Articles tagged with Neurology
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a method to identify the immune cells involved in autoimmune diseases and identified four new target molecules for personalized treatment of multiple sclerosis. This approach could lead to more precise treatments with fewer side effects, potentially benefiting other autoimmune diseases.
The latest neurophotonic tools and techniques are reviewed in a new status report, covering advances from molecular nanoprobes to cortical column imaging. The report provides an overview of current state and future directions for brain science research.
Scientists at the University of Oxford have developed an 'optomemristor' device that facilitates three-factor learning and emulation of biological computations, making it possible to perform complex machine learning tasks. The device uses both light and electrical signals to interact and consume very little energy.
A new study published in Stroke Journal Report found that about one third of people treated with mechanical clot removal resumed work three months after stroke treatment. Women were half as likely to return to work compared to men, despite having more favorable characteristics for return to work.
Johns Hopkins scientists discovered three brain areas – premotor, primary motor, and primary somatosensory – that work together to control sequential movements. These regions are involved in processing sensory cues and adapting to unexpected events, which could lead to new treatments for motor disorders.
Patients aged ≥75 years with NVAF and previous stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) have a higher risk of subsequent ischemic and hemorrhagic events compared to those without previous TIA. DOACs may offer lower bleeding risks for this population.
A team of researchers from Kobe and Kyoto universities proposes an ethical framework for conducting research on conscious brain organoids. The framework assumes that brain organoids already possess consciousness and recommends guidelines similar to those for animal experiments. Key considerations include minimizing the number of organo...
A postmortem examination of 23 COVID-19 patients revealed significant changes in the sensory system responsible for processing smells. Loss of smell is an early symptom of COVID-19, and this study provides new insights into its underlying causes.
Researchers found that fighters who rapidly cut weight before bouts are more likely to suffer concussions or be misdiagnosed with head trauma. The study also discovered that the practice may not offer a competitive advantage and can leave fighters at a disadvantage more often than not.
Research finds that brain circuit strength is linked to a child's ability to understand numbers. A four-week number sense training program targeting the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and hippocampus improved learning outcomes for elementary school-aged children across abilities.
A new study by UC San Francisco and Imperial College London found that psilocybin therapy reduces connections within brain areas tightly connected in depression, while increasing connections to other regions. This leads to improved depressive symptoms and better cognitive functioning in participants.
Scientists have created a new technology using colour pigments from the food industry to stimulate nerve cells with the help of implantable mini solar cells. This innovation could lead to accelerated healing and prevention of complications in severe brain injuries, as well as potential applications in pain therapy and retinal implants.
Researchers analyzed prenatal MRI scans of children later diagnosed with autism and found significant differences in brain structures at 25 weeks' gestation. These differences may be a strong biomarker for predicting ASD emergence, with the insular lobe showing increased volume.
A new study found that some symptoms commonly used to diagnose concussions, such as fatigue and neck pain, can be caused by intense exercise rather than a brain injury. The research highlights the need to consider these factors when assessing concussion in athletes on the field.
A study reveals that Alzheimer's patients experience lethargy due to the degeneration of neurons that keep them awake, not a lack of sleep. Researchers developed a hypothesis that these patients have trouble staying awake and are testing a treatment approach to shut down the system keeping them awake.
Rice University engineers have developed a tiny, wireless device that can stimulate nerves and treat neurological diseases. The implant, powered by a magnetic transmitter, uses blood vessels as guides to reach targeted nerves.
A new study by researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine has identified a set of sporadic genetic mutations that make it more likely a person will develop cavernous angiomas, which can lead to stroke and seizures. Understanding these underlying causes is key to identifying patients at risk and finding effective treatments.
Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that dysfunction in a key brain cell subtype contributes to chronic symptoms in Dravet syndrome. The study suggests that increasing expression of Nav1.1 in parvalbumin interneuron axon may be a viable therapeutic target for patients.
A new study by University of Cincinnati researchers analyzed outcome data from a large cohort of patients and found correlations between different risk factors, including age, hemorrhage size, location, and cognitive impairment, which were associated with poor outcomes. The results also showed that Black and Hispanic populations were m...
Researchers at UVA Health System discovered a cluster of cells in the brainstem that controls the body's response to severe blood loss. The study found that re-activating these neurons can restore blood pressure and heart rate in lab rats, offering new hope for treating traumatic injuries.
