Articles tagged with Neurology
Researchers have developed a dual-drug therapy for alcohol use disorder by targeting the mTORC1 enzyme. Blocking this enzyme can halt cravings in mice engineered to have AUD, offering a promising alternative to current treatment options.
Researchers recreated damage seen in a widely studied form of frontotemporal dementia by growing special types of cerebral organoids. The study found that the mutated tau protein triggers the death of specific class of neurons, which can be prevented with an experimental drug.
A new study found that people with chronic pain have lower levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate emotions, leading to increased negative emotions and impaired emotional regulation. The researchers hope their online emotional recovery program may provide a non-pharmaceutical solution for those affected.
A large international study has identified over 200 symptoms of long COVID, affecting multiple organ systems. The research calls for widening medical guidelines and a national screening programme to address the complex range of symptoms and their impact on daily life.
Researchers found that undamaged neurons do not change their function after a stroke, contradicting the 're-mapping' hypothesis. Surround-responsive cells, which react to neighboring whiskers, also failed to take over damaged neurons' functions.
Researchers at NUS have identified two new proteins that contribute to EV-A71's ability to invade the central nervous system, making them potential targets for treating severe HFMD cases. This discovery could lead to the development of more effective treatments, particularly for young children affected by this illness.
Researchers used fMRI to measure brain activity in risk circuits, accurately forecasting stock prices based on average group activity. Prior trends and individual choices failed to predict dynamics.
Many children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome experienced neurologic involvement, mostly with transient symptoms. Life-threatening and fatal conditions occurred infrequently and long-term effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes are unknown.
A review of nearly 28,000 emergency department records found that less than 2% of COVID-19 patients suffered an ischemic stroke. Those who did had a higher risk of requiring long-term care after hospital discharge.
Scientists discovered that brain activity changes in response to disagreement with group opinion, allowing for future adjustments. The brain retains a 'trace' of past conflicts, influencing future decisions.
A new Canadian TIA Score tool helps emergency physicians predict patients at greatest risk of having a major stroke within the week. The study showed the Canadian TIA Score accurately categorized patients into three risk groups, outperforming existing ABCD2 score.
The USPSTF advises against routine screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, as it poses a relatively small risk of stroke. This recommendation is consistent with the task force's previous 2014 recommendation.
A significant number of patients with sudden loss of consciousness require pre-hospital critical care, according to a recent study. The research found that air ambulance dispatch teams can select patients needing HEMS-specific interventions and identify opportunities to improve triage.
A group of neurologists from Massachusetts General Hospital argue that police neck restraints pose significant health risks, including stroke and death. They call for greater transparency around their use.
A study by researchers at the University of Missouri found that more than 40% of patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures while conscious experience back pain during the procedure. The high prevalence of back pain suggests a need for clinicians to address this issue and explore strategies to reduce its occurrence.
The Einstein Foundation Berlin launches its new award to promote quality in research, recognizing contributions from researchers and institutions. The award will be funded by €500,000 a year and will be awarded for the first time in November 2021 in Berlin.
A study found that COVID-19 can lead to rare but potentially devastating neurological complications, including strokes, brain bleeds, and blocked blood vessels. Patients with pre-existing high blood pressure and/or type 2 diabetes were at higher risk for these complications.
Researchers from USTC and SIAT successfully observed individual GABAA receptors and their organization on the synaptic membrane using in situ cryo-electron tomography. The study revealed a 11-nm social distancing among receptors, forming a mesophasic assembly that regulates neurotransmitter release.
Octopuses' arms may have a mind of their own due to their unique nervous system, with over two-thirds of neurons located in the arms. Researchers found that octopuses can learn to associate arm movements with rewards, suggesting some sense of self-movement from the arms.
A recent scientific study led by the Centre for Neurology Studies at HealthTech Connex and Simon Fraser University reports breakthroughs in brain health recovery for Captain Trevor Greene, a Canadian veteran who survived an axe attack in Afghanistan. The study used innovative neuro-technologies, including Portable Neuromodulation Stimu...
A resiliency program for brain injury survivors and their caregivers has shown clinically significant improvement in emotional distress. The program, Recovering Together, achieved measurable reductions in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress among individuals with acute neurologic illness and their caregivers.
