Science News for October 13, 2012

Chronic stress during pregnancy prevents brain benefits of motherhood, study shows

A new study in rats shows that chronic stress during pregnancy prevents the formation of brain connections associated with learning, memory, and mood. The stressed rats' brains did not exhibit the same level of neural growth as unstressed mother rats, which had increased dendritic spines after giving birth.

SourceOhio State University·DateOct 13, 2012

Johns Hopkins researchers at Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a neuroprotective drug called ethoxyquin that effectively prevented nerve damage in mice treated with chemotherapy drugs, as well as protected nerves in diabetic rats and the mouse model of HIV. This finding has significant implications for developing new treatments for neuropathy.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·DateOct 13, 2012