Articles tagged with Neurology
A clinical study found that stroke patients can regain limb movement long after an injury through intensive therapy with specially trained personnel and newly created robotic aids. The study showed statistically significant improvements in quality of life, upper-arm function, and everyday activities.
A recent Harvard Medical School study found that uninsured individuals are twice as likely to receive substandard treatment for migraines compared to their privately insured counterparts. This disparity affects approximately 5.5 million people in the US who lack health insurance, leading to needless suffering and economic burden.
Researchers link differences in brain network harm to impairment in stroke patients, offering a new predictive tool for clinicians. This approach, known as resting-state functional connectivity, may help determine treatment and assess its effects.
Researchers found Ritalin enhances learning and focus by increasing brain plasticity and activity of dopamine receptors. The study showed Ritalin improves cognitive abilities in animals by strengthening communication between neurons.
A new hand-held device delivering magnetic pulses to the back of the head effectively treats migraine with aura in some patients, reducing pain and associated symptoms. The treatment is well-tolerated and non-inferior to sham stimulation for symptom improvement, making it a promising acute treatment option.
Research confirms that brain areas for noun and verb processing are distinct, with nouns primarily activating the left fusiform gyrus and verbs activating other regions like the left inferior frontal gyrus. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to show neural differences in learning new nouns and verbs.
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital found that vitamin B3 increases 'good' cholesterol, which improves blood vessels and neural growth in the brain after a stroke. The study suggests niacin may be a low-cost treatment option for stroke patients.
A study published by the American Heart Association found that stroke incidence is increasing among young adults (20-45 years) while decreasing among older adults. The average age of stroke patients dropped significantly between 1993 and 2005, with a notable increase in younger patients.
A Johns Hopkins neurologist argues that futile and expensive end-of-life care can be a major contributor to the unaffordable cost of healthcare. He suggests weighing patient autonomy against societal costs and suggests 'nudging' families towards comfort care, particularly in cases of premature births.
This special issue of NeuroRehabilitation focuses on community-based residential designs for persons with neurodisability, highlighting the importance of holistic, functional, and individualized design modifications. The issue presents evidence-based literature, expert insights, and practical recommendations to facilitate independence ...
New research confirms the effectiveness of alteplase in treating strokes up to 4.5 hours after symptoms appear, regardless of age, gender, or underlying health conditions. The study's findings suggest that extending the treatment window could improve outcomes for stroke patients.
Researchers used former Colombian guerrillas to study brain structure changes after learning to read. They found higher grey matter density in left hemisphere areas responsible for letter recognition and increased white matter connections, particularly with the angular gyrus.
Research found that brain processes living and non-living objects in different areas, regardless of visual experience. The brain categorizes objects based on their functional importance, such as edibility or spatial awareness.
A Canadian study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that sounds and images share a similar neural code in the human brain. Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to examine how people distinguish between different types of sounds, such as speech and music, or different images. ...
A recent study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain found that smoking more than five cigarettes a day increases the frequency of migraine attacks. The research involved 361 medicine students who were aware of their migraine status and reported higher prevalence of smokers among those with migraines.
A new Stanford University School of Medicine study found that administering a potent clot-busting medication can benefit patients up to 4.5 hours after they experience their first symptom, improving outcomes without negatively affecting mortality.
Researchers at Heidelberg University Hospital have shown that certain immune cells in the blood inhibit inflammation after a stroke. Regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) play a key role in this protection and may offer a new approach to stroke therapy.
Researchers at UT Houston are conducting a Phase I safety trial using patient's own stem cells to treat strokes. The study aims to reduce disability in patients and could be an exciting new therapeutic approach.
Researchers created a method called Minimum Mutual Information (MinMI) to understand how brain cells process information. The tool can identify which neurons encode specific stimuli, such as facial reactions or movement, and how they collaborate.
French and American scientists used synchrotron holotomography to reveal the first fossil brain, a 300-million-year-old relative of sharks and ratfish. The discovery sheds light on brain evolution during major transitions and demonstrates the potential for microtomographic techniques in studying fossil brains.
A study by neurology residents at Barnes-Jewish Hospital showed that they can safely administer clot-busting enzyme tPA to stroke patients, reducing door-to-needle times from 81 minutes to 60 minutes. With proper training and feedback, residents can make complex decisions without increasing the risk of brain bleeding.