Researchers at the University of Maryland discovered how Zika virus hijacks cellular machinery to break down KPNA2 protein, essential for neural development and communication. This process, known as autophagy, may lead to neurological or brain deficiencies in newborns born to infected pregnant women.
A digital alarm clock streamlined time-sensitive acute stroke care, reducing neurological examination completion times to 7.28 minutes compared to 10 minutes without the clock. However, its impact on long-term outcomes remains uncertain, with further research needed to determine its effectiveness.
A new palliative care model, known as Short-Term Integrated Palliative Care (SIPC), has been shown to improve quality of life for patients with long-term neurological conditions while reducing costs. The study found no significant difference in patient-reported outcomes between SIPC and standard care.
International professional societies developed minimum clinical standards for determining brain death in adults and children, aiming to enhance consistency worldwide. The new guidelines address various factors, including neurological assessment and organ donation, to ensure accurate diagnosis and respectful care.
A study from the NIH found that neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a superior blood biomarker for diagnosing and predicting traumatic brain injury. NfL was shown to distinguish patients with TBI from controls even months to years after injury, providing a potential diagnostic option.
A simple measuring tape could identify which Zika virus-exposed children develop neurological abnormalities. Head circumference growth trajectory is also key, with 10.5% going on to develop microcephaly in months after birth.
A recent study by the German Sport University found that losers in tennis make more spontaneous nonverbal head movements after losing points compared to winning points. These movements include head shaking and tilting upwards or side-to-side. The analysis of nonverbal behavior can help improve an athlete's performance during competition.
Researchers identify SARS-CoV-2's entry route into the central nervous system and report neurological complications of COVID-19 in a narrative review. Potential tissue targets are also identified for future research to understand the neuropathogenesis of coronaviruses.
A University of Missouri Health Care neurologist has published new recommendations for evaluating and treating stroke patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. The guidelines take into account increased clotting in COVID-19 patients, which raises their risk for stroke, and suggest modifications to manage these patients.
Experts recommend prioritizing patient safety with telemedicine and remote monitoring, while minimizing exposure to COVID-19. Delaying treatment by just 15 minutes can significantly impact recovery outcomes.
Researchers have found a precursor to the human language pathway in living primates, illuminating an earlier evolutionary origin of at least 25 million years. The study reveals a segment of the language pathway that interconnects the auditory cortex with frontal lobe regions, important for processing speech and language.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found significant variability in blood pressure readings taken from different parts of the body and opposite sides of the body in the same individual. The study suggests that blood pressure measurements may need to be adjusted based on the site taken, which could impact medical decisions.
A new triage system using symptom severity and teleconsultation reduced the time to endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) from 65 minutes to 2 hours and 15 minutes in Stockholm region patients. This led to better patient outcomes, with 34% of EVT patients fully recovering their functional ability compared to 24% in the old system.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze mouse facial expressions and identified specific facial expressions correlated with emotional descriptors. The study may assist in moving towards a universal definition of emotions across species.
Researchers discovered that shorter time to receiving ECPR significantly improves neurological function in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, especially those with heart rhythms responding to defibrillation. The study's findings can inform future revisions to international CPR guidelines.
Research found statistically associated CpG sites were analyzed in blood samples from atherothrombotic stroke cohorts, revealing differences in DNA methylation status of MMP24 between stable and unstable carotid plaques. The study suggests a correlation between DNA methylation patterns and plaque instability.
Researchers describe five new cases of KAT6A syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability, language impairment, and cardiovascular malformations. The study reveals novel symptoms such as cryptorchidism, syndactyly, and trigonocephaly, expanding the clinical phenotype of patients.
A new smart jumpsuit quantitatively assesses children's spontaneous movement, helping to detect abnormal neurological development. The device provides valuable insights into infant motility, which can be used to support everyday activities and interventions.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE has shown that the human brain's ability to recall simple movements is significantly affected by previous actions. The research found that actual physical movement had a greater influence on success than mere observation, suggesting that consistent lead-in movements are crucial for optimal recall. T...
A new study reveals that persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is caused by altered nerve firing and spinal cord damage, which can be treated with neurological interventions. The study found that 80% of patients benefited from treatments targeting the affected nerves and areas.
