Articles tagged with Brain
Researchers at Saint Louis University have identified a protein transport deficit as a key factor in Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that reversing this deficit could lead to a new therapeutic target for treating the condition.
Researchers used a new microdialysis technique to study amyloid-beta levels in interstitial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid of mice with Alzheimer's-like changes. They found that ABeta42 levels decrease in cerebrospinal fluid while AB40 increases, suggesting a shift in how the molecule is moved between compartments.
A study published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that creative individuals have low levels of latent inhibition, a process that filters out irrelevant information. This allows them to remain open to new possibilities, potentially leading to original thinking and creative accomplishment.
Recent soccer heading practices have been found to lead to weaker neurocognitive performance, including decline in cognitive function, verbal learning difficulties, and reduced attention span. Research suggests that even short-term heading may pose a risk factor for long-term brain damage.
A study of 803 women found that transition through menopause is not accompanied by a decline in working memory and perceptual speed. This research challenges previous assumptions about the effects of menopause on cognitive function, offering new insights for improving memory and addressing related health concerns.
Scientists have found that brain clock cells in fruit flies rely on intercellular communication to sustain their circadian rhythms, even in the absence of light. The study also shows that a protein called PDF plays a crucial role in coordinating this process.
Researchers discovered that monkeys reflexively shift their attention to the direction of another individual's gaze, mirroring human behavior. This finding holds promise for a new animal model of social attention, which could lead to better treatments for autism and improved teaching methods.
A cheap and easy way to treat Parkinson disease involves infusing the ketone body D-beta-HB, which restores mitochondrial respiration and protects against neurodegeneration. This novel therapy supports a critical role for mitochondrial defect in Parkinson disease and offers new hope for treatment.
An imaging study has revealed that smoking significantly reduces MAO-B activity in the hearts, lungs, kidneys, and spleens of smokers, impacting overall organ health. The study used radiotracers to track enzyme levels in peripheral organs.
A Duke University study found that adolescent rats who started using nicotine earlier had a higher rate of self-administration and continued to use the drug in adulthood. The researchers suggest that early nicotine exposure may cause lasting addiction by affecting brain development.
Donepezil has been shown to improve cognitive function in vascular dementia patients, while a study found that brain volume loss can predict Alzheimer's disease. However, a clinical trial of topiramate in ALS patients found no benefits and an increased risk of adverse events.
A study found that diuretic amiloride improved cerebral blood flow in cocaine-dependent subjects, reversing cognitive impairments and depressive symptoms. The medication's ability to dilate arteries in the brain may be responsible for this improvement.
Researchers discovered that visually impaired individuals like Michael May struggle with object and face recognition due to delayed development of these processes. Despite challenges, May has made progress in interpreting motion and shading cues, adapting to his new visual world.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that creatine supplementation improves working memory and intelligence in both vegetarians and omnivores. The study suggests a significant boost to brain function similar to effects shown previously in muscle and heart.
Researchers at Queen's University discovered that brain patterns of people watching and performing tasks are similar, suggesting a common neural process. This finding may help assess individuals with impaired movement control and understanding of others' actions.
A study by Vanderbilt University researchers found that tracking the motion of larger objects is more difficult than smaller ones. The center-surround receptive field organization in the brain's visual area helps filter out spurious signals, making it harder to distinguish moving objects from their background.
Researchers found that people can pay attention to multiple stimuli simultaneously, challenging the traditional 'spotlight of attention' model. This discovery has implications for understanding attention-deficit conditions like autism and ADHD.
Researchers at UCSD School of Medicine and Children's Hospital found rapid brain growth in infants with autism, linked to early diagnosis and improved outcomes. The study identified a window of abnormal brain development, predicting the severity of autism, and suggests earlier interventions could improve treatment.
The study reveals that compensated poor readers have disrupted neural systems for reading, while persistently poor readers have intact but underactivated circuitry. Early interventions aimed at stimulating word-sound and word-meaning skills may benefit disadvantaged children.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology found that higher education or a larger brain size may help delay dementia. The research, based on data from the Nun Study, suggests that having more years of formal education or better early brain development can provide extra reserve for cognitive funct...
The ISUIA study found that smaller aneurysms than previously thought may warrant treatment, and endovascular treatment resulted in lower disability and death rates compared to open brain surgery. This suggests additional advantages for patients with specific characteristics.
