Researchers have detected a peptide in cerebrospinal fluid that can indicate the onset of Alzheimer's disease, potentially allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment. This discovery raises new opportunities for combating the disease, which currently requires treatments to be started after significant brain damage has occurred.
Researchers found that a specific region of the brain, orbitofrontal cortex and ventral striatum, is associated with higher levels of social reward dependence and emotional warmth. This discovery may help understand why some people are more sociable than others.
Chronic smoking impairs brain blood flow recovery after long-term heavy drinking, according to a new study. Brain perfusion in frontal and parietal cortices improved with abstinence, but smokers showed significantly less recovery, particularly in the frontal lobes.
Researchers found that lithium promotes DNA repair in healthy cells but not in brain tumor cells, protecting healthy hippocampal neurons from radiation-induced damage. This mechanism could provide a way to increase the radiation dose to kill tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Researchers found strong conservation of gene expression in brain tissue across five species, including mammals and non-mammalian vertebrates. This suggests that neurons play a more central role in functional interactions than cells in other tissues.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have discovered an experimental agent that can reverse damage from spinal cord injury by blocking inflammatory reactions. The study shows that microglial cells release neurotoxic factors after injury, leading to lasting nerve cell damage.
Researchers found that socially isolated mice suffered more brain damage and higher inflammation levels after a stroke compared to paired mice. Social support was shown to reduce damaging inflammatory responses and increase anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain.
A new study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has pinpointed damage inside the brains of Gulf War syndrome patients, linking their illness to chemical exposures. The research identifies areas of the brain that function abnormally, including the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and thalamus.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have found that a class of Alzheimer's disease drugs may prevent long-term damage from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in animals. The study suggests that gamma secretase inhibitors, designed to prevent build-up of amyloid peptide, could potentially do so.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a nanotech coating that can help brain implants operate longer and improve treatment for various diseases. The coating, made of three components, enables electrodes to interface more smoothly with the brain, reducing tissue damage and improving signal transmission.
Scientists have successfully replaced damaged brain tissue in rats with stem cells, filling cavities within 7 days. The new tissue interacts with the host brain and can be gradually replaced by natural processes.
Researchers at UT Houston are launching a Phase I study to treat acute stroke victims with their own stem cells, harvested from bone marrow. The goal is to assess the safety and potential benefits of this treatment in reducing disability.
Researchers discovered that small arteries at the brain's surface redirect and widen to maintain a constant blood supply after a stroke. The mesh-like vascular network enables the arteries to compensate for reduced blood cell velocity by increasing diameter, ensuring steady delivery of oxygen and nutrients.
Scientists found that exposure to blast overpressure from certain weapons, such as anti-tank guns and automatic rifles, causes mild brain injuries in pigs and rats. The study's results suggest that low frequencies are more effectively transmitted to the brain than high frequencies, leading to small haemorrhages and brain edema.
Scientists are using slices of living human brain tissue to identify new stroke therapies by blocking anoxic depolarization, a wave of death that engulfs and engorges brain cells. The study aims to find treatments that can delay or prevent the destructive electrical activity, potentially improving treatment options for strokes.
Two new studies link hormone therapy to reduced brain volume in critical memory areas, accelerating loss of cognitive function in postmenopausal women. Researchers found no correlation between hormone therapy and increased brain lesions, contradicting previous hypotheses.
Researchers found that male mice that lived with a female partner before and after a stroke had a much higher survival rate compared to those mice that lived alone. Socially housed mice suffered significantly less brain damage, with reduced inflammation and increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-6.
Researchers found that immune cells known as killer T cells recruit other accessory cells to drive the disease, causing blood vessel damage. This discovery offers a new avenue for possible treatments for deadly meningitis.
Scientists discovered a key step in HIV's attack on brain cells and were able to reverse its effects by blocking the receptor. The discovery opens up a new avenue for researchers to explore in preventing or treating HIV's neurological effects, which have no currently approved treatment.
Neuroscientists at Arizona State University developed pulsed ultrasound techniques to remotely stimulate brain circuit activity, offering insights into noninvasive neurostimulation of brain circuits. The findings provide a new tool for modulating neural circuit activity, potentially treating post-traumatic stress disorders, traumatic b...
