind memory linking

Our brains rarely record single memories-;instead, they store memories into groups so that the recollection of one significant memory triggers the recall of others connected by time.

25 May 2022

Study uncovers a possible mechanism that links cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's

For more than 20 years, scientists have known that people with hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, or obesity have a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease.

25 May 2022

‘Sting’ protein’s response to clean up damaged brain cells may accelerate Parkinson’s disease progression

In studies with mouse and human tissue, as well as live mice, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that a snag in the normal process of cleaning up broken DNA in brain cells may hasten the progression of Parkinson's disease.

19 May 2022

Exercise increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor which bolsters dopamine release

Exercise increases levels of a chemical involved in brain cell growth, which bolsters the release of the "feel good" hormone dopamine, a new study shows. Dopamine is known to play a key role in movement, motivation, and learning.

16 May 2022

Research describes how DNA damage can affect neural health and function

A new research paper in the journal EMBO Reports describes how DNA damage can affect neural health and function.

12 May 2022

Tufts scientists discover a previously unknown function performed by astrocytes

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine have discovered a previously unknown function performed by a type of cell that comprises nearly half of all cells in the brain.

28 Apr 2022

Abnormalities in astrocytes may play a key role in causing autism spectrum disorder symptoms

Abnormalities in a type of brain cell called astrocytes may play a pivotal role in causing some behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, according to a preclinical study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

21 Apr 2022