Articles tagged with Brain Development
Research from the University of Adelaide has confirmed that gene USP9X is crucial for early human brain development and intellectual disability. Mutations in this gene disrupt normal brain cell functioning, leading to disorders such as epilepsy and autism.
A new study from Harvard School of Public Health identifies toxic chemicals as a major contributor to neurodevelopmental disabilities among children. The researchers propose mandatory testing and international regulation to control the use of these substances.
Researchers found that a protein molecule on stem cells interacts with extracellular matrix and thyroid hormones to promote brain growth. Iodine deficiency in pregnant women can lead to abnormal brain development due to the lack of thyroid hormones.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a brain development index from MRI scans that captures normal brain maturation patterns. The study shows a relationship between cognitive development and physical changes in the developing young brain, allowing for early detection of subtle developmental abnormalities.
A new study reveals that queen paperwasps have smaller visual processing brain regions than workers, suggesting environmental factors shape caste differences. The research highlights the importance of considering individual brain differences within insect colonies for studying neuroecology.
Research at the University of Montreal found that even 20 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week during pregnancy enhances brain activity in newborns. The study suggests that this early stimulation can lead to improved cognitive and motor development in children.
Researchers discovered baby owls spend large amounts of time in REM sleep, similar to human infants, and this changes as they age. The team also found a link between the expression of a melanism-related gene and sleep patterns, suggesting that brain development may influence adult traits.
A new eight-week intervention involving Head Start children and their parents produced significant improvements in attention, brain functions, and parental stress. The program's focus on selective attention and positive parenting practices led to improved cognitive abilities and reduced stress levels.
A new study from SDSU found that autism affects a broad range of sensory and motor systems, not just social abilities. The research suggests that the diagnostic criteria for autism may fail to consider the full spectrum of problems children with autism experience.
The brain develops sensory regions through a combination of genetic and thalamic input. Thalamic input is essential for the differentiation of visual areas, contradicting previous dogma that genetics alone determine cortical architecture.
Researchers investigate early social experiences and their impact on adolescent brain function, exploring factors like negative life events and relationship quality. The study aims to understand long-term associations between early social experiences and later brain development.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that genes linked to autism and schizophrenia are only switched on during early stages of brain development. Researchers used advanced techniques to map gene activity in mouse brains, identifying key populations of subplate neurons and shedding light on th...
A new study reveals that the primary cilium plays a crucial role in guiding interneurons to their correct locations during brain development. This navigation system is disrupted in individuals with Joubert syndrome, a rare neurological disorder linked to autism spectrum disorders and brain structure malformations.
A new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers found that natural birth triggers the expression of a protein called UCP2 in the brains of newborns, improving brain development and function in adulthood. In contrast, C-sections impaired UCP2 expression, leading to reduced hippocampal neuron development and related behaviors.
Researchers detected significant differences in brain development in high-risk infants who developed autism starting at age 6 months. White matter tract development was found to be the key difference between those with and without autism.
Researchers have shown that microglia in the brain target and remove unused connections between brain cells during normal development. The study highlights the newly found importance of the immune system in shaping brain wiring.
Researchers identified conserved lincRNAs that affect brain development in zebrafish and found that their human versions have similar functions. The discovery provides a framework for studying lincRNAs, which are abundant but poorly understood molecules.
A recent study has identified a link between rare Disrupted in Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) gene variants and psychiatric disorders, as well as altered brain structure and function. The research reveals that common DISC1 variants impair signaling pathways and disrupt brain development, potentially influencing diagnosis and treatment.
A study by Uppsala University found that Bisphenol A exposure in newborn mice causes permanent changes in brain function, leading to hyperactivity and poor adaptation to new environments. The effect persists into adulthood, affecting the cholinergic signal system.
A new study finds that California pregnant women have the highest reported exposures to PBDE flame retardants worldwide. The research suggests a link between PBDE levels and thyroid-stimulating hormone, which regulates thyroid activity.
Scientists at the Allen Institute have identified complex cellular patterns in brain development, suggesting multiple mechanisms beyond Reelin involved in proper neuron migration. The findings have major implications for understanding brain disorders like autism.
A VIP signaling pathway is key to normal brain development, and environmental factors can affect the final brain size. Researchers used a mouse model to study microcephaly, identifying a cellular and molecular mechanism that disrupts brain development.
Researchers are developing targeted treatments for serious disabilities like autism and schizophrenia by studying gene regulation networks in the cerebellum. The goal is to identify key genes involved in brain development and develop new drugs and cognitive therapies.
A study reveals distinct brain development patterns between Neanderthals and modern humans, particularly after birth. The findings suggest that unique early brain development in modern humans may underlie cognitive differences.
A recent study found that the brains of newborn humans and Neanderthals are similar in size and appearance, but differ significantly in shape after birth. The differences reflect changes in brain circuitry and may underlie cognitive differences between the two species.
A study found that children with newly diagnosed epilepsy have significantly slowed expansion of white matter volume compared to healthy children. This reduced volume may affect brain connectivity and cognitive development, leading to impaired executive function and mental tasks.
Researchers found that Cdk5rap2 and pericentrin work together to regulate neural growth in the developing brain. Loss of these proteins leads to genetic disorders characterized by abnormally small head circumference. The study may offer insight into human evolution and provide potential treatments for related diseases.
