Neurological News > Neuronews - latest neurology news from around the world
			Catching Calcium Waves Could Provide Alzheimer Insights New insights on what causes Alzheimer’s disease could arise from a recent discovery made by bioengineers from the University of California, San Diego. The finding concerns the infamous amyloid beta peptides (Aβ)—fragments of which form plaques thought to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease more... Brain study examines causes of autism Research into Fragile X syndrome - a genetic condition that is the leading known cause of autism - has found that critical phases in the brain’s development may be mistimed in people with the condition. more... MCG to conduct first FDA-approved stem cell trial in pediatric cerebral palsy Medical College of Georgia researchers are conducting the first FDA-approved clinical trial to determine whether an infusion of stem cells from umbilical cord blood can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. more... Why Bright Light Worsens Migraine Headache Pain When a migraine hits, many sufferers hide out in a dark room, away from the painful light. Now scientists think they know why light makes migraines worse. more... What's his name again? How celebrity monikers can help us remember The ability to name famous faces or access biographical knowledge about celebrities holds clues that could help in early Alzheimer's detection more... New Web Tool May Help Predict Risk of Second Stroke Scientists have developed a new web-based tool that may better predict whether a person will suffer a second stroke within 90 days of a first stroke more... Most Antidepressants Miss Key Target of Clinical Depression A key brain protein called monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) – is highly elevated during clinical depression yet is unaffected by treatment with commonly used antidepressants, according to an important study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry more Hormone Ghrelin Can Boost Resistance to Parkinson’s Disease Ghrelin, a hormone produced in the stomach, may be used to boost resistance to, or slow, the development of Parkinson’s disease. more Sedatives, mood-altering drugs related to falls among elderly: UBC study Falls among elderly people are significantly associated with several classes of drugs, including sedatives often prescribed as sleep aids and medications used to treat mood disorders more... Fat around the middle increases the risk of dementia Women who store fat on their waist in middle age are more than twice as likely to develop dementia when they get older more... New discovery about the formation of new brain cells The generation of new nerve cells in the brain is regulated by a peptide known as C3a, which directly affects the stem cells' maturation into nerve cells and is also important for the migration of new nerve cells through the brain tissue more... Study links genetic variation to individual empathy, stress levels Researchers have discovered a genetic variation that may contribute to how empathetic a human is, and how that person reacts to stress. more... Crossing the line: how aggressive cells invade the brain In diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cells of the immune system infiltrate the brain tissue, where they cause immense damage. For many years, it was an enigma as to how these cells can escape from the bloodstream. This is no trivial feat, given that specialized blood vessels act as a barrier between the nervous system and the bloodstream. Until now, tissue sections provided the sole evidence that the immune cells really do manage to reach the nerve cells. Now, a team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, the University Medical Center Göttingen, and other institutes, has witnessed the movements of these cells "live" under the microscope for the very first time. In the process, they discovered several new behavioural traits of the immune cells. The consolidated findings mark a significant step forward in our understanding of this complex disease more... Eliminating Scar Tissue: Researchers Stabilize and Improve Delivery of Enzyme that Digests Scar Tissue, Enables Spinal Cord Regeneration Researchers have developed an improved version of an enzyme that degrades the dense scar tissue that forms when the central nervous system is damaged. By digesting the tissue that blocks re-growth of damaged nerves, the improved enzyme – and new system for delivering it – could facilitate recovery from serious central nervous system injuries. more... Researchers Show Efficacy of Gene Therapy in Mouse Models of Huntington's Disease Researchers have shown that a highly specific intrabody (an antibody fragment that works against a target inside a cell) is capable of stalling the development of Huntington's disease in a variety of mouse models. more... Time-Keeping Brain Neurons Discovered Groups of neurons that precisely keep time have been discovered in the primate brain by a team of researchers more... Manipulating Brain Inflammation May Help Clear Brain of Amyloid Plaques, Mayo Clinic Researchers Say In a surprising reversal of long-standing scientific belief, researchers at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have discovered that inflammation in the brain is not the trigger that leads to buildup of amyloid deposits and development of Alzheimer's disease. more... New findings about brain proteins suggest possible way to fight Alzheimer's The action of a small protein that is a major villain in Alzheimer’s disease can be counterbalanced with another brain protein, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in an animal study. more... Genome-wide study of autism published in Nature In one of the first studies of its kind, an international team of researchers has uncovered a single-letter change in the genetic code that is associated with autism. more... Enzyme may be a key to Alzheimer's-related cell death A Purdue University researcher has discovered that the amount of an enzyme present in neurons can affect the mechanism thought to cause cell death in Alzheimer's disease patients and may have applications for other diseases such as stroke and heart attack. more... One small step for neurons, one giant leap for nerve cell repair A new study by researchers at the Montreal NeurologicaI Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) and McGill University, is a significant advance towards a solution for neuronal repair. The study featured on the cover of the October 7 issue of Journal of Neuroscience, is the first to show that nerve cells will grow and make meaningful, functional contacts, or synapses - the specialized junctions through which neurons signal to each other - with an artificial component, in this case, plastic beads coated with a substance that encourages adhesion, and attracts the nerve cells more... WHILE ADOLESCENTS MAY REASON AS WELL AS ADULTS, THEIR EMOTIONAL MATURITY LAGS, SAYS NEW RESEARCH A 16-year-old might be quite capable of making an informed decision about whether to end a pregnancy - a decision likely to be made after due consideration and consultation with an adult - but this same adolescent may not possess the maturity to be held to adult levels of responsibility if she commits a violent crime, according to new research into adolescent psychological development. more... Use it or Lose it? Study Suggests the Brain Can Remember a “Forgottenâ€� Language more... Ice cream may target the brain before your hips Blame your brain for sabotaging your efforts to get back on track after splurging on an extra scoop of ice cream or that second burger during Friday night's football game. more... New marker for Alzheimer's discovered Researchers have discovered a previously unknown substance in spinal fluid that can be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. more... Researchers identify critical gene for brain development, mental retardation Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have now discovered that establishing the neural wiring necessary to function normally depends on the ability of neurons to make finger-like projections of their membrane called filopodia more... Largest ever Alzheimer’s gene study unveils dementia mysteries British scientists have discovered two new genes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, while French colleagues uncovered a third. more... Those blinded by brain injury may still 'see' Except in clumsy moments, we rarely knock over the box of cereal or glass of orange juice as we reach for our morning cup of coffee. New research at The University of Western Ontario has helped unlock the mystery of how our brain allows us to avoid these mishaps. more... More obesity blues: Research shows brains of obese people have less tissue Researchers have found that obese individuals had, on average, 8 percent less brain tissue than people of normal weight, while overweight people had 4 percent less tissue. According to Thompson, who is also a member of UCLA's Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, this is the first time anyone has established a link between being overweight and having what he describes as "severe brain degeneration." more... Scientists construct ‘off switch’ for Parkinson therapy A common antibiotic can function as an “off switchâ€� for a gene therapy being developed for Parkinson’s disease. more... Getting wired: how the brain does it In a new study, researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro), McGill University have found an important mechanism involved in setting up the vast communications network of connections in the brain more... More obesity blues: Research shows brains of obese people have less tissue In a study published in the current online edition of the journal Human Brain Mapping, senior author Paul Thompson, a UCLA professor of neurology, lead author Cyrus A. Raji, a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and their colleagues compared the brains of elderly people who were obese, overweight and of normal weight to see if they had differences in brain structure — that is, if their brains looked equally healthy. more... Study shows how to boost value of Alzheimer's-fighting compounds The polyphenols found in red wine are thought to help prevent Alzheimer's disease, and new research has shown that some of those compounds in fact reach the brain. more... Blood test can detect brain damage in amateur boxers A blood test can now be used to detect brain damage in amateur boxers. Deterioration of nerve cells seems to occur even after a two-month break from boxing. more... Study shows how to boost value of Alzheimer's-fighting compounds The polyphenols found in red wine are thought to help prevent Alzheimer's disease, and new research from Purdue University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine has shown that some of those compounds in fact reach the brain. more... Vision researchers see unexpected gain a year into blindness trial Scientists have discovered that even in adults born with extremely impaired sight, the brain can rewire itself to recognize sections of the retina that have been restored by gene therapy. more... Sounds and images share a similar neural code in the human brain The same neural code in the brain allows people to distinguish between different types of sounds, such as speech and music, or different images. more... Brain Innately Separates Living and Non-Living Objects for Processing For unknown reasons, the human brain distinctly separates the handling of images of living things from images of non-living things, processing each image type in a different area of the brain. For years, many scientists have assumed the brain segregated visual information in this manner to optimize processing the images themselves, but new research shows that even in people who have been blind since birth the brain still separates the concepts of living and non-living objects. more... Early Fire Use Ignites Discussion about the Evolution of Human Brainpower New evidence that early modern humans used fire in southern Africa in a controlled way to increase the quality and efficiency of stone tools is changing how researchers understand the evolution of human behavior, and in particular, the evolution of human brain power. more... McGill/JGH researchers successfully reverse multiple sclerosis in animals A new experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) completely reverses the devastating autoimmune disorder in mice, and might work exactly the same way in humans, say researchers at the Jewish General Hospital Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and McGill University in Montreal. more... Study finds no link between cognitive decline, socioeconomic status in elderly New UCLA research suggests that for seniors age 70 and older, socioeconomic status does not play a major role in the brain's continued ability to function. However, seniors who have never been married and widowers seem to perform more poorly as they age. more... Researchers Unravel Mystery Behind Long-Lasting Memories A new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine may reveal how long-lasting memories form in the brain. more... Smile As You Read This: Language That Puts You in Touch With Your Bodily Feelings Louis Armstrong sang, "When you're smilin', the whole world smiles with you." Romantics everywhere may be surprised to learn that psychological research has proven this sentiment to be true — merely seeing a smile (or a frown, for that matter) will activate the muscles in our face that make that expression, even if we are unaware of it. more... Results from Trials of DHA in Alzheimer's Disease and Age-Related Cognitive Decline Mixed Results Emphasize the Need for Earlier Detection and Intervention more... Parkinson's Disease Alters Patient's Ability to Learn from Rewards while Treatment Affects Ability to Learn from Negative Outcomes A new neuropsychological memory test is helping to uncover how Parkinson's disease can alter people's ability to learn about the consequences of the choices they make. more... Much Touted “Depression Risk Geneâ€� May Not Add to Risk After All Press Release June 16, 2009 Much Touted “Depression Risk Geneâ€� May Not Add to Risk After All New Look at Data Confirms Strong Association between Depression and Stressful Life Events Stressful life events are strongly associated with a person's risk for major depression, but a certain gene variation long thought to increase risk in conjunction with stressful life events actually may have no effect, more... Why people 'never forget a face' New research suggests that we can remember more faces than other objects and that faces stick the best in our short-term memory. The reason may be that our expertise in remembering faces allows us to package them better for memory. more.. Researchers visualize formation of a new synapse A protein called neuroligin that is implicated in some forms of autism is critical to