Articles tagged with Central Nervous System
Scientists develop long, precisely patterned molecular threads that enhance brain cell growth and organization. The findings introduce a new way to design highly controlled supramolecular materials with precise physical arrangement, which could inform materials' design for regenerative medicine applications.
Researchers at Upstate Medical University identified a crucial mechanism for determining myelin length, which varies throughout the nervous system and influences nerve signal speed. The findings, published in PLOS Biology, provide new insight into how the brain and spinal cord organize nervous system wiring.
Researchers found implanting collagen tiles during brain surgery to deliver targeted radiation therapy improves tumor control, lowers recurrence risk, and increases overall survival. Patients treated with tile-based radiation therapy had a 1.3% rate of recurrence at the surgical site compared to 15.4% in the control group.
Researchers developed a gene-delivery system that converts reactive astrocytes into functional neurons, improving motor recovery in mice and rats. The system, TRANsCre-DIONE, selectively targets scar-forming cells and reprograms them into neurons, which generate nerve impulses and receive signals from other neurons.
A new study aims to find new ways to prevent strokes in people with chronic migraine by understanding the link between cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. The research also explores the role of immune cells in blood vessels and their impact on migraine attacks.
A new UCLA study has found a connection between brain aging and gut biology, suggesting that people's brains may be aging decades before symptoms appear. The study, published in eBioMedicine, analyzed brain scans and stool samples to identify a link between brain communication patterns, gut bacteria, and brain aging.
Researchers have mapped the complete neural wiring behind taste in an animal, tracing taste signals from sensory neurons to motor neurons that drive feeding. The study reveals neural pathways that could explain how taste triggers anticipatory insulin release before a single calorie is absorbed.
A new theory suggests that the brain's ability to generate quick, nimble volitional thought arises from analog computations carried out by electrical waves. The brain's neural networks coordinate with analog computations to process information efficiently and locally, a feature of the brain's own physics.
A study identified novel autoantibodies associated with idiopathic myelopathy, specifically those related to vitamin B12 transport. Central nervous system vitamin B12 deficiency was also found in affected individuals. The findings suggest a potential diagnostic approach for myelopathy
Researchers identified a brain circuit that enables comparison between current and previous sensory information to aid judgment. The pulvinar region in the thalamus provides advice on how much sensory information has changed, helping the brain make predictions about what's happening.
ISM8969/HT-001 is an orally available, brain-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitor with promising in vitro and in vivo profiles. The clinical trial aims to evaluate its safety, tolerability, and efficacy in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Researchers identify a specialized lymphatic network in the brain that enables cerebrospinal fluid drainage, which declines with age but can be restored through intranasal VEGF-C delivery. This discovery provides new insights into brain waste clearance and its link to neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a way to intervene early in traumatic brain injuries using a natural, gut-derived chemical that prevents post-traumatic epilepsy from taking root. The treatment reduced brain inflammation, improved memory and mood, protected brain cells, made seizures both rarer and harder to trigger.
Researchers found a high frequency of MIR142 gene mutations (37.1%) in primary CNS DLBCL, exceeding systemic DLBCL data. The study suggests that these mutations may disrupt miRNA function and require further investigation for potential clinical applications.
The University of Cincinnati launches the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research (CANDR) to improve dementia prevention and treatment outcomes. CANDR aligns with UC's mission to innovate and engage locally while addressing one of the region's most pressing public health challenges.
New research presents a tailored stem cell approach to overcome long-standing barriers of chronic paralysis, building on the success of a world-first clinical study. The upcoming clinical trial aims to develop a safe, standardized therapy capable of restoring voluntary movement and autonomic function for chronic patients.
Research on ocean acidification's impact on cephalopod brains reveals a 49% reduction in brain volume compared to controls. The greatest reductions were found in visual information-interpretation regions, correlating with significant feeding behavior changes.
A Korean University research team has created a new brain implant that enables precise control of neural activity using temperature, opening possibilities for advanced brain–computer interfaces and treatments for neurological disorders.
The University of Louisville has opened an expanded Pediatric NeuroRecovery Center, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and increasing treatment capacity by 33%. The center provides life-changing therapies to children with spinal cord injuries, accelerating recovery and expanding access for those in need.
Researchers found that Ebola virus can persist in cerebral organoids for up to 120 days, infecting various cell types, including neurons and astrocytes. The virus can trigger local inflammation and lead to disease relapses in survivors, highlighting the need for improved treatments.
