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.

Researchers use 3D electron microscopy to unravel dense networks in the cerebral cortex

Unlike any other organ, our brains contain extremely densely packed networks of membranous cables that are used by our about 86 billion nerve cells for communication amongst each other.

24 Oct 2019

Unhealthy gut microbiome reduces brain synaptic pruning, impairs learning

A new study by Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University has come up with more explanations of how gut microbes communicate with the brain neurons. The study, published in the journal Nature on October 23, 2019, examined the brains of mouse models and found that when the gut microbiome is significantly reduced, there are changes in gene expression in the brain’s microglial cells.

24 Oct 2019

High-salt diet may trigger dementia

We’ve all heard that taking too much salt can damage your blood vessels, and now a new study published in the journal Nature on October 23, 2019, says it’s true – a diet rich in salt reduces the levels of nitric oxide, which in turn alters the tau protein within the neuron, triggering a fall in cognitive processing by the brain.

24 Oct 2019

Higher levels of chemicals in mothers' system during pregnancy linked to lower IQ in children

Exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy to mixtures of suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in consumer products is related to lower IQ in children by age 7, according to a study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Karlstad University, Sweden, published in Environment International in October.

24 Oct 2019

Study aims to learn more about silent infarction, cognitive decline linked to silent stroke

Can you have a stroke and not know it? Unfortunately, yes. It is a phenomenon called a silent stroke or, more formally, a silent cerebral infarction. Investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Stanford University want to learn more about silent strokes and their role in brain health, including dementia.

24 Oct 2019

Parents' behavior can have substantial impact on developing oxytocin systems in babies

Oxytocin is an extremely important hormone, involved in social interaction and bonding in mammals, including humans.

24 Oct 2019

Gene linked to schizophrenia likely confers risk for illness

Researchers have discovered in mice how one of the few genes definitively linked to schizophrenia, called SETD1A, likely confers risk for the illness. Mice genetically engineered to lack a functioning version of the enzyme-coding gene showed abnormalities in working memory, mimicking those commonly seen in schizophrenia patients.

24 Oct 2019

Researchers disprove long-standing theory of how human vision system processes images

Vision researchers at York University have disproved a long-standing theory of how the human vision system processes images, using computational models and human experiments.

24 Oct 2019

Researchers identify potential approach to stop growth of common brain tumor in children

University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have identified a potential approach to stop the growth of the most common type of brain tumor in children.

24 Oct 2019

Mon4t, Henry Ford Health System jointly launch pilot study related to AI and Parkinson's disease

Henry Ford Health System and Montfort, an Israeli startup specializing in neurological disorders, have launched a pilot study related to artificial intelligence (AI) and Parkinson's disease. In 2018, Mon4t was the winner of Henry Ford Innovations' first AI challenge

24 Oct 2019

$5 million in federal funding to accelerate potential treatments for urea cycle disorders

An international research consortium co-led by Andrea L. Gropman, M.D., at Children's National Hospital has received $5 million in federal funding as part of an overall effort to better understand rare diseases and accelerate potential treatments to patients.

24 Oct 2019

Mayo Clinic study explores patient privacy in MRI research

Though identifying data typically are removed from medical image files before they are shared for research, a Mayo Clinic study finds that this may not be enough to protect patient privacy.

24 Oct 2019

Detecting neurotransmitters at the lowest concentrations

Dopamine, serotonin, adrenalin... The smooth functioning of the human brain depends on their correct proportions. Any disturbances mean diseases.

24 Oct 2019

Researchers receive $9.7 million NIH grant to study TBI and neurodegenerative diseases

An international team of experts led by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Glasgow has been awarded a $9.7 million, five-year grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and National Institute for Aging to establish CONNECT-TBI--a program spanning 12 institutions which will study traumatic brain injury and related neurodegenerative diseases.

24 Oct 2019

Risk factors for unemployment with multiple sclerosis vary by age, study finds

A recent study by Kessler Foundation researchers explored numerous factors that contribute to the high unemployment rate among individuals of different ages with multiple sclerosis.

24 Oct 2019

Study seeks participants with VCFS-related psychosis to help create biobank of cerebral organoids

A landmark study is calling for at least 50 people in the U.S. with Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS)-related psychosis to provide blood samples to create the world’s largest VCFS biobank to date of tiny spheres of neural tissue called "cerebral organoids."

24 Oct 2019

Mindfulness meditation can boost positive long-term effects of psilocybin

Recent years have seen a renewed interest in the clinical application of classic psychedelics in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.

24 Oct 2019

PREDiCT: 4th Annual 3D Tissue Models discovery & development

During the 2019 edition of the PREDiCT: 3D Tissue Models Summit, we caught up with StemoniX ahead of their presentation to gain insight on their current work and future projects!

From PREDiCT 24 Oct 2019

Acetate derived from alcohol metabolism directly influences epigenetic regulation in the brain

Triggers in everyday life such as running into a former drinking buddy, walking by a once-familiar bar, and attending social gatherings can all cause recovering alcoholics to "fall off the wagon."

24 Oct 2019

Gulf War Illness and chronic fatigue syndrome are two very distinct diseases of the brain

Gulf War Illness (GWI) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) share symptoms of disabling fatigue, pain, systemic hyperalgesia (tenderness), negative emotion, sleep and cognitive dysfunction that are made worse after mild exertion (postexertional malaise).

23 Oct 2019

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Researchers use 3D electron microscopy to unravel dense networks in the cerebral cortex

Unhealthy gut microbiome reduces brain synaptic pruning, impairs learning

High-salt diet may trigger dementia

Higher levels of chemicals in mothers' system during pregnancy linked to lower IQ in children

Study aims to learn more about silent infarction, cognitive decline linked to silent stroke

Parents' behavior can have substantial impact on developing oxytocin systems in babies

Gene linked to schizophrenia likely confers risk for illness

Researchers disprove long-standing theory of how human vision system processes images

Researchers identify potential approach to stop growth of common brain tumor in children

Mon4t, Henry Ford Health System jointly launch pilot study related to AI and Parkinson's disease

$5 million in federal funding to accelerate potential treatments for urea cycle disorders

Mayo Clinic study explores patient privacy in MRI research

Detecting neurotransmitters at the lowest concentrations

Researchers receive $9.7 million NIH grant to study TBI and neurodegenerative diseases

Risk factors for unemployment with multiple sclerosis vary by age, study finds

Study seeks participants with VCFS-related psychosis to help create biobank of cerebral organoids

Mindfulness meditation can boost positive long-term effects of psilocybin

PREDiCT: 4th Annual 3D Tissue Models discovery & development

Acetate derived from alcohol metabolism directly influences epigenetic regulation in the brain

Gulf War Illness and chronic fatigue syndrome are two very distinct diseases of the brain

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd edition eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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