the construction of a working synapse, locking neurons together like "molecular Velcro. Published online in the June issue of the journal Neural Development, the study is accompanied by groundbreaking images that are the first to show two neurons coming together using neuroligin to construct a new synapse. more... Playing video games for better, not worse Some video games can make children kinder and more likely to help—not hurt—other people. more... MYSTERY SOLVED: JOHNS HOPKINS SCIENTISTS SAY TINY PROTEIN-ACTIVATOR RESPONSIBLE FOR BRAIN CELL DAMAGE IN HUNTINGTON DISEASE Johns Hopkins brain scientists have figured out why a faulty protein accumulates in cells everywhere in the bodies of people with Huntington’s disease (HD), but only kills cells in the part of the brain that controls movement, causing negligible damage to tissues elsewhere. more... Staying Sharp: New Study Uncovers How People Maintain Cognitive Function in Old Age Not everyone declines in cognitive function with age. Elderly people who exercise at least once a week, have at least a high school education and a ninth grade literacy level, are not smokers and are more socially active are more likely to maintain their cognitive skills through their 70s and 80s, more... Let Me Sleep on It: Creative Problem Solving Enhanced by REM Sleep Research led by a leading expert on the positive benefits of napping at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggests that Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep enhances creative problem-solving. The findings may have important implications for how sleep, specifically REM sleep, fosters the formation of associative networks in the brain. more... New Model Suggests Role of Low Vitamin D in Cancer Development In studying the preventive effects of vitamin D, researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, have proposed a new model of cancer development that hinges on a loss of cancer cells’ ability to stick together. The model, dubbed DINOMIT, differs substantially from the current model of cancer development, which suggests genetic mutations as the earliest driving forces behind cancer. more... Fatal brain disease at work well before symptoms appear Scientists have discovered why a paralyzing brain disorder speeds along more rapidly in some patients than others — a finding that may finally give researchers an entry point toward an effective treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. more... A Potential New MS Treatment's Long and Winding Road In a remarkable turn of events, a 20-year-old treatment pioneered by Scripps Research scientists for an exceedingly rare form of leukemia appears to be on the verge of becoming the first effective oral therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that affects an estimated 2.5 million people worldwide. more... Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs May Help Prevent Stroke Recurrence People who take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins after a stroke may be less likely to have another stroke later more.... Menopause Transition May Cause Trouble Learning The largest study of its kind to date shows that women may not be able to learn as well shortly before menopause compared to other stages in life more... Suffer Stroke Symptoms? Second Strokes Often Follow Within Hours About half of all people who have a major stroke following a warning stroke (a transient ischemic attack or mild stroke) have it within 24 hours of the first event more... Discoveries Shed New Light on How the Brain Processes What the Eye Sees Researchers find widely held theory on "Saccadic Suppression" is incorrect with discovery that the brain is blocking information from awareness more... Most common brain cancer may originate in neural stem cells University of Michigan scientists have found that a deficiency in a key tumor suppressor gene in the brain leads to the most common type of adult brain cancer. The study, conducted in mice that mimic human cancer, points the way to more effective future treatments and a way to screen for the disease early. more... Why friendships are good for you Why does dishing with a girlfriend do wonders for a woman's mood? A University of Michigan study has identified a likely reason: feeling emotionally close to a friend increases levels of the hormone progesterone, helping to boost well-being and reduce anxiety and stress more... New insight into addictive behaviour offers treatment hope Addictive behaviour is determined by conscious, rapid thought processes, not necessarily by the content of visual stimuli as previously thought according to research funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). more... How to build a bigger brain Study shows that meditation may increase gray matter more... Achieving Fame, Wealth, and Beauty are Psychological Dead Ends, Study Says If you think having loads of money, fetching looks, or the admiration of many will improve your life â€â€� think again. A new study by three University of Rochester researchers demonstrates that progress on these fronts can actually make a person less happy. more... ADHD Medications Do Not Cause Genetic Damage in Children In contrast to recent findings, two of the most common medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not appear to cause genetic damage in children who take them as prescribed, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Duke University Medical Center. more... Study Investigates Non-Surgical Placement of a Gore-tex Type Device in the Heart to Stop Recurrent Strokes and Mini-Strokes A study is under way at Rush University Medical Center using a small, soft-patch device made of a Gore-tex-type material – often used to make durable outerwear – to close a common hole found in the heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in order to prevent recurrent strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) in adults. more... Rapid Screening Test Developed to Detect Early Alzheimer's Disease A team of national researchers, led by Emory University, has developed a rapid screening test to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) -- often the earliest stage of AD. more... Stopping the slow decay from brain disease Researchers have identified a group of chemical compounds that slows the degeneration of neurons, a condition that causes such common diseases of old age as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS). more... Silencing growth inhibitors could help recovery from brain injury Silencing natural growth inhibitors may make it possible to regenerate nerves damaged by brain or spinal cord injury more... Social interactions can alter gene expression in the brain, and vice versa Our DNA determines a lot about who we are and how we play with others, but recent studies of social animals (birds and bees, among others) show that the interaction between genes and behavior is more of a two-way street than most of us realize. more... Yale Researchers unravel mystery of brain aneurysms Yale researchers have taken the first critical steps in unraveling the mysteries of brain aneurysms, the often fatal rupturing of blood vessels that afflicts 500,000 people worldwide each year. more... Brain scans demonstrate link between education and Alzheimer's A test that reveals brain changes believed to be at the heart of Alzheimer's disease has bolstered the theory that education can delay the onset of the dementia and cognitive decline that are characteristic of the disorder. more... Our Cheating Brain: The Brain's Clever Way of Showing Us the World as a Whole Whether we choose to admit it or not, we all experience memory errors from time to time. Research has suggested that false memory may be a result of having too many other things to remember or perhaps if too much time has passed. more... Beyond recognizing odors, a single neuron controls reactions New research shows that some preferences are still surprisingly flexible at even the most basic level — that of the sensory neuron itself — and that our nervous system may be even more adaptable than we thought. more... Brain Imaging Study Provides New Insight Into Why People Pay Too Much in Auctions Auctions are an old and widely used method for allocating goods that have become increasingly common with the advent of internet auctions sites such as Ebay. Previous economic research has shown that in an auction people tend to bid “too high,â€� or overbid, given the value of the item for sale more... Spacing, Not Size, Matters in Visual Recognition You might think that the farthest distance at which you can hold a book and still read it quickly is determined by the size of the letters. However, New York University neuroscientists have concluded that it’s the spacing between letters, not their size, that matters more... SOLE USE OF IMPAIRED LIMB IMPROVES RECOVERY IN SPINAL CORD INJURY A new study finds that following minor spinal cord injury, rats that had to use impaired limbs showed full recovery due to increased growth of healthy nerve fibers and the formation of new nerve cell connections more... Inflammatory response to infection and injury may worsen dementia Inflammation in the brain resulting from infection or injury may accelerate the progress of dementia. The findings, may have implications for the treatment and care of those living with dementia. more... Athletes' and spectators' brains light up when talking sports Being an athlete or merely a fan improves language skills when it comes to discussing their sport because parts of the brain usually involved in playing sports are instead used to understand sport language More... Age-related memory loss tied to slip in filtering information quickly Scientists have identified a way in which the brain’s ability to process information diminishes with age, and shown that this break down contributes to the decreased ability to form memories that is associated with normal aging. more... Surgical Technique Halts Cell Loss, Parkinson's Researchers Find Deep brain stimulation, a surgical technique often viewed as a last resort for people with Parkinson’s disease, halts the progression of dopamine-cell loss in animal models more... Even without dementia, mental skills decline years before death A new study shows that older people's mental skills start declining years before death, even if they don't have dementia. more... MIT zeroes in on Alzheimer's structures MIT engineers report a new approach to identifying protein structures key to Alzheimer's disease, an important step toward the development of new drugs that could prevent such structures from forming. more... Gene That Causes Childhood Cancer Neuroblastoma Is Found Scientists have discovered gene mutations that are the main cause of the inherited version of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma more... Brain study could lead to new understanding of depression Brain scientists have moved a step closer to understanding why some people may be more prone to depression than others. more... Researchers Hope to Reverse Stroke Damage by Jumpstarting Growth of Nerve Fibers Researchers report a technique that potentially could restore functions to patients weeks or even months after a stroke. The technique involves jumpstarting the growth of nerve fibers to compensate for brain cells destroyed by the stroke. more... Old antibiotic may find new life as a stroke treatment An old intravenous antibiotic may have new life as a stroke treatment, researchers say. more... Scientists Discover a Molecular Scaffold That Guides Connections Between Brain Cells Non-signaling glial cells can direct synapse formation in the forging of neural networks more... RNA Toxicity Contributes to Neurodegenerative Disease Biologists have determined that faulty RNA, the blueprint that creates mutated, toxic proteins, contributes to a family of neurodegenerative disorders in humans. more... KILLER COMPETITION: NEURONS DUKE IT OUT FOR SURVIVAL The developing nervous system makes far more nerve cells than are needed to ensure target organs and tissues are properly connected to the nervous system. more... Study breaks ground in revealing how neurons generate movement When the eye tracks a bird’s flight across the sky, the visual experience is normally smooth, without interruption. But underlying this behavior is a complex coordination of neurons that has remained mysterious to scientists more... Looking at neurons from all sides A new technique that marries a fast-moving laser beam with a special microscope that looks at tissues in different optical planes will enable scientists to get a three-dimensional view of neurons or nerve cells as they interact more... Brain Study May Lead to Improved Epilepsy Treatments Researchers have found one of the body's own neurotransmitters released during seizures, glutamate, turns on a signaling pathway in the brain that increases production of a protein that could reduce medication entry into the brain more... Unconscious decisions in the brain A team of scientists has unravelled how the brain unconsciously prepares our decisions more... Can micro-scaffolding help stem cells rebuild the brain after stroke? Inserting tiny scaffolding into the brain could dramatically reduce damage caused by strokes more... More brain research suggests "use it or lose it" Scientists have found another important clue to why nerve cells die in neurodegenerative diseases, based on studies of the developing brain. more... Biologists link locust comas with human migraine The way locusts react to stress may provide an important clue to understanding what causes human migraines more... What Gives Us Fingertip Dexterity? Quickly moving your fingertips to tap or press a surface is essential for everyday life to, say, pick up small objects, use a BlackBerry or an iPhone, But researchers say that this seemingly trivial action is the result of a complex neuro-motor-mechanical process orchestrated with precision timing by the brain, nervous system and muscles of the hand. more... TWIN STUDY INDICATES GENETIC BASIS FOR PROCESSING FACES, A new study of twins indicates that the genetic foundation for the brain’s ability to recognize faces and places is much stronger than for other objects, such as words more.... UCLA scientists restore walking after spinal cord injury Spinal cord damage blocks the routes that the brain uses to send messages to the nerve cells that control walking. Until now, doctors believed that the only way for injured patients to walk again was to re-grow the long nerve highways that link the brain and base of the spinal cord. For the first time, a UCLA study shows that the central nervous system can reorganize itself and follow new pathways to restore the cellular communication required for movement. more... Why fish oil is good for you Many Alzheimer's researchers have long touted fish oil, by pill or diet, as an accessible and inexpensive "weapon" that may delay or prevent this debilitating disease. Now, UCLA scientists have confirmed that fish oil is indeed a deterrent against Alzheimer's, and they have identified the reasons why. more... Immune System May Target Some Brain Synapses, Researchers Find A baby's brain has a lot of work to do, growing more neurons and connections. Later, a growing child's brain begins to pare down these connections until it develops into the streamlined brain of an adult. more... Green Tea May Protect Brain Cells Against Parkinson’s Disease Does the consumption of green tea, widely touted to have beneficial effects on health, also protect brain cells" Authors of a new study being published in the December 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry share new data that indicates this may be the case. more... Blood Pressure Drug Telmisartan Shows Powerful Activity Against Stroke Telmisartan, a drug widely used to help control blood pressure, may have uniquely potent activity in preventing stroke, according to a new study conducted in an animal model. more... Europe to tackle brain disorder research by linking industry, academia Attempts to cure brain-related disorders have proved less successful than therapies for other major conditions such as heart cancer, even though just as many people suffer from them. more... 