Articles tagged with Brain
A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that short-term alcoholics demonstrate the same brain damage as long-term alcoholics. The study suggests that there may be separate vulnerabilities to developing an alcohol dependency and brain damage, and that recovery from brain damage can take time.
Researchers at Yale University have identified a gene and protein responsible for stopping axon regrowth in the brain and spinal cord after nervous system injury. This discovery offers hope for reversing the failure of functional recovery in many brain and spinal injuries, including human spinal cord injury.
Recent findings suggest that neurosteroids play a major role in alcohol's effects on the brain by increasing GABA function. Neurosteroids interact with neurotransmitter receptors to alter neurotransmission, producing their effects in a millisecond time frame.
A long phone call led to a temporary vision loss and difficulty speaking in a French psychiatrist due to an unusually long styloid process. The patient's brain angiogram revealed a tear in the internal carotid artery, a common cause of strokes in young adults.
Researchers discover that older adults' brains reorganize themselves to recall visual information, bypassing damaged neural circuits. This adaptation allows them to maintain relatively good memory function despite aging, according to a new study published in Current Biology.
Researchers discover that exposure to novel environments stimulates the zif-268 gene during sleep, which may help consolidate memories. During REM sleep, this gene is reactivated in rats that explored new environments, suggesting a crucial role in memory processing.
Boston University scientists are developing a new form of microscopy that utilizes entangled-photon fluorescence microscopy to observe brain synapses. This technology holds promise for unraveling the century-old question of how dendritic spines function, crucial for cognitive processes like learning and memory.
Researchers found an immune molecule that kills damaged cells indirectly by closing receptors to a life-saving protein, shedding new insight on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and stroke. The findings could lead to targeted treatments for brain injuries and diseases involving neurodegeneration.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville developed a new type of molecule that can block neurotensin's ability to lower body temperature and reduce pain sensation. The breakthrough could lead to drugs specifically created to fight diseases at the molecular level.
Researchers identified Pin1, an enzyme that may restore tau protein function, and found it depleted in Alzheimer's brains. This could lead to new treatments for the disease by preventing tau protein misfolding.
A new study found that early t-PA treatment can have a long-lasting benefit for patients who experienced a stroke. Within three hours of symptoms onset, patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) were at least 30% more likely to have minimal or no disability at 12 months compared to placebo-treated patients.
Researchers found a new mechanism explaining how Alzheimer's disease damages the brain by producing hydrogen peroxide from oxygen, a toxic agent that can cause brain damage. The discovery provides a potential target for new drugs to treat Alzheimer's, which affects four million Americans.
The lecture featured expert discussions on the connections between dinosaurs, Neanderthals, and human evolution. Key findings highlight the importance of studying ancient species to better understand our own ancestry.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that stimulating environments can help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Rats living in enriched surroundings showed 45% less brain cell death compared to those in basic conditions.
A study at Brown University found that 'bad' brain experiences can lead to stronger connections and improved brain function during infancy. Researchers tested the effect of eyelid closure versus blocking electrical activity in one eye on neural connections, finding that eyelid closure caused more severe weakening.
A new experimental drug derived from snake venom, ANCROD, has shown promising results in reversing the physical and mental effects of stroke. In a 500-person trial, 42% of patients treated with ANCROD within three hours of stroke onset recovered their previous faculties.
The study found that the risk of rupture for small aneurysms (less than 10 mm) is low, especially in patients without a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The investigators advise against surgery for most patients with small aneurysms and no history of brain hemorrhage, suggesting monitoring as an alternative.
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience has identified a critical role for the D2 dopamine receptor in determining an individual's likelihood of developing alcoholism. Mice bred without this receptor showed reduced drinking behavior and aversion to alcohol, suggesting potential targets for treating addiction.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have developed a method to reverse dangerous cerebral vasospasms. The treatment involves administering a drug that dilates cerebral blood vessels, reversing constricting effects within 30 minutes.
Researchers found that eating daily equivalent of pint of strawberries or large spinach salad reduces specific effects of brain aging in rats. Spinach and strawberry diets protected against declines in nerve cell communications and ward off dip in memory performance.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that it took a volunteer patient about 250-300 milliseconds to begin understanding a pictured object, and another 250-450 milliseconds to fully comprehend its meaning. The study suggests that information accumulates gradually in the brain, rather than in a strictly all-or-none fashion.
A small-scale study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can hasten recovery from stroke and save millions of dollars annually in healthcare costs. The treatment, which combines hyperbaric oxygen with diagnostic testing, may give patients an extra hour to receive treatment, potentially extending the window for intervention.
A new technique developed by Dr. John Absher may help prevent strokes among Americans with high blood pressure. By adapting a space shuttle technique that simulates zero gravity, doctors can determine the risk of stroke for patients taking medication to lower their blood pressure.
A recent study revealed that 11% of the general population has silent cerebral infarcts, with current cigarette smoking and hypertension being significant risk factors. The findings suggest that these lesions may be associated with a poor prognosis in the general population.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Finland have developed a new mathematical formula that can accurately measure changes in brain activity due to oxygen levels. This breakthrough could lead to major advances in fMRI technology, enabling doctors to diagnose diseases by comparing levels of substances in the blood.
Researchers Matthew Botvinick and Jonathan Cohen found that the brain uses intersensory matches to identify the body as its own, leading to a sense of ownership and self-awareness. This study's findings could have implications for understanding clinical conditions such as phantom limb and alienation phenomenon.
Researchers at University at Buffalo found that the brain center responsible for hearing can reorganize itself after damage to the auditory nerve endings. The damaged nerve endings take longer to recover, but the brain recovers sooner, within five days.
A nationwide survey found that 91% of major stroke programs have acute stroke teams, with most costing less than $10,000 per year to operate. The teams are led by attending neurologists and/or neurosurgeons, and can respond to calls within 10 minutes.
Researchers at NIA found that high blood pressure speeds up memory loss in the elderly by accelerating brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Current treatment practices may not be sufficient to prevent this combined effect of hypertension and aging on the brain.
Scientists examining rat brains with underactive thyroid glands found differences in neuronal responses to serotonin, a neurotransmitter important for circulatory control. The study suggests thyroid hormones have an impact on mature brains, potentially affecting depression treatment.
Researchers at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center have developed a new brain mapping technology that can create realistic 3D images of brain activity in real-time. This breakthrough uses functional MRI data to produce high-resolution images, overcoming the previous bottleneck in processing time.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that testing for a specific gene type can accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease in most patients. The study showed that 100% of patients with the Alzheimer's susceptibility gene had the disease's telltale neurofibrillary plaques and tangles.