A new study by Uppsala University researchers Elena Jazin and Björn Reinius found that genetic expression in cerebral cortices exhibits sex-based differences, which are thought to be associated with later divergences in brain development. The study suggests that genes on the Y chromosome play a crucial role in these differences.
Research at Georgetown University Medical Center found that APP plays a critical role in brain development, connection of synapses, and dendritic spine development. Overproducing APP can lead to Abeta plaques and cognitive decline, highlighting the importance of maintaining balance in APP protein expression.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discovered a genetic link between childhood brain development and adult-onset epilepsy, highlighting the fragility of the brain during early childhood. The study identifies a new pathway controlling neuron circuit maturation, which may lead to new therapies for this condition.
A study at Penn State has identified over 16,000 active genes in mouse brains during embryonic development and post-natal stages. These genes are linked to cognitive and sensory abilities and may hold the key to developing treatments for neurological disorders such as autism and Alzheimer's disease.
A new study published in Neurology found that prenatal meth exposure is associated with abnormal white matter structure and maturation in the developing brain. This can lead to delays in developmental milestones, increased stress and lethargy, and poorer quality of movement in infants.
A new study published in Neurology has found that prenatal methamphetamine use is associated with abnormal brain development in children. The research used MRI scans to compare the brains of 29 children exposed to meth in utero with 37 unexposed children, revealing differences in white matter structure and maturation.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed miniature power chairs that infants can control, enabling children with cerebral palsy and spina bifida to explore their surroundings. This breakthrough technology has the potential to significantly impact brain development and learning abilities in these children.
The study identified a brain-specific enhancer that drives expression of the Shh gene in the hypothalamus, which regulates cell division of adult stem cells. A mutation in this enhancer sequence was found to cause a significant reduction in Shh activity, leading to holoprosencephaly.
Endogenous cannabinoids play a crucial role in establishing nerve cell connections, which may be impaired by maternal cannabis use. This discovery bolsters knowledge of normal brain development and sheds light on potential cognitive deficits in offspring.
A large-scale study reveals that healthy children outperform previously reported norms in cognitive function, with income affecting IQ and academic achievement. The study also found that age predicts performance on most tests, but adolescence sees a leveling off of cognitive development.
U of MN researchers have shown that early brain development is tied to the severity of adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases like spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. The study suggests doctors may be able to target treatment to coincide with critical times in development.
Researchers found a key region in the brain of primitively social paper wasp is better developed in dominant females than in subordinate ones. In contrast to highly social species, where age and foraging tasks influence brain development, dominance interactions dictate task performance in primitively social colonies.
A precautionary approach is being used in the EU to regulate industrial chemicals that can affect brain development, particularly in pregnant women and young children. Exposure to such chemicals has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and cerebral palsy.
Researchers found that young children who receive musical training show distinct brain development and improved memory compared to untrained peers. After a year, musically trained children performed better in memory tests correlated with general intelligence skills.
A study published in Neurology found that children with autism have altered brain anatomy, including differences in gray matter and brain size compared to children with typical development. The researchers used MRI scans to measure the transverse relaxation of cortical gray and white matter in the brains of autistic children.
The BGEM Web site provides a growing collection of tens of thousands of images showing where and when specific genes are expressed during brain development. This information is linked to up-to-date data on genes, including their function, location, and DNA sequence.
Dr Jacquelyn Bond is studying the ASPM protein to understand its role in brain development and its connection to microcephaly. The research aims to uncover the pathways involved in brain development and determine how aberrations in these pathways lead to microcephaly.
Reduced thyroid hormone signaling during development leads to extreme anxiety and memory impairments in adulthood. Dietary supplementation with thyroid hormone can suppress anxiety and improve memory in adult mice.
Stanford researchers found that louder neurons outcompete quieter ones for space, forming larger branches and more connections. Regularly firing neurons in stimulating environments tend to create longer, more complex arbors.
Rats exposed to alcohol during brain development show altered circadian rhythms, affecting sleep-wake cycles and behavior. The findings have implications for understanding Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the efficacy of chronotherapeutic treatments.
Researchers at OHSU discovered a possible connection between infant hormone exposure and obesity risk. The study found that early-life leptin surge affects brain development, particularly in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.
In a breakthrough study, UCSD researchers discovered that Cdk5 phosphorylates and inactivates the protein doublecortin, leading to defective neuronal migration and lissencephaly. The findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying this severe brain disorder.
The New York Academy of Sciences has launched a new website, eBriefings, which provides user-friendly access to top science and health issues. The platform features eBriefings on autism, adolescent brain development, and neuroethical challenges in cognitive enhancement and learning.
A new study has identified a crucial connection between genes involved in brain development and human diseases such as epilepsy, mental retardation, and schizophrenia. The findings have significant implications for understanding the causes of these conditions and potentially leading to new treatments.
In a groundbreaking study, UCSD researchers discovered that the 14-3-3 epsilon protein is crucial for normal brain development and migration of neurons. Defects in this protein lead to severe brain disorders like Miller-Dieker syndrome, characterized by profound mental retardation and early death.
The UNC Conte Center will conduct four interrelated studies using distinct research methods to identify critical brain events triggering the development of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. The center aims to explain how certain behavioral and neurobiological factors transform normal individuals into those with schizophrenia.
A landmark study found a unique interaction between proteins produced by two brain genes, mdab1 and reelin, crucial for normal brain development. The discovery may lead to breakthroughs in cancer research and treatments for neurological disorders like schizophrenia and epilepsy.