Brain News and Research

RSS

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.

Study identifies critical neurological factor in aggression

Pathological rage can be blocked in mice, researchers have found, suggesting potential new treatments for severe aggression, a widespread trait characterized by sudden violence, explosive outbursts and hostile overreactions to stress.

20 Jun 2012

Tai Chi increases brain volume and improves memory and thinking in Chinese seniors

Scientists from the University of South Florida and Fudan University in Shanghai found increases in brain volume and improvements on tests of memory and thinking in Chinese seniors who practiced Tai Chi three times a week, reports an article published today in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

20 Jun 2012

Researchers unlock structure of STING protein

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have unlocked the structure of a key protein that, when sensing certain viruses and bacteria, triggers the body's immediate immune response.

20 Jun 2012

Study reveals critical aspect of how frontopolar cortex contributes to decision making

Researchers at the University of Iowa, together with colleagues from the California Institute of Technology and New York University, have discovered how a part of the brain helps predict future events from past experiences. The work sheds light on the function of the front-most part of the frontal lobe, known as the frontopolar cortex, an area of the cortex uniquely well developed in humans in comparison with apes and other primates.

20 Jun 2012

HealthSouth to acquire 36-bed inpatient adult rehabilitation unit of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa

HealthSouth Corporation announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire the 36-bed inpatient adult rehabilitation unit of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical Center.

20 Jun 2012

AUA Foundation introduces It's Time to Talk About OAB campaign

On the heels of the fourth annual World Continence Week, the American Urological Association (AUA) Foundation has launched "It's Time to Talk About OAB," a nationwide education campaign designed to elevate awareness of Overactive Bladder (OAB), a common, yet often untreated condition, as a public health issue.

20 Jun 2012

New approach to decipher roles of genes associated with autism

Fish cannot display symptoms of autism, schizophrenia or other human brain disorders. However, a team of MIT biologists has shown that zebrafish can be a useful tool for studying the genes that contribute to such disorders.

20 Jun 2012

Positive results from Zalicus Z944 Phase 1 SAD clinical study for chronic inflammatory pain

Zalicus Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel treatments for patients suffering from pain and immuno-inflammatory diseases, announced that it is has successfully completed a Phase 1 single ascending dose (SAD) clinical study with Z944, its novel, oral, T-type calcium channel blocker.

19 Jun 2012

FDA, EMA grant orphan drug designation to bluebird bio's gene therapy product for adrenoleukodystrophy

bluebird bio, a leader in the development of innovative gene therapies for severe genetic disorders, announced today that both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have granted an orphan drug designation to its investigational gene therapy product for the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).

19 Jun 2012

e-Therapeutics commences enrollment in ETS2101 phase I trial for brain cancer

e-Therapeutics plc announces the start of the first clinical trial evaluating its compound ETS2101 as a treatment for cancer. The phase I trial is enrolling patients with primary brain cancer (glioma) or cancer that has spread to the brain from other sites.

19 Jun 2012

Simple sponge may hold clues about the evolution of the complex nervous system

UC Santa Barbara scientists turned to the simple sponge to find clues about the evolution of the complex nervous system and found that, but for a mechanism that coordinates the expression of genes that lead to the formation of neural synapses, sponges and the rest of the animal world may not be so distant after all.

19 Jun 2012

AFAR announces new Collaborative Research Awards Program in Alzheimer's Disease

The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) announced today a new grant program that will support collaboration among young scientists from different scientific disciplines, to help tackle some of the most vexing questions about Alzheimer's disease.

19 Jun 2012

Improving outcomes for children with acquired brain injuries a significant challenge

Outcomes for children with brain injury acquired during childhood are difficult to predict and vary significantly, states an analysis of evidence on the topic published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

19 Jun 2012

Difficult childhood affects brain development and can increase risk of adolescent crimes

The legal system needs to take greater account of new discoveries in neuroscience that show how a difficult childhood can affect the development of a young person's brain which can increase the risk adolescent crimes, according to researchers. The research will be presented as part of an Economic and Social Research Council seminar series in conjunction with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

19 Jun 2012

LDL particles may be a more accurate measure of early-stage atherosclerosis

LipoScience, Inc., today announced publication of a clinical study in the current issue of Atherosclerosis suggesting that low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles may be a more accurate measure of early-stage (subclinical) atherosclerosis than LDL cholesterol among retired National Football League (NFL) players.

19 Jun 2012

Single-dose vaccine for treatment of cocaine addiction

A single-dose vaccine capable of providing immunity against the effects of cocaine offers a novel and groundbreaking strategy for treating cocaine addiction is described in an article published Instant Online in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

19 Jun 2012

Implanted device delivers genetically engineered neurotrophic factor directly to the brain

Studies suggest that neurotrophic factors, which play a role in the development and survival of neurons, have significant therapeutic and restorative potential for neurologic diseases such as Huntington's disease. However, clinical applications are limited because these proteins cannot easily cross the blood brain barrier, have a short half-life, and cause serious side effects.

19 Jun 2012

Brain News and Research

Further Reading

Study identifies critical neurological factor in aggression

Tai Chi increases brain volume and improves memory and thinking in Chinese seniors

Researchers unlock structure of STING protein

Study reveals critical aspect of how frontopolar cortex contributes to decision making

HealthSouth to acquire 36-bed inpatient adult rehabilitation unit of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa

AUA Foundation introduces It's Time to Talk About OAB campaign

New approach to decipher roles of genes associated with autism

Positive results from Zalicus Z944 Phase 1 SAD clinical study for chronic inflammatory pain

FDA, EMA grant orphan drug designation to bluebird bio's gene therapy product for adrenoleukodystrophy

e-Therapeutics commences enrollment in ETS2101 phase I trial for brain cancer

Simple sponge may hold clues about the evolution of the complex nervous system

AFAR announces new Collaborative Research Awards Program in Alzheimer's Disease

Improving outcomes for children with acquired brain injuries a significant challenge

Difficult childhood affects brain development and can increase risk of adolescent crimes

LDL particles may be a more accurate measure of early-stage atherosclerosis

Single-dose vaccine for treatment of cocaine addiction

Implanted device delivers genetically engineered neurotrophic factor directly to the brain

Unique brain characteristics behind people's excellence

Five abstracts evaluating Abbott's LCIG presented at Parkinson's disease congress

MRI images of the brain when a person loses self-control

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News