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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.

Flickering light triggers the brain to release signaling chemicals that may help fight Alzheimer's

For over a century, Alzheimer's disease has confounded all attempts to treat it. But in recent years, perplexing experiments using flickering light have shown promise.

4 Feb 2020

Mixing up your workout routine may provide health benefits

Change is good - even when it comes to exercising. Did you know that altering the intensity of your workout or trying a new activity may benefit your cardiovascular and mental health?

3 Feb 2020

Study provides neurobiological insight into how yoga may help to alleviate depression

The benefits of yoga have been widely documented by scientific research, but previously it was not clear as to how yoga exerts its physiologic effect.

3 Feb 2020

Scientists shed new light on neuronal circuits that acquire and update voluntary actions

Two types of neuronal circuit in the brain that acquire and update voluntary actions are much more intertwined than previously thought.

3 Feb 2020

Study identifies brain and social factors underlying racial, ethnic disparities in pain

In her Social and Cultural Neuroscience Lab at the University of Miami, assistant professor of Psychology Elizabeth Losin investigates the mechanisms underlying racial and ethnic disparities related to pain and pain treatment.

3 Feb 2020

Novel approach may offer a more effective way to eradicate colorectal cancer cells

A novel approach to reverse the progression of healthy cells to malignant ones may offer a more effective way to eradicate colorectal cancer cells with far fewer side effects, according to a team of researchers based in South Korea.

3 Feb 2020

Blood test can be used to gauge a person's risk for cerebral small vessel disease

A UCLA-led study has found that levels of six proteins in the blood can be used to gauge a person's risk for cerebral small vessel disease, or CSVD, a brain disease that affects an estimated 11 million older adults in the U.S. CSVD can lead to dementia and stroke, but currently it can only be diagnosed with an MRI scan of the brain.

3 Feb 2020

New compound prevents amyloid formation to fight Alzheimer’s disease

It is known that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain. A novel compound shows promise in preventing amyloid formation, fighting Alzheimer’s disease development.

3 Feb 2020

Plant-based diet may lower risk for heart disease

Eating a high protein diet may heighten one’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, hypertension, and stroke, a new study by researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine, found.

3 Feb 2020

Regular aerobic exercise could enhance cognitive functions in adults at risk for Alzheimer’s

Individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of family history or genetic predisposition who engaged in six months of aerobic exercise training improved their brain glucose metabolism and higher-order thinking abilities (e.g., planning and mental flexibility) called executive function; these improvements occurred in conjunction with increased cardiorespiratory fitness.

3 Feb 2020

UTHealth receives $3 million grant to provide specialized training to infant and toddler teachers

The Children's Learning Institute at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has received a $3 million grant to teach the latest child development strategies to more than 850 infant and toddler specialists and teachers working in at-risk communities in the Lone Star State.

3 Feb 2020

Researchers receive $1 million grant to study effects of bacteria on the brain

With a $1 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation, neuroscience researchers at Washington State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst will explore whether variations in brain levels of bacterial fragments can account for life's sleep/wake and 24-hour cycles, known as circadian rhythms.

3 Feb 2020

New noninvasive way to monitor the health of brain cells using an infrared laser

With no way to reliably tell whether an athlete has a concussion, many may be playing with an undiagnosed injury. Likewise, 2 million people die every year because we don't have an early warning when brain cells are dying--and another 4 million experience cognitive disabilities.

3 Feb 2020

UTHSC researchers receive $1.98 million grant for novel approach to studying diabetes

A team of researchers in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's College of Medicine has been awarded a $1.98 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, a division of the National Institutes of Health, for a novel approach to studying diabetes.

3 Feb 2020

Reduced scar formation in the central nervous system

Neural stem and progenitor cells, from the so-called subventricular zone, can help to repair a brain damaged by central nervous system disorders.

3 Feb 2020

Brain imaging has limited applicability in evaluating defendant's sanity

Sophisticated brain imaging, like an MRI, has limited applicability in assessing a defendant's sanity, investigators say.

3 Feb 2020

Plant flavonols significantly reduce Alzheimer’s risk

A new study published in the journal Neurology in January 2020 concludes that increasing the intake of plant flavonols steeply reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) by up to a half. In other words, AD could be prevented in many people simply by regularly eating more of foods containing these compounds such as tea, oranges and broccoli.

2 Feb 2020

Daily alcohol consumption ages brain

There are several studies looking at the effects of alcohol intake on the brain. Anew study adds to the existing knowledge. The large study with around 11,651 participants from United Kingdom shows that each gram of alcohol consumed could lead to around a week of aging of the brain.

2 Feb 2020

Pheromone darcin changes brains of female mice

Pheromones are chemicals that animals produce to change the behavior of another animal of the same species. Many species use these chemicals to communicate information about the location, sexual, and social status of potential partners. A team of researchers from Columbia University may have unlocked how the pheromone darcin, aids in attracting mice of the opposite sex.

2 Feb 2020

Fragrances can enhance learning during sleep, shows new study

Effortless learning during sleep is the dream of many people. The supportive effect of smells on learning success when presented both during learning and sleep was first proven in an extensive sleep laboratory study.

31 Jan 2020

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Flickering light triggers the brain to release signaling chemicals that may help fight Alzheimer's

Mixing up your workout routine may provide health benefits

Study provides neurobiological insight into how yoga may help to alleviate depression

Scientists shed new light on neuronal circuits that acquire and update voluntary actions

Study identifies brain and social factors underlying racial, ethnic disparities in pain

Novel approach may offer a more effective way to eradicate colorectal cancer cells

Blood test can be used to gauge a person's risk for cerebral small vessel disease

New compound prevents amyloid formation to fight Alzheimer’s disease

Plant-based diet may lower risk for heart disease

Regular aerobic exercise could enhance cognitive functions in adults at risk for Alzheimer’s

UTHealth receives $3 million grant to provide specialized training to infant and toddler teachers

Researchers receive $1 million grant to study effects of bacteria on the brain

New noninvasive way to monitor the health of brain cells using an infrared laser

UTHSC researchers receive $1.98 million grant for novel approach to studying diabetes

Reduced scar formation in the central nervous system

Brain imaging has limited applicability in evaluating defendant's sanity

Plant flavonols significantly reduce Alzheimer’s risk

Daily alcohol consumption ages brain

Pheromone darcin changes brains of female mice

Fragrances can enhance learning during sleep, shows new study

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