Articles tagged with Brain
Researchers have developed a monoclonal antibody called PRN100, which showed safe and encouraging results in treating Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in six patients. While the findings are preliminary and require further studies, they offer new prospects for this rare and fatal disease.
The newly developed KANPHOS database provides comprehensive information on kinase-associated protein phosphorylation, facilitating research into neural signaling pathways. The database contains information on phosphoproteins, phosphorylation sites, and participant kinases, allowing for searches based on various parameters.
Researchers aim to understand why up to 80% of individuals experience temporary or lasting changes in their sense of taste after COVID-19. Preliminary data suggests ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are highly expressed in taste buds, which may explain why these are common targets for the virus.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that cognitive decline is the biggest factor in determining how long patients with Alzheimer's disease will live after diagnosis. The study, based on national data from autopsy-confirmed cases, identified seven factors that predict life expectancy variances among participants.
Ben-Gurion University researchers found that participants overwhelmingly preferred virtual reality for short-term cognitive tasks, but split over the long term. A combination of both virtual reality and socially adaptive robots may be key to keeping people engaged in remote cognitive training.
A recent study found that individuals with a history of neurological or psychiatric conditions are at increased risk of developing a second condition. Women and men differ in their risk, with women being more likely to develop dementia after experiencing an earlier stroke.
Researchers at MIT and University of London found that collective electric fields produced by neurons provide a stable and consistent signal of information in working memory. This allows the brain to function even if individual neurons die or change.
Researchers identified key differences in metabolic processes between brain and spinal cord oligodendrocytes, which could lead to new therapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The study also found that targeting a specific cell protein may enhance cholesterol and myelin production.
Researchers have developed a new approach to studying brain activity, allowing for longer-term studies and improved understanding of neural traffic jams. The new cranial window system uses surgical glue and a tiny glass window to capture high-quality blood flow imaging and stable electrical recordings.
Researchers investigated the association between early adulthood blood pressure trajectories and brain health in midlife, including gray and white matter volume and cerebral blood flow. The study found that individuals with higher systolic blood pressure during young adulthood had lower gray matter volume at midlife.
Researchers discovered two Amazonian indigenous groups, Tsimane and Moseten, with remarkably low dementia rates, only 1% among older adults. These populations' pre-industrial lifestyles appear to offer clues to preventing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Research from the University of Georgia shows that physical activity can improve cognitive function and brain networks in older adults. Regular movement can help maintain executive function and independence as people age.
In a breakthrough discovery, microglia have been found to play a crucial role in forming critical synapses in the brain, particularly in chandelier cells. This finding suggests that immune cells may not only remove unwanted connections but also nurture their formation, which is essential for cognitive functioning.
Cedars-Sinai researchers identified two types of brain cells that divide continuous human experience into distinct segments, enabling the brain to recall memories. The discovery provides new hope for treatments of memory disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
A new MIT study found that lawyers' frequent use of long definitions in sentences makes legal texts difficult for non-lawyers to understand. Center-embedding, a common feature of legal writing, was the biggest contributor to comprehension difficulty. The researchers suggest reducing center-embedding and simplifying jargon to improve ac...
A new study using a dataset of over 36,000 adults found that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption was associated with reductions in overall brain volume. The association grew stronger with increasing levels of alcohol consumption, comparable to aging two and three years, respectively.
A study published in PLOS Biology reveals distinct brain regions associated with informational and normative social influence. The researchers found that the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) is active when people conform to information, while normative influence is linked to stronger connections between dACC and other social pro...
Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin uncovered that conceptual knowledge is tied to perceptual and experiential information. They used fMRI to measure neural activity while participants read hundreds of words, finding that experiential information was key to understanding word meaning.
Researchers are conducting a five-year clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of inebilizumab, an intravenous drug that neutralizes B-cells, in treating NMDA receptor encephalitis. The study aims to identify biomarkers that can predict patient recovery and improve quality of life.
A team of researchers has made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain processes visual information by studying populations of neurons across multiple brain areas. The study reveals that feedforward and feedback signaling involve different neural activity patterns, shedding new light on how the brain communicates with itself.