An international study found that smaller aneurysms (less than seven millimeters) are at low risk for rupture, and patients' age, location of the aneurysm, and history of previous ruptures are key factors to consider. The study also showed that treatment risks increase substantially after age 50 and older.
Researchers at the University of South Florida have discovered that stem-like cells from peripheral blood can promote functional recovery after a stroke. The study found that rats treated with these cells showed significant behavioral improvement and reduced hyperactive behavior compared to those receiving no cellular treatment.
A computer vision study reveals that the brain processes facial recognition and emotional expression in linked neural pathways. The researchers developed a model that explains how humans recognize familiar faces and emotions, which can be applied to create more accurate face-recognition systems.
A specific group of brain proteins called alpha-Neurexins is essential for activating communication between neurons, and its absence disrupts synaptic transmission. This discovery expands knowledge of synaptic transmission and provides new insight into how the brain works.
A high C-reactive protein (CRP) level is an independent risk factor for stroke, with higher levels more closely related to stroke in people with thicker artery walls. Elevated CRP may denote plaque instability, increasing the likelihood of a blood clot forming and causing a stroke.
Researchers discovered that patients who received Exelon before withdrawing from a study showed significantly less cognitive decline than placebo-treated patients. The findings suggest a possible effect in delaying the biological progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Emory University Health Sciences Center have developed a new MRI technique using manganese-enhanced imaging to study the neural circuitry of aggression in crayfish. This breakthrough enables scientists to analyze entire patterns of brain activation, providing insights into complex social behaviors.
A new Northwestern University study suggests a fundamental difference in men's and women's brains and arousal patterns. Women exhibit a bisexual arousal pattern, responding equally to both male and female erotica, unlike men who respond consistently with their sexual orientations.
The UCSD Stroke Center will utilize a new ultrasound screening tool and provide remote consultations via wireless technology to increase the number of stroke patients receiving timely treatment. The grant also supports clinical trials using hypothermia as a method to extend the window of treatment effectiveness from three to six hours ...
The Northwestern Memorial Hospital is leading an international brain aneurysm study to confirm a familial link and identify specific genes responsible for the development of intracranial aneurysms. The goal is to prevent and treat aneurysms early, reducing premature mortality and morbidity associated with this type of stroke.
Researchers found that cooling the brain to 33 degrees Celsius increased survival rates and reduced microscopic brain injury by half. Hypothermia treatment also stimulated brain recovery by increasing growth factors derived from glia-cells in the brain.
A study at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that gamma knife radiosurgery provided high rates of tumor growth control and often led to tumor regression for patients with benign intracranial tumors. The study followed 285 consecutive patients over a median of 10 years, with 81% still alive after 10 years.
Scientists have identified a novel step in the formation of prions, proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and chronic wasting disease. By inhibiting this conversion with compounds blocking free sulfhydryl groups, researchers may be able to develop a therapeutic strategy against prion disease.
Researchers at Columbia University have made significant discoveries in understanding the immune system and brain function, including the identification of key genes involved in odor recognition. Their work has provided new insight into how smell is represented in the brain.
The regional stroke center, supported by a team of neurologists and radiologists, improved tPA treatment for ischemic stroke patients within a 100-mile radius. This led to higher treatment rates, reduced permanent disability, and better outcomes for patients.
Researchers are studying how our brains perceive and process facial features to understand face recognition. They believe that well-formed and well-known objects like faces are perceived in parallel processing, while difficult patterns may be processed serially.
A Saint Louis University study found that fat mice get fatter as they age due to a blood-brain barrier defect, while skinny ones remain the same. The researchers propose identifying substances that impair leptin transport to develop new obesity treatments.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discovered the first noxious cold receptor, ANKTM1, which detects 'noxious' cold temperatures and allows an influx of positively charged ions into axons. This finding may lead to pain-modulating drugs.
Memantine, a new drug, has been found to slow the mental and physical deterioration of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. The study, led by Dr. Barry Reisberg, showed that patients taking memantine experienced significantly less decline in cognition and daily life activities compared to those receiving a placebo.
A study involving 34 Parkinson's patients found that the implant improved their quality of life by an average of 22 percent, with significant improvements in mobility and motor functioning. Patients reported substantial improvements in daily activities such as dressing and preparing meals.
