Brain Cell News and Research

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Astrocytes are essential for blood-brain barrier health, shows study

Hard skulls help protect our brains from physical injuries.In addition to a tough outer shell, brains have internal defenses, including a powerful shield called the blood-brain barrier that defends brain cells from substances in the bloodstream that are toxic and dangerous to nerve cells. If the blood-brain barrier is breached, then health problems arise.

21 Sep 2020

Computer model can replicate the unique firing-rate dependent behavior of Purkinje neurons

Research conducted by the Computational Neuroscience Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University has shown for the first time that a computer model can replicate and explain a unique property displayed by a crucial brain cell.

8 Sep 2020

New insights into how the brain can induce diabetes remission in rodents

In rodents with type 2 diabetes, a single surgical injection of a protein called fibroblast growth factor 1 can restore blood sugar levels to normal for weeks or months. Yet how this growth factor acts in the brain to generate this lasting benefit has been poorly understood.

7 Sep 2020

Brain estrogen critical for astrocyte activation and neuroprotection

When the brain isn't getting enough oxygen, estrogen produced by neurons in both males and females hyperactivates another brain cell type called astrocytes to step up their usual support and protect brain function.

1 Sep 2020

Study reveals a promising treatment for Parkinson's disease

Scientists at the University Bath in the UK have discovered a series of protein structures that are thought to be highly relevant to the onset of Parkinson's disease.

20 Aug 2020

Study could help understand the evolution of nervous systems in animals and humans

When it comes to brain cells, one size does not fit all. Neurons come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and contain different types of brain chemicals. But how did they get that way?

20 Aug 2020

Study reveals brain network mechanism causing spatial memory impairment

Patients with Alzheimer's disease frequently suffer from spatial memory loss, such as no recognition of where they are, and forgetting where they put their belongings.

21 Jul 2020

CU researchers discover key role of specific brain cells during development

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have identified how specific brain cells interacting during development could be related to neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases, including some that occur later in life.

9 Jul 2020

RNA plays key role in helping stem cells know what to become

Look deep inside our cells, and you'll find that each has an identical genome -a complete set of genes that provides the instructions for our cells' form and function.

7 Jul 2020

Scientists receive grant to study cerebrovascular changes during healthy and Alzheimer's aging

Scientists often focus on abnormal accumulations of proteins called plaques in the brain in efforts to find a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. But the effects of these plaques have not been clear.

7 Jul 2020

Common asthma drug may offer potential as treatment for Alzheimer's disease

A new study reveals that the common asthma drug salbutamol may offer potential as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

1 Jul 2020

Researchers identify new step in brain cell mechanism that shows promise for treating epilepsy

Researchers have identified a critical new step in how brain cells function in people with one of the most common forms of epilepsy.

30 Jun 2020

Fish oil may be an effective treatment for depression, study shows

A study published in Molecular Psychiatry shows that patient-derived adult stem cells can be used to model major depressive disorder and test how a patient may respond to medication.

11 Jun 2020

Research shows potential new therapeutic strategy for slowing down Huntington's disease

Scientists have described a potential new therapeutic strategy for slowing down early-stage Huntington's disease in a new study published today in eLife.

9 Jun 2020

Mice study sheds light on how the brain links events to form a memory

A woman walking down the street hears a bang. Several moments later she discovers her boyfriend, who had been walking ahead of her, has been shot.

9 May 2020

Exploring the use of stem cells for COVID-19 disease

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has ravaged across the, infecting more than 3.11 million people in just over four months. As the virus continues to spread, scientists are struggling to find an effective treatment for the infection. Now, a breakthrough discovery on stem cells could help in the battle against COVID-19.

28 Apr 2020