A study published in Cell Metabolism shows that nicotinamide riboside supplementation significantly increases NAD levels in the human brain and improves Parkinson's disease symptoms, suggesting a potential new treatment approach.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals that the APOE4 variant increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease by triggering the secretion of potentially toxic lipids in astrocytes. This secretion can lead to the accumulation of harmful lipids, which may contribute to neuronal death and disease progression.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence discovered how a specific type of neuron can multiply two incoming signals in fruit flies. This finding provides insight into the algebra of neurons, which underlies various brain processes such as sound localization and visual motion detection.
Research finds that subconcussive head impacts in youth football can impair cognitive brain function, particularly in attention and processing sensitivity. The study used brain vital signs to track changes in brain function over time, providing a predictive relationship between head impact exposure and cognitive impairment.
A study published in Disease Models & Mechanisms reveals that premature differentiation of pain-sensing neurons and increased mechanosensory neuron production contribute to the development of pediatric dysphagia. The researchers found that disruptions in neural crest cell interactions lead to cranial nerve dysfunction.
Researchers recorded the activity of a dying human brain for the first time, showing changes in neural oscillations similar to those during life. The findings challenge our understanding of when exactly life ends and may provide insight into near-death experiences and organ donation.
Researchers have identified a key brain protein to target for new customized drug therapies treating adverse symptoms of developmental disorder subtypes. The study found that mutations in ARHGEF9 lead to intellectual disability through impaired α2 subunit function, which is a central hub for many neurological symptoms.
Researchers at IBiS have developed a new treatment that completely eliminated glioblastoma tumors in animal models, offering a new therapeutic option against this aggressive disease. The therapy combines the use of ADI-PEG20 with focal brain radiotherapy and has shown promising results without side effects.
A noninvasive imaging method called virtual intracranial EEG (ViEEG) has been developed to replace electrodes in epilepsy surgery planning. The method uses magnetoencephalographic (MEG) imaging to create a dynamic map of the brain during seizures, enabling precise identification of brain networks involved in seizure generation.
A recent review of e-cigarette research highlights the significant health risks associated with vaping, including lung inflammation and injury. The study found that e-cigarettes can cause negative effects in multiple organs, from the brain to the bladder, and may even increase the risk of lung cancer.
Scientists have identified a link between temperature and insect reproduction, finding that cold temperatures slow down reproduction in fruit flies and other insects. This discovery could lead to new control strategies for mosquitoes and agricultural pests, potentially reducing the spread of diseases like malaria.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago found a promising treatment for neurodegenerative diseases by stopping nerve cell degeneration. A peptide has been identified that inhibits mitochondrial fission and lets nerve cells grow normally.
A VA research team found increased risks of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, in individuals who had COVID-19 infection. The study analyzed medical records of nearly 154,000 patients with COVID-19 and compared them to over 11 million people without COVID-19.
Researchers studied 100 babies' eye movements and brain activity to reveal that by 4 months, they can categorize objects into animate or inanimate groups. This ability emerges early, with refined categories appearing between 10-19 months.
A study found that using two cannulas to place newborns in respiratory failure on life-sustaining ECMO increases mortality rates. The safest path is a single cannula in the right internal jugular, which can remove oxygen-poor blood and add oxygen before returning it to the baby.
Researchers compared two treatment methods for wide-neck aneurysms: microsurgery with clips and coils/stents deployed via catheters. Microsurgery was found to be longer-lasting, but endovascular therapy showed superior clinical outcomes in unruptured aneurysms.
Researchers at Lancaster University developed a prototype that monitors brain signals while colouring mandalas, providing real-time feedback on mindfulness levels. The study found that technology could support emotional memory reflection and recolouring of completed mandalas.
Researchers at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute determine CASK gene disorder is caused by damage to neurons, not abnormal brain development. The finding has potential to inform treatment strategies for this rare genetic disease.
Researchers at University of Gothenburg discover a link between micro-stress and increased blood pressure, identifying a brain area controlling conscious motor skills. The study opens the door to influencing BP spikes and preventing hypertension through training.
A new study by Tohoku University researchers found that brain training with neurofeedback enhances cognitive functions, particularly episodic memory and working memory. The study, published in Brain Sciences, suggests that increased brain activity during training is key to unlocking its benefits.