A new study analyzing nearly 60,000 neurons in the mouse visual system reveals that less than 10% of neurons behave as expected to perceive the outside world. The researchers found that most neurons showed more specialized responses, while a third didn't light up reliably to any stimuli.
A study found that half of adults experienced headaches after consuming a cold stimulus, with moderate pain lasting less than 30 seconds. The pleasure of eating ice cream or drinking cold drinks may be reduced due to painful headaches.
A new study found that mobile stroke units in Manhattan reduced treatment time by approximately 30 minutes compared to traditional ambulances. This faster treatment led to improved patient outcomes and potentially life-saving results.
A recent study published in Neurology found that women are more likely to survive a stroke, but experience worse disability and reduced quality of life compared to men. The research suggests that variations in hospital treatment and risk factor management may contribute to these differences.
Daylight Saving Time transitions can have lasting impacts on health, causing biologic clocks to become desynchronized and increasing the risk of heart attacks and ischemic strokes. Average sleep duration shrinks by 15-20 minutes during DST, potentially leading to fatal accidents.
Scientists developed computational models of word meanings and tested them against real-time brain activity in volunteers, revealing how the brain combines words to make sense in context. The study shows how word constraints directly affect meaning interpretation, highlighting the neural mechanisms behind spoken language understanding.
A University of Calgary-led study found that MRI scans can significantly improve the diagnosis of minor strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). In 30% of cases, the MRI scan led to a change in diagnosis. The study's findings suggest that MRI scans are essential for patients with non-traditional symptoms, reducing unnecessary med...
A large study found that physical fitness is associated with improved cognitive ability and healthy white matter in the brain of young adults. The research used a publicly available database of 1206 MRI brain scans from the Human Connectome Project.
Researchers found that people with schizophrenia employ different brain circuits to overcome initial lack of understanding, leading to increased brain activity in certain areas. The study aims to develop practical skills to help patients with schizophrenia understand metaphors in everyday speech.
Researchers at Janelia Research Campus have mapped over 1,000 neurons in the mouse brain, tracing their branching routes to understand how messages travel through it. The preliminary data reveal new clues about the mouse brain's wiring diagram, including clusters of neurons and regions where they can't be easily delineated.
A study led by UCSF found that advanced sleep phase, where people wake up at 4 a.m., may be more common than previously thought, affecting around 1 in 300 adults. This condition is distinct from early rising with normal aging and can improve daytime functioning.
A study found that Zika-exposed infants had normal assessments at birth but 29% scored below average in neurological development, including cognitive performance and motor skills. Early pregnancy exposure increased the risk of developmental, hearing, and eye abnormalities.
Researchers developed electrocardiomatrix technology that outperforms standard cardiac telemetry in detecting atrial fibrillation after a stroke. The technology converts ECG signals into a three-dimensional heatmap for rapid inspection of all collected heartbeats, minimizing false positives and negatives.
Researchers identified brain regions involved in creating the Uncanny Valley sensation, tracing it back to circuits processing social cues and valuation systems. The study's findings suggest ways to improve likability of artificial agents by adjusting these mechanisms.
A UC Santa Cruz study found that many college students are unaware of the mercury exposure risks associated with eating large amounts of tuna. Students reported consuming up to 20 servings of tuna per week, exceeding recommended levels and potentially causing neurological damage.
A new study in mice reveals that diet-induced obesity re-wires the brain's natural brakes on food intake, leading to pathological eating behaviors. The research identifies a specific class of cells that normally suppress feeding to prevent overeating, but are altered in obese mice, promoting excessive food consumption.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that nearly 1 in 7 brain-injured ICU patients show evidence of hidden consciousness just days after injury. Patients with such signs are more likely to recover, according to researchers at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian. The technique used to detect hidden con...
Scientists at the University of York have identified two separate pathways for seeing 3D motion in the human brain, allowing people to perform tasks like catching a ball. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for lazy eye syndrome and improve virtual reality systems.
A recent survey of American neurologists reveals that over half carry the mistaken belief that a patient's sexual orientation and gender identity have no bearing on treatment of neurologic illness. This lack of awareness can lead to substandard care, particularly for LGBTQ individuals who face persistent disparities in healthcare.