Current smokers have a higher risk of hemorrhagic strokes, with a two-fold increase in risk for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The study also found that quitting smoking decreases risk. Smoking damages arterial walls, making them more prone to rupture, establishing it as a risk factor for ICH.
Researchers have found that scopolamine and donezepil may be effective in treating nerve agent toxicity by blocking acetylcholine levels. These findings could provide a protective effect against nerve agents like sarin and VX, which cause seizures and death.
Researchers studied adults whose cognitive abilities were first tested at 11 and found that brain white-matter abnormalities made a significant contribution to general cognitive ability differences in old age. Early IQ scores also played a role, but independently of each other.
A brain scan technique called functional MRI reveals differences between healthy elderly persons and those with poor memory, indicating less effective data storage. This finding has implications for diagnosing normal memory problems versus the early stages of dementia.
UCB's pharma sector announces a new antiepileptic drug candidate, ucb 34714, which demonstrates higher efficacy than existing levetiracetam in reducing epileptiform activity and seizure severity. The compound also shows tolerability and disease-modifying properties, supporting its potential for improving epilepsy therapy.
A Salk Institute research team has discovered a receptor-protein interaction that guides nerve cells along specific pathways. The binding of protein Wnt5 to receptor Derailed prevents nerve cells from entering the wrong pathway, ensuring accurate connections.
Researchers at Dartmouth College found that visual attention is specifically drawn to graspable objects, such as tools, and that this effect is more pronounced when these objects are on the right side. This discovery suggests a clear association between visual perception and motor systems in the brain.
David M. Holtzman and Ashley I. Bush have been awarded the 2003 Potamkin Prize for their work on amyloid accumulation and oxidation in Alzheimer's disease. Their research has provided essential basic foundation for understanding how to treat the pathology related to amyloid accumulation.
Research by Kansas State University psychology professor maps choice-making in the brain, revealing two systems: deliberative and emotional. The study demonstrates the relationship between brain activity and observed choices, with surprising results on how the brain processes risk and ambiguity.
According to University of Toronto researchers, the brain uses prior knowledge to guide perceptions and ignores or downplays small changes. The brain gauges probabilities and makes the best possible use of flawed sensor data to form a coherent picture.
A Rutgers researcher is using brain signal analysis to better understand attention deficit disorder (ADD) and schizophrenia. By monitoring brain activity in real-time, the study aims to identify common patterns of interaction that can help define brain profiles for individuals with these conditions.
A study published in the American Association for the Advancement of Science suggests that estrogen levels influence women's ability to suppress pain. The researchers used PET scans to examine the brain's response to pain in individuals with different gender, hormone, and genetic profiles.
Studies have found that nerve cells in mature brains undergo metamorphoses and exhibit motility, reorganizing their structure to adapt to changing conditions. This discovery may have important implications for addressing diseases such as spinal injury by promoting recovery from synaptic abnormalities.
Adverse experiences in early childhood can lead to changes in brain structure, gene expression, and neurotransmitter function, increasing sensitivity to stress. This increased stress sensitivity is a significant risk factor for mood disorders and medical diseases.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are examining the effects of institutional care on brain-behavior relations. The study found that institutionalized children lagged behind those living with their families in cognitive, language abilities, behavioral adjustment, and neurophysiological indicators.
Researchers at Princeton University found that the brain circuits controlling eye movements also amplify or suppress signals from specific locations, enabling attention to be directed towards one thing over another. This discovery could provide new insights into attention deficit disorder and other information processing disorders.
Researchers have discovered that a specific subset of retinal ganglion cells, containing the protein melanopsin, play a vital role in detecting light and controlling the pupil's response. Without melanopsin, the pupil fails to constrict fully in bright light.
A recent study by Whitaker investigator Phil Bayly and his collaborators tested four brands of headgear, finding that they failed to dampen the impact of heading a soccer ball. The researchers used pressure sensors and metal mannequin heads to simulate heading at different speeds, revealing that only the fastest speed eased the impact.
Researchers discovered yeast cells can recycle their nucleus by removing non-essential components, a critical process for maintaining cellular health. This finding has implications for understanding human diseases such as Bloom's disease, where pieces of nuclei are pinched off into the cytoplasm.