A clinical trial of laser therapy for stroke patients found that those with moderate to moderately severe strokes experienced significant improvement, with a 9.7% absolute gain in treated patients. However, the treatment did not significantly reduce overall stroke disability, missing its primary endpoint.
Patients arriving at hospitals within the golden hour are more likely to receive clot-busting treatment, with a significant reduction in brain damage. Researchers emphasize the importance of quick action and education for patients and physicians to improve stroke care outcomes.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center are evaluating a new mechanical arm, Armeo, to help patients with strokes and traumatic brain injuries regain arm strength through virtual exercises. The device allows for increased repetitions of tasks, potentially leading to quicker recovery.
A new study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that geographic and racial differences do not fully explain the South's higher stroke death rate, with a greater-than 40 percent higher mortality rate in eight southeastern states.
Dr. Marc Nuwer, UCLA professor, argues that US healthcare's high cost is due to individualistic approach and lack of attention to care-related expenditures. He recommends educating physicians about costs to reduce defensive medicine and promote more efficient care.
Researchers found that patients who received both intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular interventions experienced significantly lower mortality and greater improvement in neurological ability. The study suggests that combining these treatments could be a game-changer for stroke patients, especially those under 80 years old.
Researchers found no significant difference between pediatric patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass and those who did not, in terms of I.Q. scores and neuropsychological tests. The study provides good news for school-aged children with less complex heart defects undergoing surgery.
Two pacemakers in the brain regulate breathing by working together in harmony, with the preBotC taking control in adulthood and pFRG kicking in during respiratory stress. This fail-safe network is evolutionarily conserved and appears to be related to cases of crib death and central sleep apnea.
Researchers have developed a new technique using Granger causality to analyze brain activity, revealing the flow of information between brain regions. This breakthrough could advance efforts to help patients recover from brain injuries and mental disorders.
Researchers found no significant differences in adverse events or outcomes between patients who received antihypertensive treatments and those who didn't. Patients requiring blood pressure lowering therapy had more severe strokes and higher blood glucose levels, but still benefited from clot-busting treatment.
Researchers identify a type of synesthesia in which individuals hear sounds when they see things move or flash, suggesting an enhanced form of visual processing. The four synesthetes outperformed nonsynesthetes on a test involving rhythmic patterns of flashes and beats.
Researchers discover that Japanese encephalitis virus damages the brain in two ways: killing neurons and preventing new cell growth from neural stem/progenitor cells. This leads to devastating effects on mental functions, particularly in children.
A woman in southern Ontario acquired a unique Maritime Canadian accent after a stroke, according to a study by McMaster University researchers. Despite intensive speech therapy, the new accent persists, even two years later.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have identified a 'food-related clock' that can supersede the body's primary biological rhythms, enabling better coping with changes in time zones and nighttime schedules. By adjusting eating schedules, humans may be able to adapt more quickly to new time zones.
Researchers found that electric shocks ranging from 120 to 52,000 volts can cause neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms in humans. Short-term follow-up showed 26% of patients experiencing new symptoms, while one-year follow-up revealed 28% still suffering from these symptoms.
A new study found that ghrelin increases the response to food pictures in brain regions involved in reward and motivation, suggesting a link between pleasure signals and metabolic drives. The findings may have implications for treating obesity and could inform policies aimed at reducing fast food consumption.
A study published in The Lancet Neurology found that cilostazol is as effective as aspirin in preventing recurrent stroke, but causes fewer bleeding events. This suggests that cilostazol could be a more effective and safer alternative for Chinese patients with ischemic stroke.
UCLA researchers found that people tend to accept fair offers over unfair ones, with the brain responding similarly to winning money or eating chocolate. The study suggests that humans have an innate preference for fairness, which can be regulated through self-control.
A study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that unconscious brain activity can predict decisions made by participants up to 7 seconds before they consciously make a choice. This suggests that the decision is unconsciously prepared ahead of time, but the final decision may still be reversible.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have discovered a second depth-perception method in the brain, combining visual cues with motion and perspective to create a representation of three-dimensional space. This new mechanism may help restore binocular vision in children with misaligned eyes and improve virtual reality experiences.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo found that taking ibuprofen while taking aspirin for stroke prevention reduces its effectiveness. In a study of 28 patients, all took ibuprofen and had no anti-platelet effect from their daily aspirin.