The McGovern Institute's MINT program awards up to $100,000 in seed funding for innovative collaborative projects in neuroscience research. Recent awards focus on developing alternative electrode materials, manipulating intracellular signaling pathways with light, and improving computational analysis of brain imaging data.
Researchers found two patients with hippocampal damage showed strikingly different patterns of memory performance, one with no deficit and the other impaired. The study suggests that subtle differences in brain pathology may be critical to understanding memory outcomes.
Researchers have developed an animal model to study the effect of small strokes on nearby neurons, finding that blockages can cause significant decreases in blood flow and death of neurons. A potential new tool for brain surgeons is being developed using optical measurements to detect and protect critical areas during surgery.
Purdue University researchers have developed a method of using nanoparticles to deliver treatments to injured brain and spinal cord cells. The team coated silica nanoparticles with a polymer to target and repair injured guinea pig spinal cords, showing improved physiological functioning in treated cells.
Scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center identified a new way to limit brain cell damage by reducing microglial activation. They found that a selective activator of a key receptor can turn off microglial activity, potentially treating conditions like stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
A new study finds that proteins modifying DNA play a key role in major depression and suicide, with brain tissue showing higher rates of epigenetic regulation. The research, led by Dr. Michael O. Poulter, identifies a gene involved in regulating brain activity as being heavily chemically modified in deceased individuals.
Studies found that patients with Huntington's disease have higher levels of immune-system signaling molecules, called cytokines, in their brain tissue. This suggests that the protein produced by the Huntington's disease genetic mutation is causing an overactive immune response, leading to damage to neurons in the brain.
Researchers at University of Western Ontario found a link between brain ventricle size and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's patients. They suggest that MRI scans can measure ventricle changes to provide earlier diagnosis and assess treatment effectiveness.
A new study found that chronic alcohol abuse can decrease levels of genes needed for brain cells to respond to insulin/IGF, leading to neurodegeneration. Insulin resistance in the cerebellum and frontal lobe was associated with loss of neurons and decreased levels of neurotransmitters.
Researchers at Heidelberg University Hospital discovered that depolarization waves in the brain spread through adjacent areas after a stroke, leading to further cell death. The study's findings may enable the translation of decades-long experimental research into clinical applications.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a link between sleep apnea and memory loss, finding nearly 20% smaller mammillary bodies in patients with the disorder. This suggests a long-lasting brain injury from repeated drops in oxygen, leading to cell death and inflammation.
Researchers identify increased fatty acids and phospholipids in CSF of SIV-infected monkeys, linked to CNS damage. The study provides insights into mechanisms of CNS damage in HIV patients using global metabolomics approach.
A new study by Dr. Martha Turner and colleagues found that patients with confabulation, a condition where memories are distorted after brain damage, all shared damage to the inferior medial prefrontal cortex. This discovery sheds light on how the human brain controls memory and distinguishes true from false recollections.
Researchers are developing cell-scaffold combinations to provide a framework for neural stem cells to regenerate lost brain tissue after stroke. The approach aims to support the growth of new tissue and promote functional repair, paving the way for potential clinical applications in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at Harvard have developed gene probe eye drops that enable non-invasive monitoring of brain activity in living organisms. The technology uses MRI to detect tissue repair and has potential applications in treating neurological diseases, diagnosing conditions, and delivering therapeutic agents to the brain.
Researchers have developed a method using near-infrared light to identify microscopic changes in brain tissue associated with Alzheimer's disease. This technique can potentially detect the disease earlier than current methods, which rely on clinical symptoms or imaging tests.
A study of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients found that more severe injuries result in greater brain tissue loss, affecting both white and grey matter. The research provides a clue to the nature of brain damage causing disability after TBI.
A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology found that mothers of autistic children may produce antibodies against their fetuses' brain tissue, which can cause changes leading to autism. The study suggests an association between maternal antibody production and developmental regression in children with autism.
A new study found that certain brain injuries, such as damage to the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, may reduce the likelihood of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in combat-exposed veterans. The findings suggest that drugs or pacemaker-like devices targeting these areas might be effective treatments for PTSD.
A study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, found that certain marine mammals have evolved to protect their brains from conditions of low oxygen. The amounts and kinds of globins in the brain correlate with physical activity patterns of various wild mammals.