'Cocktail' of compounds improves brain function in rodents MIT researchers have shown that a cocktail containing three compounds normally in the blood stream promotes growth of new brain connections and improves cognitive function in rodents. The treatment is now being tested in Alzheimer's patients and could hold promise for other brain diseases and injuries. more... Lead levels even well below U.S. standard may affect brain function in children Even very small amounts of lead in children's blood -- amounts well below the current federal standard -- are associated with reduced IQ scores, finds a new, six-year Cornell study. more... Scientists uncover how the brain controls what the eyes see Vase or face? When presented with the well known optical illusion in which we see either a vase or the faces of two people, what we observe depends on the patterns of neural activity going on in our brains. more... Left Brain Helps Hear Through The Noise Our brain is very good at picking up speech even in a noisy room, an adaptation essential for holding a conversation at a cocktail party, and now we are beginning to understand the neural interactions that underlie this ability more... Brain processes memories six to seven times faster than real time. During sleep, the reactivated memories of real-time experiences are processed within the brain at a higher rate of speed. That rate can be as much as six or seven times faster. more... Vaccine key to Alzheimer's disease? Could a new vaccine be the key to stopping Alzheimer's disease? A new research study from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) shows that immunization could offer a way to blunt or even prevent the deadly, memory-robbing disease. more... New Treatment Holds Promise for Patients with Tourette Syndrome Research out of the Neurological Institute at University Hospitals Case Medical Center finds that Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) helps patients who suffer from Tourette Syndrome (TS). more... Cough Medicine Fights Dyskinesias In Parkinson's A cough suppressant and a drug tested as a schizophrenia therapy curb the involuntary movements that are disabling side effects of taking the Parkinson's disease medication levodopa more... Imaging Neural Progenitor Cells in the Living Human Brain For the first time, investigators have identified a way to detect neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which can develop into neurons and other nervous system cells, in the living human brain using a type of imaging called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). more... Over-the-Counter Pain Medications May Reduce Risk of Parkinson’s Disease Over-the-counter pain medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce a person’s risk of Parkinson’s disease more... Worms Take the Sniff Test to Reveal Sex Differences in Brain Buttery popcorn or fresh green vegetables? Your answer tells a lot about you. Now, scientists say that the way that thousands of tiny worms have answered that question likely reveals a lot about you and your brain, too. more... Modest Gain in Visceral Fat Causes Dysfunction of Blood Vessel Lining In Lean Healthy Humans; Shedding Weight Restores Vessel Health When lean healthy young adults gained about 9 pounds, the functioning of their blood vessel lining became impaired but shedding the weight restored proper functioning, according to a Mayo Clinic research report. more... How Schizophrenia Develops: Major Clues Discovered Schizophrenia may occur, in part, because of a problem in an intermittent on/off switch for a gene involved in making a key chemical messenger in the brain, scientists have found in a study of human brain tissue. more... Blood may help us think MIT scientists propose that blood may help us think, in addition to its well-known role as the conveyor of fuel and oxygen to brain cells. more... What emotional memories are made of Both extensive psychological research and personal experiences confirm that events that happen during heightened states of emotion such as fear, anger and joy are far more memorable than less dramatic occurrences. more.. Brain cell growth diminishes long before old age strikes, animal study shows Even early in adulthood, aging begins to slow the mind's growth -- but it does not have to stop it altogether, suggests a Princeton University study on the brains of adult monkeys. more... Why it is Impossible for Some to ‘Just Say No’ Drug abuse, crime and obesity are but a few of the problems our nation faces, but they all have one thing in common--people’s failure to control their behavior in the face of temptation. While the ability to control and restrain our impulses is one of the defining features of the human animal, its failure is one of the central problems of human society. So, why do we so often lack this crucial ability? more... Stem Cells Show Promise for Treating Huntington's Disease Paying close attention to how a canary learns a new song has helped scientists open a new avenue of research against Huntington’s disease – a fatal disorder for which there is currently no cure or even a treatment to slow the disease. more... Simulation Reveals How Body Repairs Balance Your body goes to a lot of trouble to make sure you stay upright. But when the brain’s neural pathways are impaired through injury, age or illness, muscles are deprived of the detailed sensory information they need to perform the constant yet delicate balancing act required for normal movement and standing. more... New Understanding of Basic Units of Memory A molecular "recycling plant" permits nerve cells in the brain to carry out two seemingly contradictory functions – changeable enough to record new experiences, yet permanent enough to maintain these memories over time. more... Adult brain can change, study confirms It is well established that a child's brain has a remarkable capacity for change, but controversy continues about the extent to which such plasticity exists in the adult human primary sensory cortex. more... Removing Ovaries Before Menopause Leads to Memory and Movement Problems Women who have their ovaries removed before menopause are at an increased risk of developing memory problems or dementia and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, more.. Study Finds Link Between Depression and Household Mold A groundbreaking public health study, led by Brown University epidemiologist Edmond Shenassa, has found a connection between damp, moldy homes and depression. Results are published in the American Journal of Public Health. more... New Alzheimer's findings: High stress and genetic risk factor lead to increased memory decline High stress levels may contribute to memory loss among people at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease more... DETECTING HOW REGULATION OF EMOTION IS COMPROMISED Brain imaging has revealed a breakdown in normal patterns of emotional processing that impairs the ability of people with clinical depression to suppress negative emotional states more... METHAMPHETAMINE EXPOSURE IN YOUNG ADULTS MAY LEAD Young adults who use methamphetamine may be more vulnerable to age-related brain degeneration when they grow older, new animal research suggests. more... Vaccine thwarts the tangles of Alzheimer's A new study by NYU Medical Center researchers shows for the first time that the immune system can combat the pathological form of tau protein, a key protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease more... Milestone in the regeneration of brain cells: Supportive cells generate new nerve cells A research group has achieved an additional step for the potential replacement of damaged brain cells after injury or disease: functional nerve cells can be generated from astroglia, a type of supportive cells in the brain by means of special regulator proteins. A new molecular zip code, and a new drug target for Huntington's disease McMaster University researchers have first insight into how Huntington's disease (HD) is triggered more... Columbia Researchers Identify Brain Network That May Help Columbia University Medical Center researchers have identified a brain network within the frontal lobe that is associated with cognitive reserve, the process that allows individuals to maintain function despite brain function decline due to aging or Alzheimer’s disease more... New Study Examines Memory and Aging Many older people complain about their memory as they age. With almost 35 million adults age 65 or older living in the United States, it is a problem that needs to be addressed. more... Does playing the brain/memory game really help? Brain and memory training programs are popular, but they don't work well for everyone, says a Universitiy of Michigan psychologist. more... Putting Feelings Into Words Produces Therapeutic Effects in the Brain; UCLA Neuroimaging Study Supports Ancient Buddhist Teachings Why does putting our feelings into words — talking with a therapist or friend, writing in a journal — help us to feel better? A new brain imaging study by UCLA psychologists reveals why verbalizing our feelings makes our sadness, anger and pain less intense. more... Seeing Colors: New Study Sheds Light on Sensory System Quirk In the psychological phenomenon known as "synesthesia," individuals' sensory systems are a bit more intertwined than usual. Some people, for example, report seeing colors when musical notes are played. more... High Pressure Jobs Linked to Depression and Anxiety New research has shown that work-related stress is a cause of clinical depression and anxiety among young adults more... Brain Blood Flow Gives Clues to Treating Depression The usefulness of established molecular imaging/nuclear medicine approaches in identifying the “howsâ€� and “whysâ€� of brain dysfunction and its potential in providing immediately useful information in treating depression are emphasized in a study in the August Journal of Nuclear Medicine. more... Reading Ability Protects Brain from Lead Exposure Lead smelter workers who are better readers have more protection against the effect of lead exposure on the brain than those who do not read as well more... Childhood Sun Exposure May Lower Risk of MS People who spent more time in the sun as children may have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than people who had less sun exposure during childhood more... Drug Improves Symptoms of Severe Alzheimer’s Disease drug initially used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease improved the memory and global function of people with severe Alzheimer’s disease and was safe and effective more... In Women, Caffeine May Protect Memory Caffeine may help older women protect their thinking skills, according to a study published in the August 7, 2007, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. more... Gene Predicts Better Outcome as Cortex Normalizes in Teens with ADHD Brain areas that control attention were thinnest in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who carried a particular version of a gene more... Trial stops after stroke and mortality significantly reduced by blood pressure-lowering treatment for those aged 80 and over An international trial looking at the benefits of giving blood-pressure lowering medication to elderly patients has stopped early, after researchers observed significant reductions in overall mortality in those receiving treatment. more... UCF Research Links Protein, Stem Cells and Potential Alzheimer’s Treatment A team of scientists at the University of Central Florida may have found a new way to treat Alzheimer’s disease. more... NEW RESEARCH DISCOVERS INDEPENDENT BRAIN NETWORKS CONTROL HUMAN WALKING In a study published in the August issue of Nature Neuroscience, researchers found that there are separate adaptable networks controlling each leg and there are also separate networks controlling leg movements, e.g., forward or backward walking more... This is your brain on love When you're attracted to someone, is your gray matter talking sense -- or just hooked? Scientists take a rational look. more... A New Century of Alzheimer's Disease Research Imagine the day when a routine visit to the family doctor includes a simple blood test to predict the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). more... Findings of Sly Syndrome Discoverer Important for Other Diseases researchers have found that a potentially life-saving enzyme can be induced to cross the blood-brain barrier, a structure which protects the brain from foreign substances, if it is given with the hormone epinephrine. more... Females More Prone To Brain Damage From Alcohol Abuse A new study by suggests that women are more prone to brain damage from alcohol abuse than men. more... BRAIN’S ‘HEARING CENTER’ MAY REORGANIZE AFTER IMPLANT Cochlear implants -- electronic devices inserted surgically in the ear to allow deaf people to hear -- may restore normal auditory pathways in the brain even after many years of deafness more... Severe trauma affects kids' brain function The first study to examine brain activity patterns in severely traumatized children showed their brains function differently than those of healthy children more... RISK GENES FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS UNCOVERED large-scale genomic study has uncovered new genetic variations associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), findings that suggest a possible link between MS and other autoimmune diseases. more... UC Irvine scientists unveil the 'face' of a new memory Home > News > Press Releases & Media Advisories > Press Release UC Irvine scientists unveil the 'face' of a new memory Breakthrough study also links learning to a specific chemical process in brain cells Irvine, Calif., July 24, 2007 A century-old