A new American Heart Association scientific statement finds that timely treatment can help avoid additional disability and health impacts in people with pre-existing disabilities or dementia. The statement also highlights the need for increased awareness of potential biases and improved patient-centered care.
Scientists have created electrodes from recycled coffee grounds that can detect trace levels of biomolecules in vitro, offering a more sensitive surface for neurochemistry detection. The researchers hope to boost their neurochemical detection abilities by fabricating entire electrodes with carbon from coffee grounds.
A new study found that excessive daytime napping among seniors is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. After a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's, daytime napping duration triples, suggesting that the brain's wake-promoting neurons may be affected by dementia pathology.
Brainwide association studies need thousands of individuals to yield higher reproducibility, as smaller samples often uncover strong but spurious associations. Larger sample sizes lead to more likely reproductions of correlations, with effect sizes decreasing as the number of participants increases.
Researchers found that low blood oxygen levels correlate with longer time to regain consciousness in patients with severe COVID-19. The study involved 795 patients and found that 72% recovered consciousness before hospital discharge, but 25% took 10 or more days to recover.
Researchers assessed risk factors associated with mortality and neurologic disability three months after intracerebral hemorrhage, finding a link between certain comorbidities and poor outcomes. The study used a racially and ethnically diverse cohort to identify key risk factors for death and disability.
Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified five genes that enable efficient sleep, contrasting with current thinking that lack of sleep accelerates neurodegeneration. These genes may confer protections against neurological disease and improve sleep quality, paving the way for new treatments.
A new study led by UC San Francisco reveals that 87% of seniors with dementia would stop at least one medication if their doctor said it was possible. Polypharmacy contributes to challenges with adherence and adverse interactions, but most patients are willing to reduce their medications.
Researchers found that the Klotho gene can suppress glioblastoma cell viability and induce apoptosis, leading to a significant decrease in tumor growth. The study contributes to the development of new diagnostic and treatment approaches for malignant brain tumors.
A new genetic-labeling method developed by Osaka City University researchers uses a single gene to reveal neuronal circuits from multiple upstream regions. The 'intersectional, anterograde transsynaptic targeting system' demonstrates enhanced synaptic specificity in two different mouse brain circuits.
Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin uncovered that conceptual knowledge is tied to perceptual and experiential information. They used fMRI to measure neural activity while participants read hundreds of words, finding that experiential information was key to understanding word meaning.
Researchers investigated the association between acute respiratory failure in early childhood and long-term neurocognitive outcomes. The study found that children who experienced severe respiratory distress were more likely to have impaired cognitive function and behavioral problems later in life.
A new study published in Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation suggests that some patients with long-COVID experience long-lasting nerve damage due to infection-triggered immune dysfunction. The study found peripheral neuropathy in 59% of patients, with symptoms including weakness, sensory changes, and pain.
Researchers found that viewing nostalgic images from childhood reduced pain perception in adults, with the strongest effect on low-intensity pain. Nostalgic images decreased activity in brain regions involved in pain perception, including the left lingual gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus.
Researchers at UCL have created a technique called magnetomechanical stimulation that uses microscopic magnetic particles to control touch-sensitive brain glial cells. This allows for precise and remote activation of astrocytes, providing a new tool for understanding their function and potential treatment of neurological disorders.
Researchers discover a genetic mechanism linking ALS and dementia to UNC13A protein corruption, providing hope for new treatments by blocking corrupted instructions. The study found that genetic variants increase the risk of UNC13A mRNA corruption in patients with ALS and FTD.
Researchers developed behavioral task for rats to press lever within 3.2 seconds, earning rewards based on accuracy. Rats chose correct feeder based on temporal error, showing 'error monitoring' ability.
A new study at McGill University found that an AI tutoring system improved surgical skills and learning outcomes among medical students compared to human instructors. The AI-powered Virtual Operative Assistant taught safe techniques and provided personalized feedback, leading to a 36% better performance rate.
Researchers studied how diverse neural network training datasets impact generalization. They found that data diversity is key to overcoming bias, but also degrade performance when neural networks are trained for multiple tasks simultaneously. The study highlights the importance of designing diverse and controlled datasets in machine le...
