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.

Molecular processes underlying communication between gut microbes and brain cells revealed

New cellular and molecular processes underlying communication between gut microbes and brain cells have been described for the first time by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell's Ithaca campus.

23 Oct 2019

New NPO formed to accelerate development of therapies for Shankopathies

Parents of children affected by Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) announce the formation of CureSHANK, a nonprofit organization on a mission to accelerate drug development in PMS and other diseases related to the SHANK genes for which there are currently no FDA approved treatments.

23 Oct 2019

Rutgers professor discusses children’s vulnerabilities to pesticides and how to reduce exposure

Studies show that exposure to pesticides – specifically those containing chlorpyrifos, which attack an insect's nervous system – can harm a child's physical and mental development.

23 Oct 2019

Novel agent reduces buildup of toxic proteins in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's animal models

Neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center say they have developed and tested an agent that reduces the buildup of toxic proteins in animal models of both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and improves cognitive and motor behavior.

23 Oct 2019

SLU research halts toxic protein linked to muscular dystrophy in animal models

There is no cure or treatment for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, an illness that starts with facial, shoulder and upper arm weakness and eventually affects nearly all skeletal muscles of those with the disease.

23 Oct 2019

New portable system could allow for better detection of unilateral spatial neglect

Imagine struggling to see, listen, or make movements in half of your environment. This is typical for individuals who suffer from unilateral spatial neglect, a common post-stroke deficit of attention to objects or events on the side opposite of the brain injury. The condition has a major impact on the everyday lives of stroke survivors and has shown to be a strong predictor of disability.

23 Oct 2019

High levels of dietary salt can activate a brain pathway to cause cognitive impairment

High levels of dietary salt can activate a pathway in the brain to cause cognitive impairment, according to a new study. The paper, which was published in Nature, shows that this effect is not due to a loss in blood flow to the brain as originally thought, but rather to clumps of a protein linked to several forms of dementia in humans.

23 Oct 2019

MIT neuroscientists find a way to reverse noise hypersensitivity in mice

People with autism often experience hypersensitivity to noise and other sensory input. MIT neuroscientists have now identified two brain circuits that help tune out distracting sensory information, and they have found a way to reverse noise hypersensitivity in mice by boosting the activity of those circuits.

23 Oct 2019

Mung bean protein supplement can improve physical strength without exercise, study shows

People have a number of reasons for adopting plant-based diets, from improving their health to concerns about animal treatment to a desire to minimize their carbon footprint. But there is one good reason to be mindful of how they do so: the possibility of becoming nutrient deficient.

23 Oct 2019

Zebrafish study provides new insights into the cause of congenital hearing disorders

A study of the genetic make-up of zebrafish has provided brand new insights into the cause of congenital hearing disorders in humans.

23 Oct 2019

Discovery sheds light on TNFα protein's role in impairing memory in Alzheimer's disease

Otago scientists have made an important discovery in understanding the role a particular protein plays to impair memory in Alzheimer's disease, which could lead to more effective treatment in future.

23 Oct 2019

Sanford Burnham Prebys scientist receives $3.58 million to advance treatment for opioid-use disorders

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, awarded a $3.58 million grant to Sanford Burnham Prebys scientist Anthony Pinkerton, Ph.D., to advance a potential treatment for opioid-use disorders, called SBI-553.

23 Oct 2019

UCLA-led study finds brain injury as cause of dementia in some older adults

A UCLA-led study finds that, with the use of MRI scans, it is possible to distinguish between memory loss caused by Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury.

23 Oct 2019

New approach to treating high blood pressure

The key to treating blood pressure might lie in people who are “resistant” to developing high blood pressure even when they eat high salt diets, shows new research published in Experimental Physiology.

23 Oct 2019

Half the drugs in use damage gut bacteria, says new study

A startling presentation at UEG Week 2019, in Barcelona, reveals that the gut microbiome is at high risk for damage each time we use a drug from one or more of 18 commonly used groups. The effects may range from changes in the relative proportions of different beneficial and potentially harmful species to alterations in the cellular metabolism of the bacteria themselves.

23 Oct 2019

Dementia patients’ adult kids develop symptoms six years earlier than their parents

A person's chance of developing dementia is influenced by family history, variations in certain genes, and medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. But less is known about the factors that affect when the first symptoms of forgetfulness and confusion will arise.

22 Oct 2019

More brain pathology and hospitalizations associated with faster rate of cognitive decline

Older people who experienced more hospitalizations and also had more Alzheimer's pathology in their brain experienced the fastest rates of cognitive decline, according to study results published in the October 15 online issue of the Annals of Neurology.

22 Oct 2019

Link between pregnancy stress, immune activation, and postpartum depression

A new study presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting on October 19, 2019, at Chicago, shows for the first time how postpartum depression could actually be due to abnormal immune system activation within the brain, which in turn is set off by chronic pregnancy stress. This is the earliest study to show this link in animals.

22 Oct 2019

Link found between unique brain cells and OCD, anxiety

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 3 people experience debilitating anxiety - the kind that prevents someone from going about their normal life.

22 Oct 2019

Neural mechanism could help explain how the brain creates memories of episodes

The memory of specific episodes is the base of autobiographical memory, but we do not know how the brain structures the experience to remember it in the long run.

22 Oct 2019

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Molecular processes underlying communication between gut microbes and brain cells revealed

New NPO formed to accelerate development of therapies for Shankopathies

Rutgers professor discusses children’s vulnerabilities to pesticides and how to reduce exposure

Novel agent reduces buildup of toxic proteins in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's animal models

SLU research halts toxic protein linked to muscular dystrophy in animal models

New portable system could allow for better detection of unilateral spatial neglect

High levels of dietary salt can activate a brain pathway to cause cognitive impairment

MIT neuroscientists find a way to reverse noise hypersensitivity in mice

Mung bean protein supplement can improve physical strength without exercise, study shows

Zebrafish study provides new insights into the cause of congenital hearing disorders

Discovery sheds light on TNFα protein's role in impairing memory in Alzheimer's disease

Sanford Burnham Prebys scientist receives $3.58 million to advance treatment for opioid-use disorders

UCLA-led study finds brain injury as cause of dementia in some older adults

New approach to treating high blood pressure

Half the drugs in use damage gut bacteria, says new study

Dementia patients’ adult kids develop symptoms six years earlier than their parents

More brain pathology and hospitalizations associated with faster rate of cognitive decline

Link between pregnancy stress, immune activation, and postpartum depression

Link found between unique brain cells and OCD, anxiety

Neural mechanism could help explain how the brain creates memories of episodes

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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