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Even mild SARS-CoV-2 respiratory-only infection can cause long-term neurologic damage

A new bioRxiv* preprint study led by Michelle Monje of Stanford University in California finds that a mild COVID-19 infection can produce long-term neurological damage. Persistent cognitive complications are one of many symptoms of long COVID, and the latest results suggest the severity of COVID-19 induced brain fog is similar to cancer’s “chemobrain.”

16 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 activates microglia in the brain

Researchers demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the human microglia.

10 Jan 2022

Researchers identify gene expression signatures linked to suicide risk

Is risk of suicide in our genes? Findings of an international scientific team led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, suggest that gene expression studies could offer insights into the underlying causes of suicide, a highly complex public health problem that takes the lives of more than 800,000 people each year worldwide.

10 Jan 2022

Study reinforces the link between microglia and some cases of brain disease

Certain subtle differences in DNA sequences are known to raise the chances a person may develop Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

6 Jan 2022

A closer look at the relationship between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers discuss the findings of previous studies on the role of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the progression of Alzheimer's Disease.

4 Jan 2022

New study targets the methylation profile of microglia from human brain

In the central nervous system, microglial cells play critical roles in development, aging, brain homeostasis, and pathology. Recent studies have shown variation in the gene-expression profile and phenotype of microglia across brain regions and between different age and disease states.

29 Dec 2021

Study points toward an alternative drug strategy to stall Alzheimer’s neurodegeneration

Boosting levels of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine with atomoxetine, a repurposed ADHD medication, may be able to stall neurodegeneration in people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease, a study conducted at Emory Brain Health Center suggests.

22 Dec 2021

Study: Common gene mutation for Parkinson's disease drives mislocalization of iron in the brain

A common gene mutation for Parkinson's disease drives mislocalization of iron in activated microglia, according to a new study publishing December 16th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, by Mark Cookson of the National Institute on Aging and colleagues

17 Dec 2021

Researchers discover why people with asthma have lower brain tumor risk

There's not much good that can be said about asthma, a breathing disease in which the airways become narrowed and inflamed.

11 Dec 2021

Study reveals the role of intracellular receptor PQBP1 in response to Tau protein

Just as a home security system can alert a homeowner to the presence of an intruder, a protein called polyglutamine binding protein-1 (PQBP1) found in brain cells can alert the body to the presence of "intruding" viruses like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

9 Dec 2021

Researchers uncover the journey of microglia in developing zebrafish

Microglia, the immune cells of the brain, form the first line of defense against neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injuries.

8 Dec 2021

Study could lead to new strategies to prevent or slow Alzheimer's disease

A gene mutation linked to Alzheimer's disease alters a signaling pathway in certain immune cells of individuals with the disease, according to a new study by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine.

1 Dec 2021

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 can infect and replicate in human iPSC-derived neurons

In a study recently published on the bioRxiv preprint server, researchers attempted to further increase the scope of previous studies in examining SARS-CoV-2 infection of human CNS resident cells.

22 Nov 2021

Physical activity may reduce immune cell activation to improve brain health in Alzheimer's disease

No one will disagree that an active lifestyle is good for you, but it remains unclear how physical activity improves brain health, particularly in Alzheimer's disease.

22 Nov 2021

ALS also causes retinal alterations, study reveals

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), characterized by harm to brain neurons and to the spinal cord, also affects the tissue of the retina, according to a study headed up by Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

16 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 leaves long-term impact on olfactory neurocircuit

The current study looked at the impact of the virus on the CNS in the Syrian golden hamster, a useful animal model for COVID-19.

9 Nov 2021

Deletion of ABI3 gene in the brain may increase risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease

When immune cells move throughout the brain, they act as the first line of defense against viruses, toxic materials and damaged neurons, rushing over to clear out them.

7 Nov 2021

Prescription drug for multiple sclerosis improves memory in Alzheimer's mouse model

Losing memory is a hallmark of Alzheimer's, a symptom of the disease that depletes a patient's quality of life. Improving memory and slowing cognitive changes caused by the disease is an ongoing challenge for researchers seeking to develop novel therapies.

7 Nov 2021

Researchers receive $8.9 million grant to study the gut-brain connection in Parkinson’s disease

Dr. Michael Kaplitt, a professor of neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and a longtime leader in developing cutting-edge surgical therapies for movement disorders, leads a team that has been awarded a three-year, $8.9 million grant from the Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) initiative.

26 Oct 2021

Novel combination therapy identified for the brain metastases of breast cancer

A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified and preclinically validated combination treatments for the brain metastases of breast cancer, a common and typically lethal manifestation of the malignancy.

18 Oct 2021