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.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccine linked to myocardial scarring in adolescents and young adults

The study investigates COVID-19 vaccine-related myocarditis in adolescents, revealing clinical characteristics and risks of myocardial injury in young adults.

11 Sep 2024

New study explores the potential of hormone therapy for opioid recovery

In the midst of America's growing opioid crisis, a much healthier alternative to long-term pain management is emerging -; one affectionately known as "the cuddle hormone," or oxytocin.

11 Sep 2024

TAAR1 gene: A new key to mental health

In the complex landscape of mental health research, a new peer-reviewed Viewpoint review sheds light on an underexplored genetic player: the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). Published in Genomic Psychiatry (ISSN: 2997-2388, Genomic Press, New York), this thought-provoking analysis suggests that mutations in the TAAR1 gene may be a crucial piece of the puzzle in understanding and treating neuropsychiatric disorders.

11 Sep 2024

NIH funds study to assess wearable sleep trackers for Alzheimer's prediction

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Joyita Dutta, professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, $3.9 million over five years to study if wearable sleep trackers can predict blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in at-risk individuals.

11 Sep 2024

Fibrous scars drive glioblastoma recurrence

A Ludwig Cancer Research study has discovered that recurrent tumors of the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) grow out of the fibrous scars of malignant predecessors destroyed by interventions such as radiotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy.

11 Sep 2024

Light wave technology offers breakthrough in monitoring babies' brain activity

A new technology which uses harmless light waves to measure activity in babies' brains has provided the most complete picture to date of brain functions like hearing, vision and cognitive processing outside a conventional, restrictive brain scanner, in a new study led by researchers at UCL and Birkbeck.

10 Sep 2024

COVID-19 lockdowns accelerated brain aging in adolescent girls, researchers find

Researchers discovered that COVID-19 lockdowns accelerated cortical thinning in adolescent brains, with females experiencing more significant and widespread changes than males, indicating a higher developmental impact on female brains.

10 Sep 2024

New target identified for potential ALS therapy

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons.

10 Sep 2024

Sulthiame shows promise in reducing obstructive sleep apnea symptoms

Patients taking sulthiame, a drug currently in use for epilepsy, experienced a reduction in their symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to results of a clinical trial presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria.

10 Sep 2024

Girls exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be more likely to start puberty early

Girls exposed to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be more likely to start puberty early, according to new research published in Endocrinology, the flagship basic science journal of the Endocrine Society.

10 Sep 2024

U-M study reveals how propofol affects brain connectivity and consciousness

In hospital operating rooms and intensive care units, propofol is a drug of choice, widely used to sedate patients for their comfort or render them fully unconscious for invasive procedures.

10 Sep 2024

New normative neuroimaging library sets standard for brain injury research

With recent advances in neuroimaging, moving from qualitative to quantitative outputs, an understanding is needed of what normal data look like to be able to apply these advances to diagnosis and outcomes prediction in traumatic brain injury (TBI).

10 Sep 2024

Study finds link between nighttime light exposure and increased Alzheimer's disease risk

Higher nighttime light intensity is correlated with increased Alzheimer's disease prevalence, suggesting light pollution may influence neurodegenerative risks.

10 Sep 2024

High linoleic acid intake during pregnancy may harm fetal growth and raise obesity risk

High maternal linoleic acid intake during pregnancy may impact fetal development and increase the risk of obesity and inflammation in offspring. However, more research is needed to fully understand these effects in humans.

10 Sep 2024

GLP-1 receptor agonists show promise in treating substance use disorders

A systematic review reveals that GLP-1 receptor agonists may help reduce certain substance use disorders, but findings are inconsistent due to study variability and patient differences.

9 Sep 2024

Cell-free RNA analysis enhances early detection of pediatric inflammatory conditions

RNA is expelled from cells via cell death or active release, and can then find its way into blood plasma. A Cornell University-led collaboration has developed machine learning models that use these cell-free molecular RNA dregs to diagnose pediatric inflammatory conditions that are difficult to differentiate.

9 Sep 2024