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.

Blast exposure can cause intestinal permeability, study shows

A study by New York and Rocky Mountain U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs researchers showed blast exposure can cause intestinal permeability, a condition that can lead to gut bacteria entering the bloodstream and causing problems in other parts of the body.

5 Apr 2024

Mitochondrial fusion critical for adult neurogenesis and brain circuit refinement

Nerve cells (neurons) are amongst the most complex cell types in our body. They achieve this complexity during development by extending ramified branches called dendrites and axons and establishing thousands of synapses to form intricate networks.

5 Apr 2024

Smell relies more on predictions than sight or hearing

The sense of smell is highly influenced by the cues from other senses, while the sense of sight and hearing are affected to a much lesser extent, shows a new study in Journal of Neuroscience.

5 Apr 2024

Neuroscientists identify age-defying RNAs in the brain

Certain RNA molecules in the nerve cells in the brain last a life time without being renewed. Neuroscientists from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have now demonstrated that this is the case together with researchers from Germany, Austria and the USA.

5 Apr 2024

Human neuron model identifies potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease

Weill Cornell Medicine scientists have developed an innovative human neuron model that robustly simulates the spread of tau protein aggregates in the brain-;a process that drives cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia.

5 Apr 2024

UC San Diego researchers discover genetic connections to alcohol consumption

A research group centered at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has drilled deep into a dataset of over 3 million individuals compiled by the direct-to-consumer genetics company 23andMe, Inc., and found intriguing connections between genetic factors influencing alcohol consumption and their relationship with other disorders.

5 Apr 2024

Adeno-associated virus: The gene therapy revolution faces manufacturing and safety hurdles

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based genetic applications to treat human diseases.

5 Apr 2024

Feeling lonely? It may affect how your brain reacts to food, new research suggests

The associations between individuals’ perceived levels of social isolation and brain patterns related to food cues.

5 Apr 2024

Hypertension linked to higher dementia risk in middle-aged patients

Study investigates the relationship between hypertension in middle-aged individuals and the increased risk of developing dementia, utilizing the CAIDE score for dementia risk prediction in a cohort of white Argentinian hypertensive patients.

4 Apr 2024

Unlocking the secrets of long-lived RNAs in brain cells

After two decades in the United States, Martin Hetzer returned home to Austria in 2023 to become the 2nd President of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA).

4 Apr 2024

Discovery of a fundamental biological mechanism opens path for novel therapies

The lab of Yongchao C. Ma, PhD, at Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago discovered a fundamental biological mechanism that could lead to new treatments for neurological diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and autism, as well as different cancers.

4 Apr 2024

Mayo Clinic research shows health benefits of active workstations

A recent Mayo Clinic study suggests that active workstations incorporating a walking pad, bike, stepper and/or standing desk are successful strategies for reducing sedentary time and improving mental cognition at work without reducing job performance.

4 Apr 2024

Interferon-beta deficiency alters brain response in neuroHIV mouse model

NeuroHIV refers to the effects of HIV infection on the brain or central nervous system and, to some extent, the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.

4 Apr 2024

Unlocking role of the cerebellum in reward-based learning

If you reward a monkey with some juice, it will learn which hand to move in response to a specific visual cue – but only if the cerebellum is functioning properly.

4 Apr 2024

UCL and Oxford lead major dementia diagnosis trials

Thousands of people in the UK are to take part in countrywide trials to identify accurate and quick blood tests that can diagnose dementia, led by research teams at UCL and Dementias Platform UK, based at the University of Oxford.

4 Apr 2024

Using brain organoids to unlock TBI's link to dementia and ALS

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can quadruple your risk for developing dementia and increase your chances of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS.

4 Apr 2024

SRF announces grant to support research on SynGAP-Related Disorder in adults

The SynGAP Research Fund 501(c) today announced a grant to Dr. Danielle Andrade, Dr. Miles Thompson, Dr. Ryan Yuen, Dr. Rogier Kerssebook, and Dr. Anatoljevna Anna Kattentidt to support research on SynGAP-Related Disorder (SRD) in adults.

4 Apr 2024

From gut to mind: Exploring prebiotics and probiotics as dual fighters against depression and obesity

The interactions between depression and nutrition, coupled with exercise.

4 Apr 2024

Study identifies genetic variants with profound impact on obesity risk

A study led by Medical Research Council (MRC) researchers has identified genetic variants in two genes that have some of the largest impacts on obesity risk discovered to date.

4 Apr 2024

Metabolic markers tied to increased risk of depression and anxiety, study finds

Comprehensive study within a large Swedish cohort links elevated glucose and triglyceride levels to an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, while higher HDL-C levels seem protective, suggesting a significant connection between metabolic health and psychiatric conditions.

3 Apr 2024