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.

CAMD releases first combined clinical trial data on neuro-degenerative diseases

A new database of more than 4,000 Alzheimer's disease patients who have participated in 11 industry-sponsored clinical trials will be released today by the Coalition Against Major Diseases (CAMD). This is the first database of combined clinical trials to be openly shared by pharmaceutical companies and made available to qualified researchers around the world.

14 Jun 2010

Dysfunctional magno cells in eyes associated with learning disabilities

Problems with math? And perhaps with handwriting - and motor skills? Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) believe that the explanation for your troubles may be that not all of the cells in your eyes work the way they should.

14 Jun 2010

New analysis contradicts study that brain consumes extra glucose when people exert self-control

Contradicting a popular model of self-control, a University of Pennsylvania psychologist says the data from a 2007 study argues against the idea that glucose is the resource used to manage self control and that humans rely on this energy source for will power.

14 Jun 2010

Evidence-based review of TBI in sport

Experts from Johns Hopkins Medicine hosted a press conference following a continuing medical education program on the epidemiology of head injury in professional football. The program was an evidence-based review of traumatic brain injury in the sport.

14 Jun 2010

Children get MRI tests for reasons unrelated to benign anomalies: Study

Pediatricians whose patients undergo "routine" brain MRIs need a plan to deal with findings that commonly reveal unexpected-but-benign anomalies that are unlikely to cause any problem, reports a research team led by Johns Hopkins Children's Center investigators.

14 Jun 2010

Astrocytes involved in regulation of signalling between neurons: Study

Astrocytes are the most common type of cell in the brain and play an important role in the function of neurons - nerve cells. New research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that they are also directly involved in the regulation of signalling between neurons.

14 Jun 2010

National MS Society commits over $2.4M to support 7 CCSVI research projects

Over $2.4 million has been committed by the National MS Society (USA) and the MS Society of Canada to support 7 new research projects focusing on the role of CCSVI in MS.

14 Jun 2010

Olfactory function tests could help in treating patient in early stages of PD

A fast, simple and non invasive test of the ability to smell may be an important tool to screen people who are likely to develop Parkinson's disease, in which motor symptoms only become evident at a later stage of the disease, a German scientist will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today (Saturday).

14 Jun 2010

First database of combined clinical trials on brain disease made available to qualified researchers

A new database of more than 4,000 Alzheimer's disease patients who have participated in 11 industry-sponsored clinical trials was released today by the Coalition Against Major Diseases. This is the first database of combined clinical trials to be openly shared by pharmaceutical companies and made available to qualified researchers around the world.

14 Jun 2010

Study: Children with idiopathic onset epilepsy have high remission rate

A study conducted by researchers in The Netherlands confirmed that children with idiopathic new-onset epilepsy have a significantly higher rate of remission than those with remote symptomatic epilepsy.

14 Jun 2010

Researchers identify 2,630 proteins that reside in human spinal fluid

A research team has sharply expanded scientific knowledge of the composition of human spinal fluid. The researchers have identified 2,630 proteins that reside in fluid that is considered "normal," a number nearly three times as great as the total number of proteins previously identified. Another striking finding was that more than half (56%) of the proteins were relatively unique to the spinal fluid and not found in blood.

14 Jun 2010

White blood cells with receptors for both virus and nerve proteins may assault nerves after fighting infection

A virus infection can incite the body to attack its own nerve tissue by activating unusual, disease-fighting cells with receptors for both viral and nerve proteins. The dual-receptor observation suggests a way brain and spinal cord nerve damage might be triggered in susceptible young adults afflicted with multiple sclerosis.

11 Jun 2010

FDA grants orphan drug designation for ICT-107

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation for ICT-107, the company's dendritic cell-based cancer vaccine candidate which targets glioblastoma multiforme. As a result of the orphan drug status, ImmunoCellular will be eligible to receive a number of benefits, including access to grant funding for clinical trials, tax credits, accelerated FDA approval and allowance for marketing exclusivity after drug approval for a period of up to seven years.

11 Jun 2010

Uncork the Cure to contribute funds for children's brain tumor research

Uncork the Cure – a festival involving wine, food and music – will contribute funds for research into the causes of and cure for children's gliomas or brain tumors.

11 Jun 2010

Amorfix Life Sciences reports operational and year-end financial results for fiscal 2010

Amorfix Life Sciences, a company focused on the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and diagnostics for the treatment of fatal neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, today announced its operational and financial results for the year ended March 31, 2010, as well as financial results for the fourth quarter.

11 Jun 2010

In vivo structure of senile plaques in brains of people with Alzheimer's disease

A team of scientists from Britain and the United States believe they may have identified the true in vivo structure of the senile plaques that are characteristically found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

11 Jun 2010

CinGx safe and effective for treating diabetes, Alzheimer’s and dementia

There is currently no cure for Diabetes, Alzheimer's and Dementia but they can be treated and prevented. Allegiance Equity developed CinGx™ as a safe and effective treatment for these diseases.

11 Jun 2010

NJIT biomedical engineer awarded $1.3M grant to develop better ways to help stroke patients

Helping stroke patients regain use of their hands and arms through innovative robotic and virtual reality-based video game therapies is the focal point of NJIT Associate Professor Sergei Adamovich, a biomedical engineer. Thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, Adamovich is developing better ways to rehabilitate people who have lost control of their hands, fingers, shoulders and elbows.

11 Jun 2010

New computer program allows early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers of the University of Granada have developed a new computer program that allows early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease through processed images.

11 Jun 2010

Protein IL-10 removes Escherichia coli K1 bacterium from blood and reverses brain damage

A team of researchers at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), along with colleagues from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and the Universite Auvergne, France, have discovered an important role for a small, naturally occurring protein called interleukin-10 (IL-10) in removing bacteria from the blood of infected mice and reversing damage to the brain.

11 Jun 2010