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.

McGill study finds new role of apolipoprotein E4 gene in Alzheimer’s disease

For years, physicians have been aware that patients carrying the apolipoprotein E4 (APOEε4) gene are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. New research from McGill University has now found the gene plays an even greater role in dementia.

21 Dec 2019

Genomic data can accurately and reliably predict stroke risk

Estimates based on genomic data predict stroke risk with an accuracy similar to, or greater than those based on clinical risk factors. This result implies that persons at high risk might benefit from more rigorous preventive measures.

21 Dec 2019

Researchers locate brain biomarkers for detecting Alzheimer's disease

From the detection of functional brain changes that occur during Alzheimer's Disease, a research team from the Complutense University of Madrid has located a set of biomarkers that could predict which patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment have a higher risk of developing dementia.

20 Dec 2019

Using artificial intelligence to disassemble hunting behavior of zebrafish into its components

What is the common ground between making a cup of tea and putting on your shoes? Both actions consist of several movements in a row.

20 Dec 2019

Could high cholesterol lead to motor neuron disease?

Researchers suggest that motor neuron disease may be linked to an abnormal build-up of cholesterol and other lipids within cellular compartments.

20 Dec 2019

New genetic score is similar or more predictive than common risk factors for stroke

A group of investigators from Australia, Germany, and the UK have shown that genetic data obtained from a single blood draw or saliva sample can be used to identify individuals at a 3-fold increased risk of developing ischemic stroke, a devastating condition and one of the leading causes of disability and death world-wide.

20 Dec 2019

Study: Number of e-cigarette users who began vaping at age 14 or younger has tripled

The number of e-cigarette users who began vaping at age 14 or younger has more than tripled in the last five years, say University of Michigan researchers.

20 Dec 2019

Aarhus University to open new research center focusing on Ear-EEG technology

Researchers at the Department of Engineering are world leaders in brain measurement via a special device fitted in the ear like a hearing aid.

20 Dec 2019

The brain’s temporal lobe is also an attention controlling area, shows study

As you read this line, you're bringing each word into clear view for a brief moment while blurring out the rest, perhaps even ignoring the roar of a leaf blower outside.

19 Dec 2019

Connection between herpes virus and Alzheimer’s refuted

A new study has shown that unlike previous claims, there is no association between getting herpes infections and developing Alzheimer’s disease. The study from the researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine was titled, “Are HHV-6A and HHV-7 really more abundant in Alzheimer’s disease?” and was published in the journal Neuron.

19 Dec 2019

Study hints why some melanomas more likely to spread

Usually starting as a blemish, skin cancer can quickly develop and spread to other parts of the body. The deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma proliferates rapidly through the lymph nodes, affecting important internal organs. The disease can be variable, wherein some cancer cells never metastasize to the blood and lymph nodes and throughout the body, while others, tend to metastasize.

19 Dec 2019

Experimental Zika vaccine improves fetal outcomes in rhesus macaque model

An experimental Zika vaccine lowered levels of virus in pregnant monkeys and improved fetal outcomes in a rhesus macaque model of congenital Zika virus infection, according to a new study in Science Translational Medicine.

19 Dec 2019

Study reveals how circadian rhythm changes the way mammals can see

How mammals perceive light changes between night and day. Researchers at Aalto University and the University of Helsinki discovered that mice were better at finding a dim light in pitch-darkness in experiments done at night time compared to ones done during the day time.

19 Dec 2019

Scientists develop a drink based on whey, pectin from Zostera seagrass and fruit juice

Scientists of the Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University have developed a drink rich in vitamins and minerals that based on whey, pectin from seagrass Zostera, and fruit juice or nectar.

19 Dec 2019

Genetics plays a role in the effects of long-term methamphetamine use

New research led by La Trobe University in Australia has uncovered genetic clues which could explain why some people have more severe side effects from long-term methamphetamine use than others.

19 Dec 2019

Medicinal cannabis substitute may help unlock new treatment for Parkinson's disease

A drug that provides the benefits obtained from medicinal cannabis without the "high" or other side effects may help to unlock a new treatment for Parkinson's disease.

19 Dec 2019

Declining dementia rates may be due to generational differences in lifetime lead exposure

To the medical community's surprise, several studies from the US, Canada, and Europe suggest a promising downward trend in the incidence and prevalence of dementia. Important risk factors for dementia, such as mid-life obesity and mid-life diabetes, have been increasing rapidly, so the decline in dementia incidence is particularly perplexing.

19 Dec 2019

Observing 3D Microscopic Images using Virtual Reality

Dr. Christopher Zugates discusses a revolutionary way of analyzing complex 3D images in protein biology… through virtual reality!

From arivis AG 19 Dec 2019

An innovative treatment for joint pain

Tired of living with painful arthritic knees, 54-year-old Deborah Brown's interest was piqued when she saw a recruitment flyer for a clinical trial on an innovative pain treatment at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

18 Dec 2019

Suppressing MSUT2 gene may protect people from Alzheimer’s disease

In the wake of recent disappointments over clinical trials targeting amyloid plaque build-up in Alzheimer's disease, researchers are focusing more attention on misfolded tau protein, another culprit in brain diseases that cause dementia.

18 Dec 2019