Researchers developed a novel wearable soft robotic armband that conveys artificial sensations of touch to prosthetic hands, enabling users to control multiple grasp functions simultaneously. The study showed improved time efficiency and precision in transporting objects, with haptic feedback being crucial for tasks.
As people age, their brains allocate more space to accumulated knowledge, making memory retrieval challenging. However, this prior experience can also enhance creativity and decision-making skills.
Thirumalai Venkatesan's research aims to create a human-brain like computing system using quantum technology. His team has discovered a wonder molecule that enables molecular devices to mimic the brain's logic and reconfigure physical wiring, leading to enhanced computational power and reduced energy consumption.
A new study finds that immune cells clear away a key Alzheimer's disease protein on an oscillating daily cycle controlled by circadian rhythms. The discovery provides a potential mechanism linking Alzheimer's disease to disruptions in sleep cycles and may lead to the development of chronotherapeutics.
A study from Washington University in St. Louis found that birds with bigger brains relative to their bodies reduced their body size by only about one-third compared to smaller-brained birds. This suggests that cognitive power may play a role in helping certain species adapt to climate change.
A new study compares outcomes for acute ischemic stroke patients treated at various levels of stroke centers, finding that Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSC) and Thrombectomy-capable Stroke Centers (TSC) provide better care and improved outcomes. Patients treated at CSC or TSC tend to receive rapid treatment with clot-busting medicatio...
A Finnish twin study found that individuals with lower education are more susceptible to the negative effects of cardiovascular risk factors on late-life cognition. The study suggests that higher education can act as a cognitive reserve, helping to mitigate dementia risk.
Researchers found that 30% of fetuses who later developed ASD had heart, kidney, and head anomalies detected during routine prenatal ultrasounds. These anomalies were more common in girls and linked to the severity of ASD. The study suggests that doctors can use these signs to evaluate the probability of a child being born with ASD.
Neuroscientists have designed neural organoids with both mature neurons and astrocytic glial cells to study interactions between brain cells. The new technology enables the emulation of brain activity during healthy and disease states, opening doors to rapid drug screening for neurological diseases.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have made a groundbreaking connection between the gut microbiome and cognitive decline in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Fecal implants induced significant behavioral and cognitive changes in mice, offering new avenues for treating or forestalling dementia.
A new study published in Nature Communications found that amylin peptide plays a crucial role in regulating social contact-seeking behavior in female mice. The researchers discovered that isolation leads to a decrease in amylin levels, while social reunion increases them.
Researchers have developed a novel magnetometer that achieves an unprecedented level of sensitivity, detecting tiny magnetic fields that were previously undetectable. The breakthrough uses a single-domain Bose-Einstein condensate made of rubidium atoms at ultracold temperatures.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that certain stem cells have built-in tracers made of sugars that can track their movement in living tissues. The discovery could streamline and advance restorative research for diseases of the brain.
A study examining the health records of 37,379 Medicare beneficiaries found that older adults are at the highest risk of stroke within the first three days after COVID-19 diagnosis. Vaccination and other preventive measures can help reduce this risk.
Researchers analyzed data from hospitals in the US, Australia, and New Zealand to compare alteplase and tenecteplase for treating ischemic strokes. The study found that patients treated with tenecteplase had significantly lower rates of serious bleeding into the brain compared to those treated with alteplase.
New research reveals that one in three US stroke survivors experience food insecurity, which can exacerbate cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. Healthcare professionals can play a crucial role in addressing food insecurity by engaging with patients and providing support or resources.
Researchers analyzed data from over 35,000 adults who had no history of stroke or dementia. Those with optimal cardiovascular health showed a 2.4% higher brain volume, equivalent to a 7-year younger brain. Good blood pressure control and healthy blood sugar levels also contributed to healthier brain imaging measures.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered how 'polyglot' neurons encode and decode sensorimotor chatter, enabling the differentiation between motor and sensory signals. This breakthrough has vital applications in brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics, where accurate decoding is crucial.
In young adults, women are at a higher risk of ischemic strokes, with a 44% greater incidence compared to men. Researchers highlight the need for further research into the causes and non-traditional risk factors that contribute to this disparity.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that reducing air pollution exposure can slow cognitive decline in older women, with benefits seen across various demographics. The research followed 2,232 women for up to 20 years, revealing a significant association between improved air quality and reduced cognitive decline.