Statins show dramatic drug and cell dependent effects in the brain Besides their tremendous value in treating high cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease, statins have also been reported to potentially lower the risks of other diseases, such as dementia. view more (2009-10-29)
Nanowire biocompatibility in the brain: So far so good The biological safety of nanotechnology, in other words, how the body reacts to nanoparticles, is a hot topic. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have managed for the first time to carry out successful experiments involving the injection of so-called 'nanowires.' view more (2009-10-23)
Study pinpoints key mechanism in brain development, raising question about use of antiseizure drug Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a key molecular player in guiding the formation of synapses - the all-important connections between nerve cells - in the brain. view more (2009-10-09)
Neuronal survival and axonal regrowth obtained in vitro While repair of the central nervous system has long been considered impossible, French researchers from Inserm, the CNRS and the UPMC have just developed a strategy that could promote neuronal regeneration after injury. The in vitro studies have just been published in the journal PLoS ONE. view more (2009-07-27)
Neural stem cells offer potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease UC Irvine scientists have shown for the first time that neural stem cells can rescue memory in mice with advanced Alzheimer's disease, raising hopes of a potential treatment for the leading cause of elderly dementia that afflicts 5.3 million people in the U.S. view more (2009-07-21)
Neural stem cell differentiation factor discovered Neural stem cells represent the cellular backup of our brain. These cells are capable of self-renewal to form new stem cells or differentiate into neurons, astrocytes or oligodendrocytes. view more (2009-06-30)
Brain protein central to both Parkinson's, drug addiction identified Scientists have identified a protein that appears not only to be central to the process that causes Parkinson's disease but could also play a role in muting the high from methamphetamine and other addictive drugs. view more (2009-05-05)
Brain protein central to both Parkinson's, drug addiction identified Scientists have identified a protein that appears not only to be central to the process that causes Parkinson's disease but could also play a role in muting the high from methamphetamine and other addictive drugs. view more (2009-04-30)
Brain metastases hijack neuron-supporting cells to resist chemotherapy Cancer that spreads to other organs finds a particularly inviting hideout in the brain, where these metastases are usually far harder to treat than they are in other locations. view more (2009-04-20)
New insights into how brain responds to viral infection Scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health have discovered that astrocytes, supportive cells in the brain that are not derived from an immune cell lineage, respond to a molecule that mimics a viral infection using cellular machinery similar to that used by classical immune cells in the blood. view more (2009-04-01)
Astrocytes help separate man from mouse A type of brain cell that was long overlooked by researchers embodies one of very few ways in which the human brain differs fundamentally from that of a mouse or rat, according to researchers who published their findings as the cover story in the March 11 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. view more (2009-03-24)
RSRT Advisor Makes Significant Discovery with Potential for Novel Therapeutic Approaches A paper published online today in Nature Neuroscience reveals the presence of methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in glia. MeCP2 is a protein associated with a variety of neurological disorders, including Rett Syndrome, the most physically disabling of the autism spectrum disorders. view more (2009-02-23)
Salk researchers develop novel glioblastoma mouse model Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have developed a versatile mouse model of glioblastoma-the most common and deadly brain cancer in humans-that closely resembles the development and progression of human brain tumors that arise naturally. view more (2009-01-05)
Astrocytes and synaptic plasticity By mopping up excess neurotrophic factor from neuronal synapses, astrocytes may finely tune synaptic transmission to affect processes such as learning and memory, say Bergami et al. view more (2008-10-14)
Astrocytes and synaptic plasticity By mopping up excess neurotrophic factor from neuronal synapses, astrocytes may finely tune synaptic transmission to affect processes such as learning and memory, say Bergami et al. view more (2008-10-13)
New study proves that pain is not a symptom of arthritis, pain causes arthritis Pain is more than a symptom of osteoarthritis, it is an inherent and damaging part of the disease itself, according to a study published today in journal Arthritis and Rheumatism. view more (2008-09-30)
Scientists find how neural activity spurs blood flow in the brain New research from Harvard University neuroscientists has pinpointed exactly how neural activity boosts blood flow to the brain. The finding has important implications for our understanding of common brain imaging techniques such as fMRI, which uses blood flow in the brain as a proxy for neural activity. view more (2008-06-26)
Brain cells help neighboring nerves regenerate Researchers have uncovered a completely unexpected way that the brain repairs nerve damage, wherein cells known as astrocytes deliver a protective protein to nearby neurons. view more (2008-05-28)
Harvard researchers publish MRI images of genes in action in the living brain Biologists have just confirmed what poets have known for centuries: eyes really are windows of the soul-or at least of the brain. view more (2008-03-31)
New brain cells implicated in machinery of cannabinoid signaling The brain cells called astrocytes, and not just neurons, are sensitive to the substances called cannabinoids-the active chemicals in marijuana. view more (2008-03-27)
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