Brain News and Research

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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

New eye scan could aid in early detection of autism

A new eye scan could help identify autism in children years earlier than currently possible.

21 Feb 2020

Using 'mini-brains' to detect harmful neurodevelopmental effects of antidepressant

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have demonstrated the use of stem-cell-derived "mini-brains" to detect harmful side effects of a common drug on the developing brain.

21 Feb 2020

Researchers discover new mechanism involved in the expression of Down syndrome

Researchers at CHU Sainte-Justine and Université de Montréal have discovered a new mechanism involved in the expression of Down syndrome, one of the main causes of intellectual disability and congenital heart defects in children.

21 Feb 2020

Simulation-based training helps doctors deliver bad news more effectively to patients

We've all feared hearing a doctor say, "We need to talk." It's even scarier if the physician is robotic, speaks in jargon or isn't clear about next steps.

21 Feb 2020

New drug offers hope for preserving brain cells for a time after stroke

After 50 years of research and the testing of over 1,000 drugs, there is new hope for preserving brain cells for a time after stroke.

21 Feb 2020

Faster stroke treatment in specialized ambulances reduces patients' disability

Treating stroke patients in specialized ambulances speeds treatment and reduces patients' disability, according to late breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2020.

21 Feb 2020

Researchers decode the science behind good lighting

Researchers at UW Medicine have decoded what makes good lighting - lighting capable of stimulating the cone photoreceptor inputs to specific neurons in the eye that regulate circadian rhythms.

20 Feb 2020

Using a simple model to study how serotonin modulates behavior

In popular experience the story of how serotonin modulates the brain might seem simple: pop an antidepressant, serotonin levels go up, mood improves. But neuroscientists acknowledge how little they know about how the neurotransmitter affects circuits and behavior in the incredibly complex human brain.

20 Feb 2020

Finding new clues to combat glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is an aggressive, killer disease. While victims of this fast-moving brain tumor comprise only about 15% of all people with brain cancer, its victims rarely survive more than a few years after diagnosis.

20 Feb 2020

New Endothelial Cell Atlas can be used to improve treatments for many diseases

New surprising knowledge on endothelial cells in a dozen different murine tissues is now available in an open access, user-friendly, database for professionals.

20 Feb 2020

Lower dose of clot-busting agent may reduce the need for mechanical clot removal in stroke patients

New research confirms that the lower 0.25 mg/kg dose of the clot-busting agent tenecteplase is appropriate for eligible stroke patients and can reduce the need for mechanical clot removal, according to late breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2020.

20 Feb 2020

Therapeutic hypothermia effectively targets brain injury sites

When a newborn suffers lack of oxygen before or during birth, doctors have very little time to save precious brain tissue.

20 Feb 2020

Hispanics/Latinos underrepresented in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease

A University of Houston researcher is working to increase health literacy among Hispanics/Latinos when it comes to Alzheimer's disease.

20 Feb 2020

What the western diet is doing to your brain

The Western Pattern Diet (WPD) or also known as the Standard American Diet (SAD) is a modern-day style diet that mostly contains high amounts of processed foods, red meat, high-fat dairy products, high-sugar foods, and pre-packaged foods, that increase the risk of chronic illness.

20 Feb 2020

Intracranial stent appears to be safe and effective for reducing recurrent stroke risk

A brain stent appears safe and effective for reducing the risk of recurrent stroke in patients with cholesterol-clogged brain arteries, according to late breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2020.

20 Feb 2020

Wearable magnetic brain stimulation device could improve motor function in stroke patients

A non-invasive, wearable, magnetic brain stimulation device could improve motor function in stroke patients, according to preliminary late breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2020.

20 Feb 2020

MD Anderson collaborates with Denali Therapeutics to advance novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced a strategic research collaboration with Denali Therapeutics Inc. to develop novel therapies for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

20 Feb 2020

Patients taking antidepressants for years likely to face dangerous withdrawal symptoms

Patients who have taken antidepressants for years should consider coming off the medication. However, researchers say they will likely face difficult and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms due to a physical dependence.

20 Feb 2020

Language may be a promising biomarker for progression of Hungtinton's disease

Huntington's disease is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by a gene of chromosome 4 that affects a very important area of the brain, the striatum. People are born with the defective gene but symptoms do not appear until the age of 30 or 40.

20 Feb 2020

Researchers design new drug cocktail to kill brain and soft tissue cancers

Researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering have designed a new drug cocktail that kills some types of brain and soft tissue cancers by tricking the cancer cells to behave as if they were starving for their favorite food--glucose.

20 Feb 2020