Richard D. Smith, Battelle Fellow at PNNL, has been named to the prestigious Scientific American 50 list for his contributions in developing a new approach to neurological diagnostics. His research may help identify early stages of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases by analyzing biochemical biomarkers.
Normal aging is linked to brain system disruption, causing cognitive decline even in absence of Alzheimer's disease pathology. The researchers found a correlation between reduced functional connections and decreased white matter integrity.
Researchers discover mechanism by which rosemary's carnosic acid fights off free radical damage in the brain, potentially leading to new treatments for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. The active compound activates a novel signaling pathway, providing a 'pathological-activated therapeutic' approach with reduced side effects.
Researchers found that diffusion tensor imaging can identify structural changes in the white matter of the brain, correlating to cognitive deficits even in patients with mild TBI. The study also discovered axonal damage and myelin abnormalities in more severe injuries.
Researchers found a link between high-normal uric acid levels and mini strokes, which may contribute to mental decline in aging adults. High-UA levels were associated with increased volumes of white matter hyperintensities in the brain.
A new device aimed at reducing deaths and brain damage from hypoxia in newborns will be developed with a $750,000 NIH grant. The device will measure the precise temperature of the brain, allowing doctors to maximize the benefits of therapeutic hypothermia.
Long-term memory retrieval in abstinent alcoholics shows lower brain activity in key regions, indicating latent lesions or subclinical pathology. This suggests that brain damages from alcohol use can occur without apparent cognitive impairments.
People with writer's cramp have reduced grey matter in specific brain regions, including the cerebellum and sensorimotor cortex. The study suggests that these changes may be a result of sustained repetitive movement, or an adaptation to the condition.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that people with bipolar disorder experience accelerated brain tissue loss, particularly in areas controlling memory, face recognition, and coordination. The study shows that repeated episodes of illness can lead to greater brain loss and decline in mental ability.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered that preconditioning, a process where the brain is challenged with a small noxious stimulus, can shield blood vessels from stroke injury. This study found a 68% reduction in stroke intensity and a 114% boost in blood flow in areas unaffected by the stroke.
A recent study found that hyperintense lesions in older patients may indicate more severe brain damage, associated with conditions like dementia and memory problems. The study's lead author suggests that these lesions could be a sign of widespread disease in the brain.
Scientists have developed a method to amplify vCJD prions from human brain tissue extracts, enabling recognition by existing detection methods. This breakthrough could aid in confirming whether someone is infected with variant CJD, crucial for preventing further disease spread through infected blood donations.
Researchers found that people with damage to their left frontal lobe are more likely to correct mistakes, while those with right-brain damage struggle to track changing task rules. This study highlights the crucial role of self-monitoring functions in everyday situations.
Researchers are focusing on preventing further brain damage after a stroke, targeting the penumbra region where blood flow is reduced by 60%. They hope to restore normal electrical activity in neurons and promote recovery. Dr. Sergei Kirov's study uses real-time microscopical imaging and pharmaceuticals to stop anoxic depolarization.
Researchers have pinpointed how different types of damage to the DISC1 gene can cause schizophrenia and major depression. The study, published in Neuron, provides further evidence that these illnesses are inherited and may help doctors tailor treatments.
Research in mice shows migraines can lead to brain damage, with areas of the brain experiencing oxygen shortage. The study emphasizes the importance of preventing migraines through avoiding triggers and using prescribed medications.
Research reveals a strong link between stroke damage to brain region putamen and motor neglect, a condition causing slow movement on the left side. Treatment targeting dopamine-like compounds may ease this disability in patients with Parkinson's disease.
A study by neuroscientists from Harvard, USC, and Caltech finds that damage to the frontal lobe's ventromedial prefrontal cortex leads to abnormal moral choices. The research suggests that emotions play a crucial role in moral judgments, but also leaves intact other moral problem-solving abilities.
Researchers found a tight correlation between the severity of spatial neglect symptoms and the degree of impairment in communication within and between two brain networks. This study suggests that testing for communication breakdowns could improve clinical assessment and treatment of stroke and other brain injuries.
Researchers found that brain damage to insula region in smokers can completely eliminate the body's urge to smoke. Damage to this structure may offer leads for new therapies to help smokers quit or monitor their progress with existing treatments.