A recent study found that exposure to their own reflection in 4-month-old infants enhanced neural processing of others' facial actions but did not increase facial mimicry. The results suggest that simple experiences like seeing one's own reflection can shape the social brain from an early age.
Insilico Medicine has completed the first-in-human dosing of its AI-driven NLRP3 inhibitor ISM8969 in a Phase I clinical study. The trial aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of ISM8969 in healthy participants and those at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Researchers have developed a digital brain twin using multimodal data, providing anatomically accurate brain models that can be used in experimental and clinical settings. The models were reconstructed simultaneously with brain anatomy and dynamics from neural data.
Researchers have published the first complete connectome of a fruit fly brain and 'spinal cord', allowing for the study of how neural circuits control complex behaviors. The open-source resource is poised to propel neuroscience research by providing insights into basic principles of nervous system interactions.
Mitochondrial damage fuels neuroinflammation in CNS diseases, but targeted nanomedicines can restore function and reduce inflammation. Intelligent nanomaterials designed to cross the blood-brain barrier have shown striking efficacy in preclinical models.
Researchers analyzed brain tissue from MSA patients and found that the immune cells known as microglia appear to be exhausted or dysfunctional in later stages of the disease. The study suggests that an overactive immune system may contribute to the development of MSA, providing a potential target for future treatment.
A new study reveals that ALS unfolds through a domino-like sequence of events starting with an early breakdown in motor neurons, followed by a damaging inflammatory response. The findings suggest that targeting these immune signatures could slow down disease progression.
A new study suggests that ultrasound stimulation can bring about functionally meaningful changes in pain perception and brain connectivity. The research found a delayed analgesic effect, with participants reporting reduced pain intensity after 28-55 minutes following TUS application.
Gonçalo Cotovio uses lesion network mapping to identify the circuits responsible for psychiatric symptoms, aiming to develop personalized brain stimulation treatments. His work has produced striking findings in mania and obsessive-compulsive disorder, with ambitions to extend to disordered feeding behavior.
J. Craig Venter's pioneering work in expressed sequence tags revolutionized brain-expressed genes identification, while his synthetic cells paved the way for synthetic biology as a working discipline. His legacy has reshaped our understanding of genomes and their functions.
Andrea H. Brand, a NYU Grossman School of Medicine professor, was elected for her research on nervous system development and gene regulation. Eero P. Simoncelli, a Center for Neural Science director, was recognized for his work on brain representation and sensory processing in humans and machines.
More than 50% of people with diabetes develop diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which causes painful sensations like burning, tingling, or shooting pains. The brain and spinal cord can also contribute to pain, as their pain-blocking systems are less effective in people with diabetes.
A USC team has created a neuroprosthetic device that can restore coordinated bladder control in small animal models, proof of concept for a future treatment that could transform lives after spinal cord injuries. The device targets the dorsolateral funiculus region of the spinal cord to mimic the natural signals that trigger the need to...
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that half of older patients with dementia remain on psychotropic drugs a year after starting them. The medications, including antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, are often prescribed in acute and post-acute settings such as emergency rooms and skilled nursing facilities. This raises c...
Research highlights how everyday factors from early life through adulthood influence brain health and affect the risk of developing cognitive decline, dementia or stroke. Healthy lifestyle habits such as regular physical activity, healthy sleep habits, and balanced eating patterns can support brain development and healthy aging.
The Individual Brain Charting project has released its fifth update with a new set of cognitive tasks, expanding the dataset to 40 hours of scanned data per participant. This provides an exceptionally rich resource for studying individual variability in brain organisation and understanding brain function.
Researchers at the University of Houston found that distraction disrupts memory consolidation primarily due to demands on central executive processing. To improve short-term memory, focus attention on a task for a few seconds before switching, and avoid multitasking.
Researchers develop molecular tool called SynTrogo, which enables selective dismantling of synaptic connections in brain circuits. By harnessing astrocytes, the system reduces synapse number while strengthening remaining connections, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and improved memory.
A Korean research team developed a spinal cord stimulator that softens upon contact with bodily fluids, mimicking surrounding nerve tissue. The device uses liquid metal and variable stiffness structures to achieve stable signal transmission and reduced costs.
A research team led by LEE Doyun and KIM Yee-Joon found that the primary visual cortex encodes motion summaries and variability before higher brain regions transform them into category signals. This process, known as ensemble perception, allows the brain to capture the overall structure of a scene at a glance.
The companies are leveraging generative AI to develop innovative candidates for challenging neurological diseases, aiming to provide a broader range of therapeutic options. Insilico's Pharma.AI platform and Tenacia's expertise will continue to generate innovative solutions with strong translational potential.