dream of neuroscientists to visualize a memory has been fulfilled, as University of California, Irvine researchers, using newly developing microscopic techniques, have captured first-time images of the changes in brain cell connections following a common form of learning. more... Drug protects brain cells in Huntington's disease model, researchers find A drug used in some countries to treat the symptoms of Huntington’s disease prevents death of brain cells in mice genetically engineered to mimic the hereditary condition more... New Model for Autism Suggests Women Carry the Disorder and Explains Age as a Risk Factor A new model for understanding how autism is acquired has been developed by a team of researchers more... Enzyme discovery sheds light on vitamin D Surprising findings by Queen’s researchers have shed new light on how the “sunshine vitaminâ€� D – increasingly used to treat and prevent cancer and other diseases – is broken down by our bodies. more... Alzheimer’s prevention role discovered for prions A role for prion proteins, the much debated agents of mad cow disease and vCJD, has been identified. It appears that the normal prions produced by the body help to prevent the plaques that build up in the brain to cause Alzheimer’s disease more... New Study in the Journal SLEEP Finds that Chronic Insomnia Can Lead to Anxiety and Depression Everyone has an occasional night of bad sleep. For most people, insomnia lasts only a few days and goes away without treatment more... More Women than Men Having Mid-Life Stroke More women than men appear to be having a stroke in middle age, according to a study published June 20, 2007, in the online edition of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers say heart disease and increased waist size may be contributing to this apparent mid-life stroke surge among women. more... Study identifies novel Parkinson's disease drug target Researchers at the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MGH-MIND) have identified a potential new drug target for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and possibly for other degenerative neurological disorders more... Promising Results from First Gene Therapy Clinical Trial for Parkinson's Disease Reported in The Lancet Patients' motor skills improved with no major side effects more... Omega-3 supplements affect Alzheimer's symptoms Omega-3 supplements can, in certain cases, help combat the depression and agitation symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease more... Vaccines help kick drug habits A pair of new vaccines designed to combat cocaine and methamphetamine dependencies not only relieve addiction but also minimize withdrawal symptoms more... Putting feelings into words produces therapeutic effects in the brain Why does putting our feelings into words — talking with a therapist or friend, writing in a journal — help us to feel better" A new brain imaging study by UCLA psychologists reveals why verbalizing our feelings makes our sadness, anger and pain less intense. more... Alzheimer's drug based on Purdue-designed inhibitor begins clinical trials A drug based on the design of a Purdue University researcher to treat Alzheimer's disease began the first phase of human clinical trials this week more... Researchers identify protein pathway involved in Parkinson disease development Scientists have found a novel signaling pathway in cells that is altered by genetic mutations recently identified in Parkinson disease development. These new findings show how the mutations affect cellular function and could provide a target for drug therapies to treat the disease more... Brain's voluntary chain-of-command ruled by not one but two captains A probe of the upper echelons of the human brain's chain-of-command has found strong evidence that there are not one but two complementary commanders in charge of the brain more... Risk of stroke doubles if diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes Individuals diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are at double the risk of having a stroke compared to those without diabetes more... A possible mechanistic link between stress and the development of Alzheimer tangles Subjecting mice to repeated emotional stress, the kind we experience in everyday life, may contribute to the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease more... UCLA Research Implicates Myelin in Early Evolution of Huntington’s Disease It is the myelin that develops early in the formation of the brain that breaks down prematurely and eventually leads to the disease's symptoms. more... Neural Stem Cells Reduce Parkinson’s Symptoms in Monkeys Primates with severe Parkinson’s disease were able to walk, move, and eat better, and had diminished tremors after being injected with human neural stem cells more... Study outlines how stroke, head injury can increase risk of Alzheimer's disease Researchers from the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (MGH-MIND) have discovered how the death of brain cells caused by a stroke or head injury may cause generation of amyloid-beta protein more... Research Team Identifies New Alzheimer’s Gene A study comparing more genetic markers in the DNA of people with and without Alzheimer’s disease than ever before has enabled researchers to identify a common gene that appears to increase a person's risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. more... Neuronal Activity Gives Clues to Working Memory A newly discovered interplay of cells in one of the brain's memory centers sheds light on how you recall your grocery list, where you laid your keys, and a host of important but fleeting daily tasks. more... Forgetfulness is a tool of the brain A note to the forgetful: be thankful you don’t remember everything. It means your brain is working properly. more... How Brain 'Pacemakers' Erase Diseased Messages Brain "pacemakers" that have helped ease symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders seem to work by drowning out the electrical signals of their diseased brains. more... Blood Inflammation Plays Role in Alzheimer’s Disease People whose blood shows signs of inflammation are more likely to later develop Alzheimer’s disease than people with no signs of inflammation more... Personality Changes May Help Detect Form of Dementia A simple personality test could help doctors detect dementia with Lewy bodies, a form of dementia often confused with Alzheimer’s disease, sooner more... Migraine Headaches May Cause Brain Damage, Mouse Study Shows Migraines may be doing more than causing people skull-splitting pain. Scientists have found evidence that the headaches may also be acting like tiny transient strokes, leaving parts of the brain starved for oxygen and altering the brain in significant ways. more... Research Suggests Patterns of Brain Tissue Loss in Early Alzheimer's Disease May Predict Course of Disease Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that shows patterns of brain tissue loss may help physicians predict which patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (early Alzheimer's disease) will develop full-blown Alzheimer's more... Majority of Herb Users Don't Follow Evidence-Based Indications, Sales of herbal dietary supplements have skyrocketed by 100 percent in the United States during the last 10 years, but most people don't consider evidence-based indications before using them more... Violent Sleep Disorder Linked to a Form of Dementia Mayo Clinic researchers and a group of international collaborators have discovered a correlation between an extreme form of sleep disorder and eventual onset of parkinsonism or dementia more... ANTIDEPRESSANTS STIMULATE CREATION OF NEW NERVE CELLS In adult monkeys, an antidepressant treatment has induced new nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for learning and memory. A similar process may occur in humans, the research suggests, and may help explain the effectiveness of antidepressant treatments. more... Testosterone may help men with multiple sclerosis Close on the heels of a large-scale clinical trial just underway to confirm that the female hormone estriol combats the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) in women, a just completed pilot study at UCLA now shows promise for the use of testosterone to combat its effects in men. more... Breakdown of Myelin Implicated in Alzheimer’s, UCLA Research Shows Myelination continues sheathing axons until we reach the age of about 50, but in these later stages, the myelin becomes more and more susceptible to damage. Now, in a report in the April issue of the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, Dr. George Bartzokis, UCLA professor of neurology, suggests that it is the breakdown of this late-stage myelin that promotes the buildup of toxic amyloid-beta fibrils that eventually deposit in the brain and become the plaques which have long been associated with Alzheimer's disease. more... Exercise May Aid Parkinson’s Patients A new study from researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) shows that treadmill exercises may benefit patients with Parkinson's Disease and those with similar movement disorders. more... Alzheimer's weight gain initiative also improved patients' intellectual abilities Swedish researchers have found a way to increase the weight of people with Alzheimer's, by improving communication and patient involvement, altering meal routines and providing a more homely eating environment more... Can an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Slow the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease? In order to test whether an omega-3 fatty acid can impact the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, will evaluate one in a clinical trial, the gold standard for medical research. more... Scientists identify prion's infectious secret Scientists have discovered small but critical regions within prions that determine much of their behavior. more... Gene mutation linked to cognition is found only in humans A new study showed that a certain form of neuropsin, a protein that plays a role in learning and memory, is expressed only in the central nervous systems of humans and that it originated less than 5 million years ago. more... Animal Study Identifies Promising New Target for Brain Tumor Therapy A drug that targets the body's immune cells may be effective in treating malignant brain tumors, according to a new study led by researchers at Duke's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. In animal models, the drug re-engaged the body's cancer-damaged immune system. more... Studies Suggest Investigational Agent Reduces Disease Activity in MS A new drug under investigation shows a reduction in disease activity in multiple sclerosis more Vaccine Prevents Prion Disease in Mice An oral vaccine can prevent mice from developing a brain disease similar to mad cow disease, according to research more Scientists identify new strategy for preventing acute and chronic brain disease Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) have discovered that reducing levels of the protein tau can prevent seizures and neurological deficits related to Alzheimer's disease more... Social behavior differs in children with family history of autism The baby brothers and sisters of autistic children do not seek emotional cues from adults, or respond to them, as often as other toddlers do, suggests new research from the University of California, San Diego. more Mirror Neurons: How We Reflect on Behavior In the mid-1990s, scientists at the University of Parma, in Italy, made a discovery so novel that it shifted the way psychologists discuss the brain more STUDY SHOWS RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL LOSS PARALLELS BRAIN’S STUDY SHOWS RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL LOSS PARALLELS BRAIN’S PROCESSING OF PAIN, OFFERS NEW INSIGHT INTO GAMBLING more ANTIDEPRESSANTS STIMULATE CREATION OF NEW NERVE CELLS In adult monkeys, an antidepressant treatment has induced new nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for learning and memory. A similar process may occur in humans, the research suggests, and may help explain the effectiveness of antidepressant treatments. more UCLA Imaging Study Provides Further Clues About the Social Deficits of Children With Autism UCLA Imaging Study Provides Further Clues About the Social Deficits of Children With Autism more... Some hypertension drugs may help reduce dementia risk Some high blood pressure medicines may help protect older adults from declines in memory and other cognitive function, according to new research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, reported today at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society in Seattle. more.. How the brain's backup system compensates for stroke Researchers have pinpointed in humans how a "backup" brain region springs into action to compensate for disruption of a primary functional area, as happens during stroke. Their finding offers new insight into how the brains of stroke victims can quickly reorganize to enable the beginning of recovery of movement. more... New drug offers hope for MS treatment A new drug under investigation for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) appears to be safe and effective according to studies involving researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute. more... Culture sculpts neural response to visual stimuli, new research indicates Researchers in Illinois and Singapore have found that the aging brain reflects cultural differences in the way that it processes visual information more... Study raises new treatment possibilities for cognitive disorders New class of compounds could help those with schizophrenia, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease more... Scientists Restore Lost Memory in Alzheimer's-Like Mice In a new study, mice bioengineered to mimic the fading memory of Alzheimer's patients got their memories restored -- either by being placed in stimulating environments or by receiving a drug most commonly used to fight cancer. more... Why Too Much Memory May Be A Bad Thing New research from Columbia University Medical Center may explain why people who are able to easily and accurately recall historical dates or long-ago events, may have a harder time with word recall or remembering the day’s current events. They may have too much memory – making it harder to filter out information and increasing the time it takes for new short-term memories to be processed and stored. more... DIABETES MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT Individuals with diabetes may have a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, a condition that involves difficulties with thinking and learning and may be an intermediate step toward Alzheimer's disease, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. more... Smoking and Caffeine May Protect Against Parkinson's Disease In families affected by Parkinson's