Articles tagged with Neurology
A study from UT Southwestern Medical Center and Mayo Clinic shows that a remote-controlled robot can evaluate athletes for concussion with the same accuracy as on-site physicians. The technology has the potential to ease access to concussion expertise in rural areas, where few doctors or athletic trainers are available.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that a time-honored mnemonic method can be taught to people with no prior hint of prodigious memorization skills. The method, known as the 'method of loci,' induces patterns of activity within new trainees' brains that closely resemble those of memory athletes.
A study found that patients with renal dysfunction upon admission are more likely to die while hospitalized and have lower chances of being discharged home. Those with normal kidney function have better short-term outcomes, according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) test.
The American Diabetes Association and Michigan Medicine have released updated guidelines for the prevention, treatment, and management of diabetic neuropathy. The guidelines provide recommendations for primary care physicians on preventing this complication and suggest guidelines to manage and treat each form of diabetic neuropathy. Th...
Engaging in brain-stimulating activities like games, crafting, and socializing can lower the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults. A study of over 1,900 adults found a strong association between mentally stimulating activities and decreased MCI incidence.
Researchers found that concussion patients exhibit significantly slowed central and peripheral vision reaction times, with PVRT being disproportionately prolonged. This study suggests a useful diagnostic method to objectively assess concussion symptoms, providing potential benefits for patient recovery and athlete safety.
Researchers found that observing trauma can change brain information flow, making individuals more vulnerable to mental disorders like PTSD. The study suggests witnessing fear can physically redistribute brain signals, potentially enabling new communications and shedding light on the disorder's causes.
Researchers found that inhibitory brain cells form maps that broaden with maturation, unlike excitatory neurons which refine and define areas. This discovery sheds light on how the brain organizes and processes information.
A USC-led study found that people are less flexible when considering counter-evidence on political issues, but more so on non-political statements. The brain's Default Mode Network and amygdalae regions were activated in response to belief challenges.
Researchers found altered brain pathways in individuals with anorexia and bulimia nervosa, overriding the hypothalamus' drive to eat. This reversal allows their brains to fend off hunger signals, making it harder for them to consume food.
Researchers found that rapidly increasing communication between subnetworks associated with visual information transformation into motor responses facilitates task automatization. The default mode network is decoupled from task-related networks as resources are released for controlled implementation.
Researchers at The University of Manchester have discovered a potential therapy for alleviating chronic pain by tuning the brain's frequency. This new approach uses visual and auditory stimulation to reduce pain intensity in patients.
The RESPECT trial found that percutaneously closing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) using the Amplatzer PFO Occluder was superior to medical management in preventing recurrent ischemic stroke. Key findings showed a 45% relative risk reduction in recurrent ischemic stroke for the PFO group.
A recent study in mice suggests that protecting axons may prevent the development of neurological problems associated with TBI. The researchers used mice with a genetic mutation that protects axons and found that they did not develop vision or cognitive problems after blast-related TBI.
Researchers found that blocking calcium entry into mitochondria impaired memory, but allowed for learning in fruit flies. The study suggests a developmental role for mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex in regulating adult memory.
Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin investigated whether earlier response time leads to improved prognosis. Patients who received thrombolysis during transfer were less likely to have a disability three months after their stroke.
A study published in Stroke found that elderly stroke survivors require nearly double the caregiving hours of non-stroke patients. The estimated annual cost of caregiving is around $40 billion due to a need for approximately $11,000 per week in assistance. Caregivers can include family, friends, and paid caregivers.
Researchers at Charité are developing a personalized virtual brain model using big data and advanced simulations. They aim to improve our understanding of cognitive performance by analyzing the interaction between individual brain components.
A Kaiser Permanente telestroke program implemented in Southern California hospitals increased tPA administration rates to nearly 11% after implementing the program. The use of telehealth technology linked neurologists and emergency physicians, resulting in improved time-to-diagnosis and reduced bleeding complications.
A study by Brain State Technologies found that young athletes with long-term concussion symptoms showed significant improvements after using HIRREM neurotechnology. The athletes experienced durable changes in heart rate variability, suggesting enhanced capacity for rapid adaptive adjustments in their pumping function.
