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.

UNC sports medicine researcher receives 2011 MacArthur Fellowship for concussion study

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sports medicine researcher Kevin Guskiewicz, one of the country's leading experts on concussions, has been named a 2011 MacArthur Fellow.

21 Sep 2011

Researchers’ discovery may revolutionize treatment of Lou Gehrig’s disease

A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have found a key link between prions and the neurodegenerative disease ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The discovery is significant as it opens the door to novel approaches to the treatment of ALS.

20 Sep 2011

The obese can’t help but eat: Study

A new study suggests that brains of people who are obese may be wired differently for impulse control, such as resisting a doughnut when their blood sugar levels drop, compared with people who are not obese.

20 Sep 2011

Diabetes and dementia, connection found

A new study revealed that people with diabetes may be at an increased risk of developing dementia. Scientists have suspected the link between the two diseases for several years, but several experts say this latest study highlights how treating preventable diseases like diabetes and obesity may be useful in preventing the onset of dementia.

20 Sep 2011

Neuroticism affects brain processing during anticipation and experience of pain

Neuroticism - the tendency to experience negative emotions -significantly affects brain processing during pain, as well as during the anticipation of pain, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Neuroticism tends to be higher in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and is a risk factor for chronic, unexplained pain in IBS.

20 Sep 2011

Common symptoms of pediatric feeding disorder

Catering to a child who is a picky eater is like being a short-order cook: chaotic. Dinnertime becomes a war zone, leading to hopeless battles fought over vegetables and macaroni and cheese.

20 Sep 2011

Common DNA variations contribute to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

A team of over 250 researchers from more than 20 countries have discovered that common genetic variations contribute to a person's risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

20 Sep 2011

Walnuts improve inferential reasoning skills among students

Recently published research in the September issue of British Journal of Nutrition suggests students may want to grab a handful of walnuts before taking that next exam. According to the study, students consuming walnuts improved their inferential reasoning skills - the ability to discover true from false.

20 Sep 2011

Henry Ford Hospital performs DBS procedure inside iMRI to treat Parkinson's

Henry Ford Hospital became the third hospital in the United States to perform a Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) procedure inside an Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner, or iMRI.

20 Sep 2011

Scientists identify oldest known DNA regulatory region

A team of scientists has discovered the oldest known DNA regulatory region, as reported in an article in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences.

20 Sep 2011

Yawning could regulate brain temperature

A study led by Andrew Gallup, a postdoctoral research associate in Princeton University's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, is the first involving humans to show that yawning frequency varies with the season and that people are less likely to yawn when the heat outdoors exceeds body temperature.

20 Sep 2011

Regular exercise also increases mitochondrial numbers in brain cells

Researchers have long known that regular exercise increases the number of organelles called mitochondria in muscle cells. Since mitochondria are responsible for generating energy, this numerical boost is thought to underlie many of the positive physical effects of exercise, such as increased strength or endurance. Exercise also has a number of positive mental effects, such as relieving depression and improving memory.

20 Sep 2011

FoxM1 protein plays a critical role in development of medulloblastomas

Medulloblastomas constitute the most frequent class of malignant childhood brain tumor. Tumors of this type arise due to the uncontrolled proliferation of immature nerve cells in the developing brain, and there is no targeted treatment available.

20 Sep 2011

Simple checklist to help the whole family excel in nutritional basics

It's September, and that means new clothes, backpacks, school supplies, and agendas — all tools required to keep your children, whether in elementary, high school or post-secondary levels, on a well-stocked, educational journey to success. But beyond equipping your children with the external fundamentals to good grades, are you also providing them with the best nutrients necessary for optimal learning, focus, concentration, energy and overall well-being? And as parents juggling hectic schedules, do you also pass the grade?

20 Sep 2011

People with diabetes more likely to develop dementia

People with diabetes appear to be at a significantly increased risk of developing dementia, according to a study published in the September 20, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

20 Sep 2011

SK Biopharmaceuticals, Mayo Clinic collaborate to develop new treatments for ALS

Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida has entered into a collaborative and sponsored research agreement with SK Biopharmaceuticals of Seoul, South Korea, with the goal of developing new treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. The collaboration marks a new approach to combating a disease that has proved difficult to treat in recent clinical trials.

20 Sep 2011

Common misconceptions about Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, continues to be an ongoing battle for millions of Americans. With an estimated 5.4 million Americans living with the disease and an annual cost of $183 billion, Dr. Gustavo C. Roman, director of the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at the Methodist Neurological Institute, addresses some common misconceptions about this devastating disease.

20 Sep 2011

Neurocritical Care Society announces comprehensive set of guidelines on brain aneurysms

The Neurocritical Care Society is releasing a comprehensive set of guidelines this week to guide physicians and hospitals on how to optimally care for patient's ruptured brain aneurysms. One of the strongest recommendations is that all patients receive specialized care at high-volume stroke centers that treat at least 60 cases per year.

20 Sep 2011

MDA, IMRIS collaborate to advance development of MR guided surgical robot

IMRIS Inc. and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. today announced an agreement for the final phases of collaborative development of IMRIS's MR guided surgical robot, building on the development work the two companies have completed to date.

20 Sep 2011

Infant formulas fortified with LCPUFA are good for developing brains and hearts

University of Kansas scientists have found new evidence that infant formulas fortified with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are good for developing brains and hearts.

20 Sep 2011