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.

Skin test may help detect early Alzheimer's

A simple skin test that would allow detection of Alzheimer's disease appears to be a realistic possibility in the future.

16 Aug 2006

Truckies with sleep problems a danger on the road

A large study of commercial truck drivers has revealed that those who have chronic sleep deprivation and sleep-related breathing problems may be a hazard on the road.

15 Aug 2006

Diets rich in copper and trans fats increase the risk of mental decline

Researchers say that elderly people whose diets are rich in copper and heavy in saturated fats and trans fats increase their risk of a cognitive decline that could be related to the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

15 Aug 2006

Cancer patient receives first proton therapy treatment

A Cocoa Beach man with prostate cancer has become the first patient to undergo treatment at the new University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, the first time the most advanced form of radiation therapy available has been offered in the Southeast.

15 Aug 2006

Cancer stem cells spur glioma angiogenesis, could hold key to brain tumor therapy

Stem cell-like glioma cancer cells that share many characteristics with normal stem cells propel the lethal growth of brain cancers by promoting tumor blood vessel formation, and may hold the key to treating these deadly cancers.

15 Aug 2006

Argatroban may promote opening of arteries following stroke

A medication known as argatroban, when combined with another drug already used in the treatment of stroke patients, may help restore the flow of blood through blocked arteries.

14 Aug 2006

Some brains wired to encourage fidgeting

Some brains may be wired to encourage fidgeting and other restless behaviors that consume calories and help control weight, according to new research published by The American Physiological Society.

14 Aug 2006

740,000 vaccines urgently needed to control outbreak of Japanese encephalitis

According to official sources Japanese encephalitis has to date claimed 19 lives in the northern Chinese city of Yuncheng in the Shanxi province.

14 Aug 2006

Lipitor reduces the risk of a second stroke

Researchers have found that the drug Lipitor which is normally used to lower cholesterol, can cut the risk of a second stroke when used in double doses.

14 Aug 2006

Neuren presents phase 2 clinical trial strategy for NNZ-2566

Neuren Pharmaceuticals has announced that Mr Larry Glass, Executive Vice President and head of Neuren’s US operations, has been invited by the US Army to present Neuren’s clinical trial strategy for NNZ-2566 at the Advanced Technology Applications for Combat Casualty Care (ATACCC) conference.

14 Aug 2006

Lipitor reduces stroke risk

In people who have experienced a stroke, but who have no known history of coronary heart disease, beginning regular treatment with the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin soon after the stroke can reduce the risk of recurrent stroke by 16 percent

9 Aug 2006

True colours are in the brain of the beholder

Pictures of brain waves that reveal our ability to see colour could provide a new objective way to diagnose and monitor diseases that affect human colour perception.

9 Aug 2006

Allergies may put you more at risk of Parkinson's disease

According to researchers people who suffer from allergic rhinitis may be more at risk for Parkinson's disease later in life.

9 Aug 2006

Researchers discover how genes and diet interact to cause birth defects

Expectant mothers may someday get a personalized menu of foods to eat during pregnancy to complement their genetic makeup as a result of new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

8 Aug 2006

Vision: stimulating your attention

Researchers have developed a new method for boosting brain function that may have implications for treatments of brain disorders and for improving vision.

8 Aug 2006

Prospective Huntington At Risk Observational Study

Doctors have completed the first step of a unique medical research study, evaluating 1,001 individuals at risk of developing Huntington's disease who do not know - nor do they want to know - whether they carry the genetic defect that causes the condition.

8 Aug 2006

The circadian rhythm of glucocorticoids is regulated by a gating mechanism residing in the adrenal cortical clock

In mammals, including humans, a master clock in the brain and subordinate clocks found in organs throughout the body coordinate daily, or circadian, rhythms of behavior and physiology.

8 Aug 2006

Atp7a determines a hierarchy of copper metabolism essential for notochord development

A new study reveals the timing of developmental events that critically depend on copper. While copper deficiency is rare in humans, the findings suggest that suboptimal copper metabolism might contribute to birth defects, according to the researchers.

8 Aug 2006

New understanding of how our brains process sensory information

The same chemical in the body that is targeted by the drug Viagra. also helps our brains "boot up" in the morning so we can process sights, sound, touch and other sensory information.

8 Aug 2006

One dose of ketamine may help reduce severe depression

New research suggests that just one dose of the anesthetic ketamine appears to reduce depression in patients who show little improvement with standard medications.

8 Aug 2006