Johns Hopkins researchers track brain activity as participants make choices entirely on their own, pinpointing the parietal lobe's role in attention switching and frontal cortex involvement in deliberation. The findings shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying human volition and decision-making.
A low-cost, tablet-based system allows physicians to assess stroke patients remotely while en route to the hospital. The study found that the system's diagnoses correlated highly with bedside assessments, enabling faster and more accurate treatment.
A recent survey of water polo players found that 36% reported concussions, with goalies facing the highest risk. The study highlights the need for increased player safety and head protection during practice.
Research finds infarct volume and hyperglycemia associated with poor neurological outcomes after childhood stroke. Blood pressure and fever did not have a significant association with outcome or death.
A review article by J. David Beckham highlights Zika virus's impact on global health, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to develop a viable vaccine and treatment options. The article notes that exposure avoidance through insect repellent and protective measures is currently the best approach to prevent complications.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ticagrelor, a commonly used antiplatelet medication, did not significantly reduce stroke risk in patients with transient ischemic attacks or minor strokes. The study suggests that combination therapies may be needed to better prevent strokes in this vulnerable pati...
A new study by Kathleen Brewer-Smyth of the University of Delaware's College of Health Sciences found that female inmates with an incarcerated adult family member during childhood were more than twice as likely to have neurological abnormalities as adults. The implications are significant internationally, particularly in light of a Wor...
Researchers have identified a range of neurological and psychiatric symptoms in Ebola survivors, including vision complications and joint pain. The study's findings highlight the need for improved treatment options for those affected by post-Ebola syndrome.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Neural Circuits identified specific brain areas that may contribute to stress-induced depression. The research found that mice displaying 'helpless' behavior had reduced neuronal activation and stereotypical brain-wide activity patterns, which are distinct from those showing 'resilient' behavior.
A UCL study found that uncertainty about receiving a painful electric shock leads to significantly more stress, even if the likelihood is low. The researchers tracked participants' stress levels and found they were better at guessing whether or not they would receive a shock when their uncertainty was high.
A study published in JAMA found that treatment with inhaled xenon gas combined with hypothermia resulted in less white matter damage among comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, there was no significant difference in neurological outcomes or death at 6 months.
New research from Northwell Health found that nearly 6 in 10 stroke patients would prefer video conferencing after hospital discharge. Patients under 55 unanimously accepted the technology, citing its personal and informative benefits. The study suggests video calls could reduce hospital readmissions and improve medication compliance.
A recent animal study suggests that alcohol exposure before birth may impair kidney blood flow and amplify neurological problems caused by stroke. The research found increased arterial resistance within the kidneys and greater levels of impairment in mice exposed to alcohol in utero, with a significant impact on females.
A new Rutgers University study found that instant messaging at night negatively impacts teenagers' sleep health and school performance. Students who messaged for less than 30 minutes after lights out performed significantly better academically.
VIB researchers identify PHD1 as a potential therapeutic target for treating brain infarction and ischemic stroke. Inhibition of PHD1 offers protection against stroke via an unexpected mechanism, reprogramming glucose utilization to detoxify toxic oxygen radicals.
A Loyola University Medical Center study found that direct funduscopy exams are being performed infrequently among patients with headaches and altered mental status. The exam can detect neurological conditions, but valuable clinical information may be missed if not performed.
Researchers found that YouTube videos on peripheral neuropathy were often misleading, with alternative medicine being the most frequently cited treatment. Only a minority of treatment discussions were based on recommendations from the American Academy of Neurology.
A recent study published in Neurology found that only a quarter of headache clinical trials were registered in an approved clinical trial registry, despite a 2005 decision by major medical journals to prioritize trial registration. The study suggests significant selective reporting and potential issues with the peer review process.
A young adult developed clonic seizures while trying to solve Sudoku puzzles after being exposed to oxygen deficiency during an avalanche. The patient stopped solving the puzzle and has been seizure-free for over five years.
Brown University researchers have created a new optoelectronic device that can stimulate multiple neuronal targets optically and record the effects in millisecond precision. This breakthrough allows scientists to control brain cell activity using specific spatial patterns of light pulses, enabling the study of neural circuits and netwo...
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute found that two forebrain regions determine whether males exhibit paternal or infanticidal behavior. Activity patterns in these regions were associated with paternal behavior and inhibited infanticide.