A new book by Steven Small and colleagues examines how the brain functions when people participate in sports as athletes, coaches, and fans. The study reveals that professional athletes activate only critical regions of the brain, while novices have to engage multiple regions due to emotional involvement.
Jazz musicians' brains shut off areas linked to self-censoring, turning on those that let self-expression flow. The brain regions responsible for self-expression and novel ideas are activated during improvisation.
A recent study published in The Lancet Neurology found that alteplase treatment can improve clinical outcomes in stroke patients even when administered outside the conventional 3-hour window. The researchers identified patients with an ischaemic penumbra and showed significant benefits in tissue reperfusion and reduced infarct growth.
Researchers at Schepens Eye Research Institute found that blocking VEGF can damage the cell lining preventing fluid from leaking into the brain. This may contribute to Avastin's neurological side effects in humans.
Researchers found that obese rats have abnormalities in brain regions critical for appetite control, including reduced responsiveness to the hunger-suppressing hormone leptin. This suggests that obesity may be wired into the brain from early life, making it challenging to reverse with exercise and diet alone.
A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that dental amalgam fillings do not affect children's brain development or neurological status. The researchers studied 507 Portuguese children and found no differences between those who received amalgam and resin-based composite fillings.
Recent research by Natalie Denburg and colleagues found that 35-40% of healthy older adults exhibit poor decision-making abilities, which is associated with increased vulnerability to deceptive advertising. The study suggests that these individuals may experience disproportionate aging of the brain region critical for decision-making.
Researchers at OHSU Neurological Sciences Institute have discovered the brain's wiring system that determines when to perform shivering as a defense against cold. The study reveals that this process involves parallel but distinct sensory pathways for conscious and subconscious cold detection.
Stroke patients with mild to moderate impairments experience substantial improvement in upper limb function after just 2 weeks of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). The effects are retained for up to 24 months, with significant improvements in quality of life, social participation, and activities of daily living.
Belief and disbelief activate different brain regions, including those linked to emotions and taste perceptions. Uncertainty triggers a unique response in the anterior cingulate cortex and caudate region.
Researchers identified specific chemical compounds that triggered aggressive behavior in male mice, shedding light on the neurological basis of behaviors. The study focused on high molecular weight proteins, which were found to activate sensory neurons in the vomeronasal organ, mediating aggressive responses.
A brain scanning experiment found that when colleagues earn less, participants show stronger activation in the brain's reward centre. Traditional economic theory suggests that only absolute size of rewards matters, but this study reveals relative earnings play a major role in motivation.
A systematic review found that the risk of major stroke within a week after a minor stroke is substantial at 5.2%. Studies with emergency treatment in specialist stroke units showed the lowest risks, while population-based studies without urgent treatment had the highest risks.
A new imaging technique has enabled scientists to measure mouse satiety and hunger levels in the brain, offering a more objective understanding of why people become obese. The study used magnetic resonance imaging to observe neuronal activity in the hypothalamus area, revealing that certain neurons 'light up' when mice are hungry or full.
Ralph L. Sacco, a Florida neurologist, received the American Heart Association's Chairman's Award for his leadership in creating Power To End Stroke, a nationwide educational campaign aimed at raising stroke awareness among African Americans. The program has reached every state in the continental US and made measurable progress in spre...
A study published in Annals of Neurology found that the ventrolateral nucleus, a deep brain area, is involved in sensory processing. Researchers used behavioral and neuroimaging studies to investigate a patient who experienced changes in sensory perception after a stroke affecting only this region.
A comprehensive study is underway to examine the impact of prenatal exposure to mercury from dental fillings on neurological development. The researchers will collect hair samples from children in the Seychelles who were exposed to methyl mercury through their mothers' seafood consumption and dental work.
A large cohort study found that heavy drinking was associated with a higher risk of stroke in Chinese men. Drinking more than 21 drinks per week increased the risk by 22%, while heavier drinking correlated to higher mortality rates.