disease, the people who smoked cigarettes and drank a lot of coffee were less likely to develop the disease, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center. more... New CU Study Shows Intensive Therapy Helps In Battle Against Bipolar Disorder New results from the largest federally funded bipolar study ever conducted show that patients who receive psychotherapy in addition to medication get better faster from bipolar disorder's debilitating depression and stay better longer, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder researcher involved in the study. more... Combination treatment for migraine more effective than single medications Combining two different types of treatment for migraine results in better symptom relief than taking either one of the medications, according to a study in the April 4 issue of JAMA. more Stop signs: Study identifies 'braking' mechanism in the brain As wise as the counsel to "finish what you've started" may be, it is also sometimes critically important to do just the opposite -- stop more... Research Explains How Lead Exposure Produces Learning Deficits The study shows that exposure to levels of lead that are similar to those measured in lead-intoxicated children reduces the birth and survival of new neurons (neurogenesis) in the brain more... Vision finding could benefit Alzheimer's treatment One of the primary visual areas in the brain that tracks motion has surprised scientists: Instead of directly mapping objects by the way their image falls on the retina, it is the first visual area to map them in a representation of the space surrounding the viewer. more... Getting dirty may lift your mood ‘Friendly’ bacteria activated a group of neurons that produce the brain chemical serotonin. more... MIT neuroengineers' pulsing light silences overactive neurons Scientists at the MIT Media Lab have invented a way to reversibly silence brain cells using pulses of yellow light, offering the prospect of controlling the haywire neuron activity that occurs in diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. more... Study Lays Groundwork For Stem Cell Therapy For Degenerative Brain Diseases Of Childhood The CNS Foundation welcomes the publication by CNS grantee Dr. Evan Snyder of experimental results that extend the promise of stem cell therapies to degenerative brain diseases of childhood. His publication marks the achievement of a significant milestone on the road to brain repair therapies for special-needs children. more... Study Sheds Light on Medication Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder For depressed people with bipolar disorder who are taking a mood stabilizer, adding an antidepressant medication is no more effective than a placebo (sugar pill), according to results published online on March 28, 2007 in the New England Journal of Medicine more... Brain tissue reveals possible genetic trigger for schizophrenia In studying the postmortem brain tissue of adults who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, the researchers found that levels of certain gene-regulating molecules called microRNAs were lower among schizophrenia patients than in persons who were free of psychiatric illness. more... Gene Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke One of the most common genetic defects passed on through families significantly increases a person's chance of having a stroke more... Report: Over 5M Living With Alzheimer's More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, a 10 percent increase since the last Alzheimer's Association estimate five years ago - and a count that supports the long-forecast dementia epidemic as the population grays. more... Could Estriol Be the Elixir for Multiple Sclerosis? UCLA Researcher’s Promising Pilot Study Moves to Widespread Clinical Trial It has long been common knowledge that pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a sharp drop in the disease's symptoms during the course of their pregnancy. more... Brain Scans Reveal Cause of Smokers' Cravings Within the mind of every smoker trying to quit rages a battle between the higher-order functions of the brain wanting to break the habit and the lower-order functions screaming for another cigarette, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center. More often than not, that cigarette gets lit. more... Monkey see, monkey do? What is the very best way to learn a complex task? Is it practice, practice, practice, or is watching and thinking enough to let you imitate a physical activity, such as skiing or ballet? more... Feinstein Researchers Uncover Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia Psychiatric researchers at The Zucker Hillside Hospital campus of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have uncovered evidence of a new gene that appears to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, a disorder characterized by distorted thinking, hallucinations and a reduced ability to feel normal emotions. more... Cancer researchers add spice to research against rare neuromuscular disease Scientists who focus on the molecular signaling that underlies prostate cancer have discovered a compound that shows promise against a debilitating neurodegenerative condition known as Kennedy's disease, which is caused by a mutant gene. more... Moral Judgment Fails Without Feelings Neuroscientists from USC, Harvard, Caltech and Iowa trace harmful moral choices to damaged emotional circuits. more... UC San Diego Supercomputer looks for cause of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Using the massive computer-simulation power of the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San Diego, researchers are zeroing in on the causes of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases more The Parkinson’s Institute to Conduct Phase III Clinical Trial of The Parkinson’s Institute will participate in a large-scale national clinical trial to learn if the nutritional supplement creatine can slow the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). While creatine is not an approved therapy for PD or any other condition, it is widely thought to improve exercise performance more... SOCIAL STRESS REDUCES SURVIVAL OF NEW NERVE CELLS IN ADULT RATS; A single, socially stressful situation can kill off new nerve cells in the brain region that processes learning, memory, and emotion, and possibly contribute to depression, new animal research shows. more... Robotic brace aids stroke recovery At age 32, Maggie Fermental suffered a stroke that left her right side paralyzed. After a year and a half of conventional therapy with minimal results, she tried a new kind of robotic therapy developed by MIT engineers more... Obesity Surgery Can Lead to Memory Loss, Other Problems Weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery, can lead to a vitamin deficiency that can cause memory loss and confusion, inability to coordinate movement, and other problems, more Men More Likely to Benefit from Clot-Busting Stroke Treatment Men are more likely than women to benefit from the use of a clot-busting drug after stroke, according to a study published in the March 13, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. more... Framingham Study Shows Parents Who Live Long Pass On Lower Risk of Cardiovascular Disease New evidence suggests that if you could choose your parents, you could reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers from the long-standing Framingham Heart Study (FHS), a program of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health, report that people whose parents live longer were more likely to avoid developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in middle age than their peers whose parents died younger. They also found that the risk factor advantages persisted over time. more... Research finds music training 'tunes' human auditory system A newly published study by Northwestern University researchers suggests that Mom was right when she insisted that you continue music lessons -- even after it was clear that a professional music career was not in your future. more... A Small Part of the Brain, and Its Profound Effects The recent news about smoking was sensational: some people with damage to a prune-size slab of brain tissue called the insula were able to give up cigarettes instantly. more... How appetite-stimulating brain cells work overtime during fasting During periods of fasting, brain cells responsible for stimulating the appetite make sure that you stay hungry more... Reduced frontal-lobe activity and impulsivity may be linked to alcoholism risk Increased impulsivity, or a lack of impulse control, is a key characteristic of many psychiatric disorders, including alcohol dependence more... Cold sore virus might play role in Alzheimer's disease A gene known to be a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease puts out the welcome mat for the virus that causes cold sores, allowing the virus to be more active in the brain compared to other forms of the gene. more... Uric Acid and Spinal Cord Injury Treatment; Uric acid is commonly associated with the excruciatingly painful joint disease known as gout, but it can also play a crucial role in the treatment of spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, according to Rutgers’ Bonnie Firestein. more... Researchers Use Brain Scans To Predict When People Will Buy For the first time, researchers have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine what parts of the brain are active when people consider whether to purchase a product and to predict whether or not they ultimately choose to buy the product more... Scientists Uncover Potential Key to Brain Blood-Flow Disorders Scientists at the University of Vermont have clarified the cellular process responsible for signaling regional blood flow changes in the brain, thereby uncovering possible causes for such disorders as stroke, migraine, and Alzheimer’s disease. more... Bottleneck in Blood Supply A team of UC San Diego physicists and neuroscientists has discovered a bottleneck in the network of blood vessels in the brain that makes it vulnerable to strokes more... PEOPLE AT GENETIC RISK FOR ALZHEIMER'S AGE MENTALLY JUST LIKE NON-CARRIERS Australian researchers say that a genotype that heightens the risk for Alzheimer’s disease does not contribute to cognitive change during most of adulthood more... Drug Linked to Increase in Brain Hemorrhage Cases The rate of brain hemorrhages associated with blood thinning drugs quintupled during the 1990s, according to a study published in the January 9, 2007, issue of Neurology more... Women with Migraines More Likely to Have Depression Women with chronic headache, especially migraines, are more likely to be depressed, feel tired, and have a host of other severe physical symptoms more... Drug Improves Tremors, Involuntary Movements in Parkinson Patients A drug used to treat epilepsy has been found to significantly improve tremors, motor fluctuations, and other involuntary movements, or dyskinesias, in patients with Parkinson disease more... HIGHER FOLATE LEVELS LINKED TO REDUCED RISK FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Individuals who take in higher levels of the nutrient folate through both diet and supplements may have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease more... Trusting your instincts leads you to the right answer A UCL (University College London) study has found that you are more likely to perform well if you do not think too hard and instead trust your instincts. The research, published online in the journal Current Biology, shows that, in some cases, instinctive snap decisions are more reliable than decisions taken using higher-level cognitive processes. more... Feeling No Pain: New Form of Rare Gene Disorder Decoded Across the world about a few hundred people suffer from one of a variety of diseases that make them completely unable to feel pain from the time they're born. Now a new form of this disorder has been recognized among people from northern Pakistan, and scientists have tracked down the mutated gene responsible for the condition. more... High-quality marriages help to calm nerves A University of Virginia neuroscientist has found that women under stress who hold their husbands' hands show signs of immediate relief, which can clearly be seen on their brain scans. more... Natural, soy-based substance might help fight MS, Jefferson neuroscientists find A natural substance made from soy appears to have amazing restorative powers when given to animals with a multiple sclerosis (MS)-like disease more... Study Reveals Molecular Basis of Botulism Toxin’s Deadly Activity Scientists have revealed in atomic detail how the toxins that cause botulism target and bind to nerve cells. This new understanding could ultimately lead to new ways for treating botulism, as well as to improved therapies for nervous system diseases such as dystonias, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. more... Alzheimer's heart link explained Scientists have discovered how heart disease or a stroke may trigger Alzheimer's disease more... Parkinson's Approach With Stem Cells A Promising First Step Brain cells derived from human embryonic stem cells improved the condition of rats with Parkinson's-like symptoms dramatically, but the treatment caused a significant problem - the appearance of brain tumors - that scientists are now working to solve more... Counseling for Spouses Keeps Alzheimer’s Patients out of Nursing Homes Spouses of Alzheimer’s disease patients are less likely to put their loved ones in a nursing home if they receive enhanced caregiver support and counseling more... Parkinson Disease Can Lead to Errors on Driving Test People with Parkinson disease were more likely to make more safety mistakes during a driving test than people with no neurological disorders, more... Statins reduce risk of heart attack and stroke in those without heart disease Among individuals without cardiovascular disease, taking statins regularly may reduce the risk of major heart and cerebrovascular events such as heart attack and stroke but not coronary heart disease or overall death more... Rote learning improves memory in seniors A new study offers older adults a simple way to combat memory loss: memorization. Researchers found that seniors who engaged in an intensive period of rote learning followed by an equally long rest period exhibited improved memory and verbal recall more... UNC scientists solve mystery of how largest cellular motor protein powers movement Scientists now understand how an important protein converts chemical energy to mechanical force, thus powering the process of cell division, thanks to a new structural model by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers. more... Study of Language Use in Children Suggests Sex Influences How Brain Processes Words Boys and girls tend to use different parts of their brains to process some basic aspects of grammar, according to the first