A new UCLA study has found that hippocampal neurons in rats accurately map the position of a moving object even when stationary, challenging prevailing hypotheses about brain function. The findings open up new research avenues into memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study by researchers from Ritsumeikan University found that athletes with a history of sprained ankle showed reduced gut bacteria diversity compared to those without such a history. This suggests that musculoskeletal injury may have a negative impact on the gut microbiota, potentially leading to long-term health consequences.
Markita del Carpio Landry, a young immigrant scientist, receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise for her groundbreaking research on neurochemical communication and gene-editing technologies. Her work aims to address medicine's most compelling problems, including aberrations in neurotransmitter signaling.
Researchers found that starting DOACs within 1-4 days after stroke onset reduces stroke recurrence without increasing major bleeding risks. The '1-2-3-4-day' rule is proposed as a feasible real-world clinical setting guideline.
Studies using magnetic resonance imaging found a correlation between decreased blood flow in specific brain areas and tinnitus severity. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explored these links to better understand the causes of tinnitus.
Researchers at University of California San Francisco have catalogued over 40 previously unknown cell types in the human brain's blood vessels. These findings connect hemorrhagic stroke with novel immune cells, offering new targets for therapies.
Researchers found elevated protein levels and unexpected antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with post-COVID cognitive symptoms, suggesting inflammation and a systemic response. The study suggests an activated immune system may be the cause of brain fog, a common after-effect of COVID-19.
A pre-clinical study showed that the use of extracellular matrix supports improved nerve fibre regeneration across large nerve defects. The team's novel ECM-loaded medical device increased pro-repair inflammation, blood vessel density, and regenerating nerves, offering a promising alternative to current therapies.
A recent study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that regular exercise enhances the connections between neurons in older adults, maintaining healthy cognition. The research, led by Kaitlin Casaletto and William Honer, suggests that physical activity may help boost synaptic functioning and safeguard against dementia.
UCSF researchers discovered a small cluster of neurons in the brain stem that regulates tempo and coordinates breathing with vocalization. This finding has implications for understanding speech pathologies, as altered wiring in this system may cause difficulties with speaking.
Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified the gut microbial gene cluster responsible for converting carnitine into TMAO, which promotes heart disease and stroke. The study found that dietary modifications may help reduce diet- and TMAO-associated cardiovascular disease risk by targeting the gbu gene cluster.
A UMass Chan clinical trial demonstrates the safety and efficacy of an antisense oligonucleotide in suppressing mutant C9ORF72, a common cause of familial ALS. The treatment led to reduced levels of neurotoxins and stable or improved ALS functional scores.
A new study from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that family members of children with life-threatening conditions are 50-70% more likely to experience mental and physical health issues. The study examined four types of life-threatening conditions and found mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers to be at higher risk.
Research found the female genital field's location varies among women and is thicker with more frequent sex. The somatosensory cortex devotes space to detecting touch, and the region's structure alters in relation to use.
The worldwide incidence and mortality rates for stroke decreased slightly over the three decades, but the overall numbers are still high. Ischemic stroke is highly preventable, and more resources should be devoted to prevention, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University have identified the biological mechanism causing nerve destruction in ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease. They found that TDP-43 protein accumulation in neuromuscular junctions inhibits local protein synthesis and mitochondrial activity, leading to degeneration and death of motor neurons.
Scientists have created a new imaging method that can detect microscopic soft tissue damage in animal spines, which may lead to improved treatments for lower back pain. The technique uses fluorescent molecules to target denatured collagen and produce precise 3D maps of spinal damage.
A new study suggests that sun exposure may reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis in children and young adults by up to 52%. Vitamin D levels are also found to be higher in individuals with increased sun exposure, which may play a role in protecting against autoimmune diseases.
A new web-based application can predict which epilepsy patients will not benefit from stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), a costly and invasive procedure. The '5-SENSE' score reliably identifies patients who will not have a focal seizure onset zone, allowing clinicians to avoid unnecessary procedures.
The human brain contains trillions of contact points, requiring massive computational resources. Researchers outline the need for exascale computing power to tackle brain complexity.
A new study by Ritsumeikan University reveals that whole-body dynamic balance training increases brain connectivity and improves motor learning. The research found significant changes in brain activity associated with offline learning, opening up new avenues for studying neural networks during natural tasks.