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.

Exosome treatment promotes remarkable stroke recovery in swine models

It's been almost a quarter century since the first drug was approved for stroke. But what's even more striking is that only a single drug remains approved today.

14 Jan 2020

Research suggests a new role for neurogenesis

The ability to create new neurons may exist as built-in protection for sensitive brain areas, according to research in mice recently published in JNeurosci.

From Society for Neuroscience 14 Jan 2020

Gut bacteria could protect against Parkinson’s, research suggests

A common bacteria that boosts digestive health can slow – and even reverse – build-up of a protein associated with Parkinson’s, new research suggests.

14 Jan 2020

Discovery could lead to new treatments for hypertension, dementia

A study led by researchers at UCL has discovered the mechanism that allows the brain to monitor its own blood supply, a finding in rats which may help to find new treatments for human conditions including hypertension (high blood pressure) and dementia.

14 Jan 2020

Loopholes limit new California law to guard against lofty air ambulance bills

Kathleen Hoechlin lost control as she crested a small jump on her final ski run of the day at California's Mammoth Mountain two years ago. She landed hard on her back, crushing one of the vertebra in her lower spine "like a Cheerio," she said.

14 Jan 2020

Study shows how insects adjust their physiological responses to gravity

If you jump out of bed too quickly, you might feel a bit light-headed. That's because when you're lying down, gravity causes your blood to pool in the lower parts of your body rather than in your brain.

13 Jan 2020

UPMC implants first patient in the U.S. with new wireless retinal device

UPMC has implanted the first patient in the United States with a new wireless retinal device as part of a clinical trial aimed at restoring partial sight to patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration, a disease that leads to permanent blindness.

13 Jan 2020

Critical Care Resuscitation Unit provides faster treatment, decreases patient's risk of death

Patients with acutely life-threatening health conditions who were treated in the innovative Critical Care Resuscitation Unit received faster treatment and had better health outcomes, including a 36 percent lower risk of dying than those who were transferred from a hospital's emergency department then evaluated and treated in a traditional intensive care unit, according to a recent study in the Journal of Emergency Medicine conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

13 Jan 2020

New study sheds light on storage and retrieval of hardwired long-term memory

Storing and retrieving memories is among the most important tasks our intricate brains must perform, yet how that happens at a molecular level remains incompletely understood.

13 Jan 2020

Maternal stress affects fetal brain development

A new study published online January 13, 2020, in the journal JAMA Pediatrics reports that mothers who suffer severe mental stress during pregnancy may have babies with abnormal development in important areas of the brain even before birth. It is already known that babies with congenital heart disease show abnormalities in brain growth and brain biochemical reactions.

13 Jan 2020

Health benefits of a 'Dry January'

A new year often means a list of resolutions for change, such as abstaining from drinking alcohol, stopping smoking, or living a healthier lifestyle. For one, “Dry January” has become immensely popular because it motivates people to abstain from drinking alcohol for 30 days, at least.

13 Jan 2020

Researchers successfully identify mechanism that can contribute to clot formation

Most people are familiar with turbulence in aviation: certain wind conditions cause a bumpy passenger flight. But even within human blood vessels, blood flow can be turbulent. Turbulence can appear when blood flows along vessel bends or edges, causing an abrupt change in flow velocity.

13 Jan 2020

Study provides insights into the role of dACC region in motivated control processes

Humans control their behavior in numerous ways, from stopping the urge pick at a scab to resisting the impulse to eat an entire box of chocolates.

13 Jan 2020

Neuroimaging study reveals structural changes in the brain of migraine patients

A neuroimaging study recently published in the journal Cephalalgia, the official journal of the International Headache Society, shared more evidence of structural changes in the brain of migraine patients.

13 Jan 2020

Using caffeine to study how the brain processes information

Researchers are using caffeine to study how the brain processes information, and a new study shows the effectiveness of this approach.

13 Jan 2020

Study shows link between lead exposure risk and brain structure in children

Though leaded gas and lead-based paint were banned decades ago, the risk of lead exposure is far from gone. A new study led by Elizabeth Sowell, PhD, shows that living in neighborhoods with high risk of lead exposure is associated with differences in brain structure and cognitive performance in some children.

13 Jan 2020