Researchers at Brown University used optogenetics to manipulate the brain's perception of novelty and familiarity in rats. They found that different frequencies of light stimulation could alter the rats' behavior, with 30-40 hertz inducing a sense of novelty and 10-15 hertz inducing a sense of familiarity.
A study of nearly 26,000 patients found that DNR orders were not aligned with their predicted neurological survival rates, particularly for those with the worst prognosis. Patients without DNR orders had a significantly higher rate of favorable neurological survival.
A study published in JAMA Neurology found that patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis are not significantly harmed by medical therapy and may even benefit from more intensive treatment. The study's findings suggest that preventing carotid occlusion may not be a valid indication for stenting or endarterectomy.
A sub study of the MR CLEAN trial found that patients with larger thrombi had better neurological recovery after intra arterial treatment. Thrombi size was associated with clinical outcome, and retrieving larger pieces may lead to improved patient results.
A study of over 17,000 patients found that nearly all survivors were achieved within 35 minutes of CPR, with longer resuscitation efforts offering little benefit. The researchers recommend continuing CPR for at least 35 minutes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases to achieve maximum survival and favorable neurological outcomes.
A Swedish study found inadequate levels of iodine among pregnant women, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to optimize nutrition during pregnancy. The median urinary iodine concentration was significantly lower than recommended minimum levels.
Scientists developed a novel adaptive-control approach to mimic synapses in the human brain. This method uses memristors, which display resistance dependent on past states, enabling anti-synchronisation phenomena and improving system stability.
Researchers have identified a specific part of the brain, the superior temporal sulcus (STS), that is exclusively dedicated to processing speech. The study found activity in this region only when subjects were presented with speech sounds, suggesting a specialized role in detecting spoken words.
A recent study published in JAMA Neurology found that former NFL players who lost consciousness due to concussion during their playing days showed key differences in brain structure later in life. The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory, was found to be smaller in these athletes compared to a control group.
A study found that smaller volumes in certain brain regions, such as the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex, predict an increased likelihood of escalating stimulant use. Researchers identified individual differences in brain structure as potential biomarkers for vulnerability to drug addiction.
Researchers at the University of Montreal have discovered that astrocytes control the pattern of neuronal electrical activity, determining functions such as chewing, locomotion, and respiration. The study reveals a mechanism by which astrocytes regulate calcium levels, leading to changes in neural function.
A nationwide sample of patients in Sweden with biopsy-certified celiac disease were examined to identify the risk of developing neuropathy. The study found a significant association between celiac disease and an increased risk of neuropathy, with absolute risks of 64 per 100,000 person-years for those with celiac disease.
A study by Loyola University Medical Center resident neurologists found that simulation-based education significantly improved the knowledge, skills, and confidence of first-year neurology residents treating stroke patients in the emergency department. The study resulted in a 16.1% improvement on a multiple-choice test about treating s...
TOPOFEN, a proprietary gel formulation of ketoprofen, has demonstrated greater improvement in pain assessments and faster time to pain response compared to placebo in moderate and severe migraine sufferers. The study results suggest that TOPOFEN can be a safe and effective alternative treatment for patients suffering from acute migraine.
A clinical trial found that targeted temperature management at 33°C or 36°C did not significantly impact cognitive function and quality of life in patients with cardiac arrest. However, many patients reported impairment despite similar scores on outcome scales.
Researchers at UCI School of Medicine found a potential cause for cryptogenic strokes in 23% of patients with a left atrial septal pouch. The pouch's cul-de-sac nature may promote blood stagnation and clot formation, leading to stroke.
Researchers identified HIV replication in the brain as early as four months post-infection, with 20% of participants exhibiting central nervous system (CNS) replication. This finding highlights the importance of routine HIV testing and prompt initiation of antiretroviral therapy to prevent neurocognitive impairment.
Researchers suggest that increased schooling and mentally challenging problems tackled in schools contribute to the dramatic rise in IQ scores, known as the Flynn Effect. This finding supports the idea that environment plays a stronger role in intelligence than previously thought.
Scientists at TUM discovered that brain activity changes when transitioning from sensory to emotional processing during prolonged pain. The experiment showed that nerve cells in the brain trigger a different pattern of activity after applying a placebo cream, reducing perceived pain.