study of its kind, suggesting that sex is an important factor in the acquisition and use of language. more... Brain defect may cause 50% of cot deaths Structural abnormalities in a baby’s brainstem may lie behind about half the cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). more... Photoswitches could restore sight to blind retinas A research center newly created by the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) aims to put light-sensitive switches in the body's cells that can be flipped on and off as easily as a remote control operates a TV. more... New Research Offers Insight Into Posttraumatic Stress Disorder New research into Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is leading to a better understanding of its underlying neurobiology, risk factors and long-term implications more.. Scientists develop new treatments for Alzheimer's disease Scientists at the University of Liverpool have created a new chemical compound that could be developed into a drug treatment for Alzheimer's disease. more... Pitt Researchers Add to Understanding of How Brain Cells Communicate An hour from now, will you remember reading this? It all depends on proteins in your brain called NMDA receptors, which allow your neurons to communicate with each other more... Gene therapy reduces Parkinson’s symptoms Initial results from the first human clinical trial of gene therapy treatment for Parkinson’s disease suggest the approach can significantly reduce symptoms of the disease. more... Hope for cannabis-based drug for Alzheimer's A compound derived from marijuana might one day help fight the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. more... Synchronous Neuronal Firing May Underlie Parkinson's Disease In a finding that contradicts current theories behind Parkinson's disease, neuroscientists at Duke University Medical Center have discovered in mice that critical nerve cells fire all at the same time and thus overwhelm the brain's ability to control the body's movements. more... Research Sheds Light on How Brain Injury Leads to Seizures, Memory Problems In a finding that may provide a scientific basis for eventual treatment, neurology researchers have shown that traumatic brain injury reduces the level of a protein that helps keep brain activity in balance more... How Strep Triggers Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – New Clues A likely mechanism by which a bacterial infection triggers obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in some children has been demonstrated by scientists more... Low Doses of Anti-Depressant May Spell Relief for Some Women Suffering from Moderate-to-Severe PMS Some women who experience moderate-to-severe premenstrual syndrome may benefit from treatment with low doses of anti-depressant medication, according to a new study led by a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher. more... Researchers discover mechanism that determines when detailed memories are retained The levels of a chemical released by the brain determine how detailed a memory will later be, according to researchers at UC Irvine. more... Altered Perception of Reward in Human Cocaine Addiction People addicted to cocaine have an impaired ability to perceive rewards and exercise control due to disruptions in the brain’s reward and control circuits, according to a series of brain-mapping studies and neuropsychological tests conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory. more... Cause of nerve fiber damage in multiple sclerosis identified Researchers have identified how the body’s own immune system contributes to the nerve fiber damage caused by multiple sclerosis, a finding that can potentially aid earlier diagnosis and improved treatment for this chronic disease. more... CHILD-PROOF: BRAIN MAPPING SAFER FOR CHILDREN THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, HOPKINS STUDY SHOWS Dispelling a stubborn myth, researchers at Johns Hopkins have shown that children with strokes, brain tumors and other cerebrovascular diseases can safely undergo a potentially life-saving brain-mapping test that many doctors have long shunned over concerns for side effects. more... New technology to speed up research into Huntington’s Disease. new tool developed at Cambridge University represents a breakthrough in the race to find treatments to help sufferers with Huntington’s disease more... Penn Researchers Make Major Advancement in Lou Gehrig’s Disease and FTD Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered the major disease protein for two neurodegenerative disorders: a type of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. more... Part Of Human Brain Functions Like A Digital Computer A region of the human brain that scientists believe is critical to human intellectual abilities surprisingly functions much like a digital computer, according to psychology Professor Randall O'Reilly of the University of Colorado at Boulder. The finding could help researchers better understand the functioning of human intelligence. more... Black tea soothes away stress Daily cups of tea can help you recover more quickly from the stresses of everyday life, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers. New scientific evidence shows that black tea has an effect on stress hormone levels in the body. more... Progesterone Shows Promise as Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury Emory University researchers have found that giving progesterone to trauma victims shortly following brain injury may reduce the risk of death and the degree of disability and also appears to be safe. more... Popular curry spice is a brain booster Call it yellow ginger, haldi, turmeric or E100, the yellow root of Curcuma longa, a staple ingredient in curry, is turning out to be gratifyingly healthy. Now Tze-Pin Ng and colleagues at the National University of Singapore have discovered that curry eating seems to boost brain power in elderly people. more Alzheimer's drug also combats brain injuries A drug currently used to treat Alzheimer’s disease has shown promise in clinical trials as a treatment for patients with traumatic brain injuries. more... Proteins necessary for brain development found to be critical for long-term memory Importance of growth factors in memory formation could aid development of strategies against cognitive decline more... Juices may reduce Alzheimer's disease risk In a large epidemiological study, researchers found that people who drank three or more servings of fruit and vegetable juices per week had a 76 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who drank juice less than once per week. more... Study shows link between morbid obesity, low IQ in toddlers researchers have discovered a link between morbid obesity in toddlers and lower IQ scores, cognitive delays and brain lesions similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease patients, a new study shows. more... Multiple Sclerosis Damage Found in 'Normal' Brain Tissue The effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) extend beyond visibly affected areas into large portions of the brain that outwardly appear normal, according to a study appearing in the September issue of Radiology. more... SCIENTISTS DISCOVER MEMORY MOLECULE Scientists at SUNY Downstate Medical Center have discovered a molecular mechanism that maintains memories in the brain. In an article in Science magazine, they demonstrate that by inhibiting the molecule they can erase long-term memories, much as you might erase a computer disc. more... MORE THAN JUST PRETTY FACES FOR THIS BRAIN REGION, SAYS STANFORD RESEARCHER You'll find more than faces in these places. Stanford University researchers have taken the closest look yet at a region of the brain that was thought to be devoted solely to face recognition and discovered that this particular patchwork of neurons does much more: It also responds to such objects as cars, animals and sculptures. more... Stress significantly hastens progression of Alzheimer's disease Stress hormones appear to rapidly exacerbate the formation of brain lesions that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers at UC Irvine more... CHILDHOOD SLEEP APNEA LINKED TO BRAIN DAMAGE, LOWER IQ In what is believed to be the first study showing neural changes in the brains of children with serious, untreated sleep apnea, Johns Hopkins researchers conclude that children with the disorder appear to suffer damage in two brain structures tied to learning ability. more... A Novel Mechanism of Manganese-Induced Neurological Dysfunction Discovered For decades, scientists have known that chronic exposure to high concentrations of the metal manganese can cause movement abnormalities resembling symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, but apparently without the same neuron damage characteristic of Parkinson’s patients. more... Previously approved drugs may be helpful in fatal pediatric disorder progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is often fatal within the first two decades of life may be treatable via a molecule already targeted by approved drugs more... Everything in Its Place: Researchers Identify Brain Cells Used to Categorize Images Socks in the sock drawer, shirts in the shirt drawer, the time-honored lessons of helping organize one's clothes learned in youth. But what parts of the brain are used to encode such categories as socks, shirts, or any other item, and how does such learning take place? more... Defusing the dementia time bomb Alzheimer's disease threatens to overload future health-care systems as the number of cases worldwide will likely exceed 80 million by 2040 more... Synthetic Version of Scorpion Venom Delivers Radioactive Iodine to Malignant Brain Tumors A new method of delivering a dose of radioactive iodine—using a man-made version of scorpion venom as a carrier—targets deadly brain tumors called gliomas without affecting neighboring tissue or body organs more... Oxygen deprived brains repaired and saved Scientists from Melbourne’s Howard Florey Institute have found special proteins that protect the brain after it has been damaged by a lack of oxygen, which occurs in conditions such as stroke, perinatal asphyxia, near-drowning and traumatic brain injury. more... Healing potential discovered in everyday human brain cells University of Florida researchers have shown ordinary human brain cells may share the prized qualities of self-renewal and adaptability normally associated with stem cells. more... BRAIN CELL REGULATOR IS VOLUME CONTROL, NOT ON/OFF SWITCH UC Davis researchers have discovered that proteins that regulate brain-cell activity by controlling the flow of potassium ions behave more like volume controls on stereos rather than on/off power switches. more... Cause of Ischemic Stroke Analyzed for the First Time by UCLA Researchers In contrast to traditional beliefs that stroke-causing clots derived from arterial and cardiac sources are distinctly different, a new UCLA study shows they are composed of similar components. more... MIT provides first evidence for learning mechanism Finally confirming a fact that remained unproven for more than 30 years, researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory report in the Aug. 25 issue of Science that certain key connections among neurons get stronger when we learn. more... Columbia Researchers Restore Memory in Mice With Alzheimer’s Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have successfully restored normal memory and synaptic function in mice suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The study was published today on the website of the journal Cell. more... Study Provides Evidence That Autism Affects Functioning of Entire Brain A recent study provides evidence that autism affects the functioning of virtually the entire brain, and is not limited to the brain areas involved with social interactions, communication behaviors, and reasoning abilities, as had been previously thought more... Adult Stem Cells Are Touchy-Feely, Need Environmental Clues for Change A certain type of adult stem cell can turn into bone, muscle, neurons or other types of tissue depending on the feel of their physical environment, according to researchers more... TOXIC MOLECULE MAY CAUSE MOST COMMON TYPE OF MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY Doctors at the University of Virginia Health System have shown for the first time that getting rid of poisonous RNA (ribonucleic acid) in muscle cells can reverse myotonic dystrophy, the most common type of muscular dystrophy in adults. more... Cortical plasticity: it's time to get excited about inhibition Research from Brandeis University published online this week in Nature offers new insight into how neural circuits are shaped by experience. more... UCSD-led Team Discovers How We Detect Sour Taste A team headed by biologists from the University of California, San Diego has discovered the cells and the protein that enable us to detect sour, one of the five basic tastes. more... New biomarkers could help doctors spot Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in their early stages can be difficult for physicians to spot, and many diagnoses are incorrect. A finding by researchers at the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center may soon help in the diagnosis of such diseases. more... Men and women's brains differ A San Francisco neuropsychiatrist says differences between women's and men's brains are very real, and the sooner we all understand it, the better more Drug triggers body's mechanism to reverse aging effect on memory process UCI study with rats shows how ampakines boost brain’s own protein for fighting age-related deficits in memory mechanism more... Carnegie Mellon Study Offers New Clues About Memory study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh involving an amnesia-inducing drug has shed light on how we form new memories. more... Blood Pressure Variability Increases Risk for Stroke Death Erratic blood pressure during the first hours after a stroke dramatically lowers the chances of survival. That's the finding of a Mayo Clinic study published in the current issue of the journal Neurology. more... Study: Elders with dementia can tap into memory stores to give advice Dementia may rob an older person of memory and focus, but the ability to offer timeless advice about life's big questions seems to be preserved, according to Florida State University researchers. more... Study Confirms Finding That Males And Females Use Different Parts Of The Brain For Performing Language And Visuospatial Tasks Differences in the way men and women perform verbal and visuospatial tasks have been well documented in scientific literature, but findings have been inconsistent as to whether men and women actually use different parts of their brains. more... New insight into how serotonin reduces appetite could help in developing safer anti-obesity drugs A study led by a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher sheds light on how the brain chemical serotonin, when spurred by diet drugs such as Fen-phen, works to curb appetite. more... GIVING UP DRIVING MAY BE EXPRESS LANE TO LONG-TERM CARE “Taking the keys has serious consequences for older drivers,â€� Hopkins study concludes. more... CRAVING BOOSTS DOPAMINE LEVELS IN BRAIN’S HABIT CENTERS; The mere sight of a person taking drugs can knock an addict off the path to recovery. Now, scientists have revealed how such visual cues act in the brain to spur an addict's often uncontrollable desire for more. more... AUTISTIC BRAIN HAS FEWER NEURONS FOR PROCESSING EMOTION For the first time, research has shown that the autistic brain has fewer neurons in an area related to emotion and social behavior, according to a new study published in the July 19 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. more... Study establishes safety of spinal cord stem cell transplantation Transplanting human embryonic stem cells does not cause harm and can be used as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury, according to a recent study by UC Irvine researchers. more... Using More Energy Throughout the Day May Help Older Adults Live Longer Expending higher levels of energy through usual daily activities is associated with lower risk of mortality for older adults, a new study to be published July 12, 2006, in the Journal of the American Medical Association, has found. The study is the first to use a specific, objective measure of energy expenditure to determine whether “free-livingâ€� energy expenditure is related to longevity more... Scientists Discover New Frontotemporal Dementia Gene Scientists have discovered genetic mutations that cause a form of familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a finding that provides clues to the underlying mechanism of this devastating disease and that may provide insight for future approaches to developing therapies more... Cancer-Causing Protein May Heal Damaged Spinal Cord and Brain Cells Cancer researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have found that a protein known for driving the growth of cancer also plays a surprising role in restoring the ability of neurons to regenerate, making it an important target for addressing spinal cord damage or neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s more... Scientists identify protein with a crucial role in cell death Ageing, and the processes of deterioration that go with it, are largely attributable to cells that die off in a controlled manner. Therefore, gaining better understanding of this controlled cell death is very important in the fight against deterioration diseases like dementia more... Ultra low-dose estrogen shown safe for post-menopausal women A study led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center has shown that extremely low doses of estrogen had no ill effects on the cognitive abilities or general health of older women over the course of two years more... DEVICE EFFECTIVE IN ZAPPING THE PAIN OUT OF MIGRAINES An electronic device designed to “zapâ€� away migraine pain before it starts may be the next form of relief for millions of people who suffer from the debilitating disease. more... STUDIES SUGGEST NEW BRAIN PROTEIN MAY BE USEFUL FOR TREATING SCHIZOPHRENIA, INSOMNIA AND ANXIETY A small protein in the brain that has only recently been discovered and, paradoxically, induces both profound wakefulness and a less anxious state, may represent a novel target for the treatment of psychotic behavior and schizophrenia more... A Neural Mosaic of Tones The brain filters what we hear. It can do this in part because particular groups of neurons react to specific frequencies of sound more... Alzheimer's Vaccine Shows Promise An experimental vaccine is showing promise against Alzheimer's disease, reducing brain deposits that are blamed for the disorder. more... ACTIVE-W Shows Warfarin Still "Tough to Beat" for Stroke Prevention in AF Results of a randomized trial comparing oral anticoagulation therapy with a combination of 2 antiplatelet agents, aspirin and clopidogrel, shows that warfarin remains the superior choice for preventing vascular events such as stroke and systemic embolus in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). more... Gene Therapy Injected into the Brains’ of Mice with Huntington’s Disease Protects Neurons, Stop Degeneration and Improves Behavioral Function Researchers at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and Ceregene Inc., San Diego, have successfully used gene therapy to preserve motor function and stop the anatomic, cellular changes that occur in the brains of mice with Huntington’s disease (HD) more... A Sweet Solution to Alzheimer's Disease Certain variants of a simple sugar ameliorate Alzheimer's-like disease in mice, according to a new study by Canadian researchers. more... Migraine Headaches & Sexual Desire May be Linked, New Research Shows migraine sufferers reported higher levels of sexual desire than those with other types of headaches, according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues. more... Clues Help Identify Psychological Seizures Up to 30 percent of those diagnosed with epilepsy don't actually have the disorder. They have psychological nonepileptic seizures, or psychogenic seizures, that are caused by psychological conditions, not by the abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes epileptic seizures. more.. New Study Suggests Antidepressants Save Lives; Findings Show U.S. Suicide Rate Drops as Prescriptions Rise A just published UCLA study suggests that the use of antidepressants to treat depression has saved thousands of lives, despite the concern about a possible link between suicide risk and the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). more... SickKids researchers show that stem cells found in adult skin can be transplanted and function in mouse models of disease Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Calgary have found that stem cells derived from adult skin can create neural cell types that can be transplanted into and function in mouse models of disease. more... Drug provides key to halting Alzheimer's disease in mice candian researchers have identified a drug that stops the amyloid β peptide — which causes toxic neural damage in brains affected by Alzheimer’s disease — from accumulating. more... Study Concludes that Pesticide Use Increases Risk of Parkinson's in Men Mayo Clinic researchers have found that using pesticides for farming or other purposes increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease for men more... Approval granted for Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers to attempt creation of disease-specific embryonic stem cell lines Researchers at Harvard and Children's Hospital Boston have been cleared to begin experiments using Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) to create disease-specific stem cell lines in an effort to develop treatments for a wide range of now-incurable conditions afflicting tens of millions of people. more... Intermittent Explosive Disorder Could be Behind Cases of Road Rage and Spousal Abuse A seldom-studied mental illness called Intermittent Explosive Disorder, characterized by recurrent episodes of angry and potentially violent outbursts--seen in cases of road rage or spousal abuse--has been found to be much more common than previously thought. more... Researchers Use Brain’s Receptors Sensitive to Pot to ‘Open Door’ in Treating Drug Dependence, Neurological Disorders A new radiotracer opens a door to the development of new medications to treat drug dependence, obesity, depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease and Tourette syndrome. more... Tuberculosis drug may cure Parkinson's-like illness Researchers have discovered that a drug used to treat tuberculosis apparently cures patients of a Parkinson's-like illness suffered by thousands of mineworkers, welders and others exposed to high levels of the metal manganese. more.... UBC Researchers Find Stroke Death Channel Researchers have found a new stroke death channel -- the conduit through which key chemicals are lost from brain cells during stroke, causing the cell death that disables stroke victims. more... Genetic link found for OCD Researchers have identified six regions of the human genome that might play a role in susceptibility to obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD. more... New Study Shows Autism-Related Developmental “Red Flags" Identifiable At Age Two In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders Findings Present Window of Opportunity for Detection and Intervention Before Typical Diagnosis at Age Three or Four more... Study links effects of withdrawal to compulsive drug use and craving While scientists had previously shown that drugs such as heroin stimulate the brain's pleasure centers and thereby motivate drug consumption, the role of withdrawal-associated inhibitory effects on brain pleasure centers in motivating drug intake had been more difficult to quantify. more... OHSU PRIMATE CENTER RESEARCH SUGGESTS MULTIPLE 'BODY CLOCKS' Research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University suggests that contrary to popular belief, the body has more than one "body clock." more... Life's Harsh Lessons 'Make You More Gullible'-Study People who have suffered life's hard knocks while growing up tend to be more gullible than those who have been more sheltered, startling new findings from the University of Leicester reveal. more... Hyperscanning reveals how brain keeps track of social interactions Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have mapped not only where trust forms in the brain but have also uncovered clues as to how humans represent themselves and others as physical responses in their brains. Results are reported in this week's issue of the journal Science. more... Computerized atlas highlights 'plethora' of changes in brain disorder computerized atlas has brought unprecedented sensitivity to the search for brain structure changes in a genetic condition known as Williams syndrome, revealing 33 abnormalities in the folding of the brain's surface more... Flick of Whiskers Helps Tease Out Brain’s ‘Shadow’ Signaling System By blowing gentle puffs of air onto a mouse’s whiskers and watching how its brain reacts, scientists are discovering that a long-overlooked signaling system in the brain is crucial to our everyday activity. more... New study of hand-brain function offers insight into recovery for stroke survivors A Queen’s study of stroke survivors gives new insight into the stages of recovery of hand muscle control after a stroke, suggesting that patients may benefit from different treatment strategies at different times during the recovery process. more... Length Of Deprivation In Infants Affects Intellectual Development For Years Following the fall of the Ceauþescu regime in Romania, the world became aware of the dreadful plight of children who had been raised in profound deprivation in institutions more... New compound unusually potent at blocking brain cancer growth By determining how a class of compounds blocks signaling in cells, UCSF scientists have identified what is perhaps the most potent drug candidate yet against a highly lethal kind of brain tumor more... SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCE FIRST INTERNATIONAL GENE SEARCH FOR TYPICAL ALS Though it’s the more common form of the disease, sporadic ALS, which affects roughly 90 percent of those living with the fatal neurodegenerative illness, has been the one less studied, simply because, unlike familial ALS, no genes have turned up. more... DAMAGE FROM OXYGEN MAY BE ONE CAUSE OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE by neuroscientists at the University of Virginia Health System shows that oxygen free radicals are damaging proteins in mitochondria, the tiny cellular ‘batteries’ of brain cells. This damage may be one main cause of Parkinson’s Disease more... New study of hand-brain function offers insight into recovery for stroke survivors A study of stroke survivors gives new insight into the stages of recovery of hand muscle control after a stroke, suggesting that patients may benefit from different treatment strategies at different times during the recovery process. more... Helping Hands: Are Two More Trouble than One? Pairs perform better than individuals even when each individual thinks the other is a hindrance. more... Study of Nutrients' Effects on Brain Provides Insight into Appetite Regulation A cell-signaling pathway in the brain that is linked to the development of cancer and diabetes is also a key part of networks that regulate food intake more... Protein expression holds promise for head and neck cancer detection The blood of patients with head and neck cancer appears to have unique patterns of protein expression that one day could serve as a screening test for the highly aggressive cancer that is often diagnosed too late. more... World’s tiniest test tubes get teensiest corks Like Lilliputian chemists, scientists have found a way to “cork” infinitesimally small nano test tubes more.... Emerging Drugs for Migraine Prophylaxis and Treatment In-depth review of migraine current and future treatments more... Deviant peer groups and street gangs: Université de Montréal study identifies profiles at risk A Université de Montréal study published today in the Archives of General Psychiatry journal has identified the principal risk factors that predispose boys to become involved in deviant peer groups during adolescence more... Melatonin Improves Mood In Winter Depression (April 27, OHSU study reveals how low-dose melatonin taken in the afternoon helps most winter depressives whose physiological clocks are off kilter due to the later winter sunrise more... Infants can organise visual information at just four months Research investigating attention in infancy has revealed that, at just four months old, babies are able to organise visual information in at least three different ways more... MIT research offers new hope for Alzheimer's patients MIT brain researchers have developed a "cocktail" of dietary supplements, now in human clinical trials more... Feinstein Researchers Identify Intelligence Gene Psychiatric researchers at The Zucker Hillside Hospital campus of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have uncovered evidence of a gene that appears to influence intelligence more... Blocking key protein reduces inflammatory markers in metabolic syndrome Findings shed light on mechanism of condition associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes more... Researchers learn more about ways to regenerate the ear's hearing cells Followup study finds gene knockout has different effects in specific areas of inner ear more... Brain Injury treatment drug shows promise Auckland biotechnology company Neuren Pharmaceuticals and the US Army have applied for a joint patent for a promising brain injury treatment drug more... Sleep and Youth Suicidal Behavior: A Neglected Field Sleep undergoes substantial changes during adolescence and suicide risk begins to increase during this period as well. more... Brain Study Considers Motor Function, Cognition with Alcohol Consumption Researchers are learning how people process visual information in concert with motor performance while under the influence of alcohol. more... Brain Images Link Strokes to Heart Damage Ischemic strokes in two specific area of the brain appear to send shockwaves through the sympathetic nervous system to cause myocardial injury. more... Girls have big advantage over boys on timed tests; Findings offer new insight into how to close boys’ achievement gap New research attempting to shed light on the evergreen question--just how do male and female brains differ?