A Tulane University study reveals how the brain regulates defensive behavior and fine-tunes fear responses as perceived threats diminish. Researchers identified distinct roles for neurons in the central amygdala, which help determine whether an animal responds with intense escape behavior or freezing.
A new study reveals that astrocytes regulate inhibitory signaling in the cerebellum during development, enabling the emergence of flexible and precise motor coordination. In contrast, younger animals rely on neuron-derived tonic inhibition, which is replaced by astrocyte-derived tonic inhibition in late adolescence.
A team of researchers has developed a method to decode fluctuations in spontaneous pain intensity in individuals with chronic pain using extensively sampled functional MRI data. The study found that neural patterns underlying pain differ markedly between individuals, highlighting the importance of individualized brain-based biomarkers.
Researchers found that veterans with prior concussions showed slower and less accurate eye movements, along with reduced performance on attention-based tasks. These subtle brain changes can be measured more than a decade after the original injury.
A new study from Houston Methodist suggests that the outer area of the retina may hold clues to early Alzheimer's detection, potentially allowing for non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring. Researchers found that changes in retinal cells and blood vessels can indicate the onset of AD years before symptoms appear.
Cancer cell researchers at the University of Oklahoma have developed a novel 'triangle regulation theory' that explains the development of cancer-induced cachexia and anorexia. The theory reveals how cancer cells recruit immune cells to trigger excess production of growth factor 15, leading to muscle wasting and loss of appetite.
Insilico Medicine and CMS announce multiple collaborations on AI-empowered drug discovery in central nervous system and autoimmune diseases. The partnerships aim to accelerate research, development, and translation of high-potential innovative therapies, leveraging complementary strengths across the entire value chain.
A new software tool developed by MIT researchers can reliably and finely resolve eight distinct nerve bundles in live diffusion MRI scans, shedding light on neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The BrainStem Bundle Tool (BSBT) reveals distinct patterns of structural changes in patients with these conditions.
Researchers at USC's Kanso Bioinspired Motion Lab discovered that sea stars' tube feet respond independently to changing loads, enabling local control strategy. This decentralized approach can optimize robot locomotion and adapt to environmental changes.
Researchers developed a novel nanoparticle system to cross the BBB, target infection sites, and release antibacterial agents locally. This strategy effectively disrupts biofilms, eliminates drug-resistant bacteria, and reduces neuroinflammation.
Researchers developed miniature 3D tumor organoid models that closely mimic the human brain, revealing how glioblastoma interacts with surrounding brain cells and immune system. The models identified PTPRZ1 as a key regulator of tumor behavior, which helps determine its aggressiveness.
Researchers have uncovered a new understanding of how cardiac events are interconnected with the brain and nervous/immune systems. They found that sensory neurons in the vagus nerve detect injury and transfer signals to dedicated brain structures, leading to activation of the immune system.
Research finds that nearly one in four Medicare beneficiaries with dementia are prescribed potentially harmful medications linked to falls, confusion, and hospitalization. Despite declines in prescribing rates, high levels of inappropriate prescribing persist among older adults with cognitive impairment.
A study found that older adults are prescribed potentially inappropriate central nervous system-active medications despite guidelines. Patients with cognitive impairment were more likely to receive these medications than those with normal cognition. The study highlights the need for better medication management in older adults.
Dr. Maria Margarita Behrens' work deciphers the molecular signatures defining every human brain cell type, shedding light on neural development and psychiatric disorders. Her single-cell epigenomic atlases will enable researchers to target specific cell types with unprecedented precision.
Researchers tested Spatial Computing theory by examining neural activity and brain wave patterns in animals performing working memory and categorization tasks. The findings support the theory's predictions, including that alpha/beta waves represent task controls and rules, while spiking activity carries sensory information.
A newly discovered neural pathway connects the amygdala with arousal centers in mice, revealing a key mechanism for emotional regulation of sleep-wake cycles. This finding highlights potential therapeutic targets for stress-related insomnia and mood disorders.
Research from Colorado State University sheds light on the regulation of chemical balance in the brain, focusing on GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps calm brain activity. The study provides insights into how neurons maintain effective communication with each other, even when GABA is produced far from synapses.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that older adults with chronic kidney disease or cerebrovascular disease are at double the risk for developing neuroinvasive West Nile virus infection, which can lead to paralysis and death. The study identified several risk factors, including male sex, immune suppressants, and multiple scle...