--has found that timing is everything. more... Both alcoholism and chronic smoking can damage the brain's prefrontal cortex Alcoholism is commonly associated with chronic smoking, and both alcohol and nicotine are believed to act on the same brain region more... Attention shoppers: Researchers find neurons that encode the value of different goods Researchers have identified neurons that encode the values that subjects assign to different items. The activity of these neurons might facilitate the process of decision-making that occurs when someone chooses between different goods. American Academy of Neurology 58th Annual Meeting Scientific Highlights Highlights include Obesity in midlife may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease patients who gamble and take dopamine agonists to treat their symptoms are at higher risk for becoming compulsive more... Aspirin + Cholesterol Drugs + Blood Pressure Drugs=Less Severe Strokes Taking the “triple therapy” of aspirin, cholesterol drugs, and blood pressure drugs to prevent stroke also reduces stroke severity if one occurs more... Clinic Uses Trial Vaccine to Attack Alzheimer's Until now, the few drugs approved to treat Alzheimer's disease have done little more than slow its progression. But a new vaccine being tested on patients at only five sites in the U.S., including one in Delray Beach, appears to show more promise. more... Researchers discover a new genetic cause of Alzheimer’s disease Researchers from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected to the University of Antwerp are the first to show that the quantity of amyloid protein in brain cells is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. more... Possible Brain Hormone May Unlock Mystery of Hibernation The discovery of a possible hibernation hormone in the brain may unlock the mystery behind the dormant state more... CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO STRESS HORMONE CAUSES ANXIOUS BEHAVIOR IN MICE, CONFIRMING THE MECHANISM BY WHICH LONG-TERM STRESS CAN LEAD TO MOOD DISORDERS Neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School and its affiliate McLean Hospital have shown that long-term exposure to stress hormone in mice directly results in the anxiety that often comes with depression. more... Does the arousal system contribute to near death experience? The neurophysiologic basis of near death experience (NDE) is unknown. Clinical observations suggest that REM state intrusion contributes to NDE more... Mediterranean Diet Lowers Alzheimer's Risk, Study According to a study carried out in New York, those who follow a Mediterranean diet may be protecting themselves from developing Alzheimer's disease. more... Medulloblastoma treatment may reveal "magic bullet" The eradication of brain tumors in mice following treatment with a novel drug suggests that certain cancers might one day be cured without the use of toxic chemotherapy and radiation. more... Oops! Researchers publish new findings on the brain's response to costly mistakes Researchers has looked inside the human brain and captured the instant when someone makes a costly mistake. What they've found is interesting by itself, but may also help scientists understand mental health problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. more... Sustained Blood Pressure Treatment Lowers Dementia Risk In Elderly Maintaining high blood pressure treatment may reduce the risk of dementia in old age, researchers reported in the rapid access issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. more... Men respond more to amphetamines than women Amphetamines have a greater effect on men's brains than women's -- a discovery that could lead to tailored treatments for drug abuse and neurological diseases. more... Family study pinpoints link in drug addiction Based on data obtained from one of the largest family sets of its kind, Yale School of Medicine researchers have identified a genetic linkage for dependence on drugs such as heroin, morphine and oxycontin. more... Autism Linked To Poor Communication Between Brain Areas Poor communication between brain areas may explain why people with autism do not interact well with other people, say researchers from the University of London. more... American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting Research released at the 2006 American Academy of Neurology annual meeting. more... Acute Multiple Migraine Benefits From Single Tablet Containing Sumatriptan Succinate And Naproxen Sodium New data from several clinical studies presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) describe multiple benefits of a single tablet containing sumatriptan succinate and naproxen sodium for the acute treatment of migraine headaches more... Seniors look on the bright side Older adults’ attention tilts toward positive feelings and associations, despite the time-limited future that comes with advancing age more.... Testosterone Might Help Men With MS Testosterone therapy may help improve cognitive function and slow brain atrophy in men with multiple sclerosis more... Immune response protects against brain tumor development A small amount of inflammation in the brain may rev up the immune system enough to protect against brain tumor development.. more... NIDA Chief Studies the Brain of Addicts When teenagers fail to just say no to drugs, Dr. Nora Volkow blames their brains, not their willpower - they lack links between some crucial brain regions that won't fully form until they're adults more... Part "D" for "Defective" — The Medicare Drug-Benefit Chaos Despite its youth, the US Medicare drug benefit is already chronically ill. But with extensive rehabilitation, it could go on for years, albeit with impaired functional capacity more... DNA gene vaccine protects against harmful protein of Alzheimer's disease Doses of DNA-gene-coated gold particles protect mice against a protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found. more... Prescribing of hyperactivity drugs is out of control Nearly 4 million Americans, most of them children and young adults, are being prescribed amphetamine-like stimulants to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Up to a million more may be taking the drugs illegally. more... International Study Questions Health Benefits Of Moderate Drinking The majority of studies suggesting that "moderate" drinking helps prevent heart disease may be flawed, according to an international research group. more... BRAIN IMAGING CAN PREDICT EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY FOR TREATING DEPRESSION Whether or not cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) will help a person recover from depression can be predicted through brain imaging more... Why are letters and other human visual signs shaped the way that they are? Caltech researchers argue that the shape signature for human visual signs was selected for ease of reading, at the expense of writing more... The CATIE Trial: It’s the Dosing, Stupid! Concerns that major US trial of aytpical anti-psychotics was compromised by drug company more... New device could cut chemotherapy deaths A new method of delivering chemotherapy to cancer patients without incurring side effects such as hair loss and vomiting is being developed. more... Intelligent Children's Brain Cortex Thickens Later Than Other Children's A child's cortex thickens during his/her childhood and starts to thin again after reaching its peak. According to a new study, the more intelligent a child is, the later he/she will experience this peak. more... How the mind senses movement For over a century scientists have struggled to understand which parts of the nervous system allow the body to sense its own position in space. more... Powerful new tool for studying brain development Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have given investigators around the world free access to a powerful tool for studying brain development more... Loneliness linked to high blood pressure in aging adults Scholars found that lonely people have blood pressure readings that are as much as 30 points higher than in non-lonely people, even when other factors such as depressive symptoms or perceived stress are taken into account more... Novel newborn screening can open door to treating rare but devastating diseases a team of University of Washington scientists has developed a relatively simple screening process to detect enzyme deficiencies in newborns that will allow treatment to begin before too much damage has been done. more... The Science of Lost Sleep in Teens A new poll of teenagers across the US finds that many of them are losing out on quality of life because of a lack of sleep more... Small Study Points to Addictive Effects of Frequent Tanning New evidence suggests that ultraviolet light has "feel-good" effects that may be similar to those of some addictive drugs. more... Mobile phones affect brain waves in bed Radiation from mobile phones stimulates brain activity in the early stages of sleep even after you've finished using the phone, an Australian study shows. more... Cell Therapy Slows Progression Of An Inherited Neurological Disease The new study, published in the March issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, may have implications for developing new therapies for metachromatic leukodystrophy more... vCJD's Long Incubation Period Could Mean Many People May Be Infected According to an article published online today (Monday March 27, 2006) by The Lancet Neurology, all individuals could be susceptible to transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) through routes such as blood transfusion more... New Strategies Help Depressed Patients Become Symptom-Free Results of the nation's largest depression study show that one in three depressed patients who previously did not achieve remission using an antidepressant became symptom-free with the help of an additional medication more... PrimeGen Biotech Successfully Derives Human Heart, Brain, Bone and Cartilage Cells from Stem Cells Found in Adult Male Testes First Human Adult Stem Cell Showing Ability to Differentiate into Any Cell in the Body -- Paves Way for Cellular Replacement Therapies to Cure a Multitude of Diseases more... Researchers get neurons and silicon talking European researchers have created an interface between mammalian neurons and silicon chips. more... Evidence for omega 3 fats less conclusive than we thought, say experts A study led by Dr Lee Hooper from the school of medicine, health policy and practice at the University of East Anglia doesn't find evidence of a clear benefit of omega 3 fats on health. More... Innovative Stent to Open Clogged Arteries in the Brain Neurosurgeons at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia are the first in the region and among the first in the nation to successfully use a new stent specifically designed to open potentially life-threatening clogged arteries in the brain, preventing a stroke. more... Strength of cocaine cravings linked to brain response Rats that have a strong craving for cocaine have a different biochemical response to the drug than their less-addicted counterparts, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found. more... Nanoliposome Delivers Anticancer Drug to Brain Tumors One reason why patients with brain cancer face such a poor prognosis is that there are so few anticancer drugs that can actually cross the so-called blood-brain barrier and reach tumors growing in the brain. more... Aggression-Related Gene Weakens Brain’s Impulse Control Circuits A version of a gene previously linked to impulsive violence appears to weaken brain circuits that regulate impulses, emotional memory and thinking in humans more... New tools developed for studying neurodegenerative brain disorders Penn State researchers have created an elegantly simple model of an axon -- the extension of a neuron that communicates with other neurons -- and have used this model to reproduce a change in the axon's shape that is characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. more... High-Speed Surprise for Lying Eyes The next time you drive in the fog, check your speedometer. You may be speeding and not know it more... Tragic drug trial spotlights potent molecule Study reveals risks of interfering with immune system more... Columbia to Launch New Neuroscience Center The Jerome L. Greene Science Center funded by the largest gift given to a U.S. University for a single facility more... Trial and Terror It was the stuff of nightmares. Six men volunteered for a clinical trial to test a new drug and within minutes were fighting for their lives. Robin McKie and Jo Revill report on the race to develop life-saving medicines ... and the grave risks that can be involved more.. Nanotechnology brings brain recovery in sight Rodents blinded by a severed tract in their brains' visual system had their sight partially restored within weeks, thanks to a tiny biodegradable scaffold invented by MIT bioengineers and neuroscientists. more... Scientists Discover the Part of the Brain That Causes Some People to Be Lousy in Math Most everyone knows that the term "dyslexia" refers to people who can't keep words and letters straight. A rarer term is "dyscalculia," which describes someone who is virtually unable to deal with numbers, much less do complicated math. more... Researchers Identify Cause of Memory Loss Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center have for the first time identified a substance in the brain that is proven to cause memory loss. more... Uncovering How Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Can Potentially Regenerate Brain Tissue Study Offers Piece of “Missing Link” Needed in Understanding Receptor Function—Possibly Providing Safe, Ethical Source for Replacing Brain Cells, Reports March Journal of Nuclear Medicine more... OHSU Study Aims To Halt Alzheimer's By Blocking Enzyme Oregon Health & Science University is participating in a national study of a drug that may prevent Alzheimer's disease by blocking an enzyme that produces plaques believed to trigger the disorder. more...

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