Feature Channels: Neuro

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28-May-2013 4:00 PM EDT
Rapid, Irregular Heartbeat May Be Linked to Problems with Memory and Thinking
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

People who develop a type of irregular heartbeat common in old age called atrial fibrillation may also be more likely to develop problems with memory and thinking, according to new research published in the June 5, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3-Jun-2013 11:40 AM EDT
Targeting an Aspect of Down Syndrome
University of Michigan

University of Michigan researchers have determined how a gene that is known to be defective in Down syndrome is regulated and how its dysregulation may lead to neurological defects, providing insights into potential therapeutic approaches to an aspect of the syndrome.

3-Jun-2013 9:00 AM EDT
Study Finds Proof That Immune Defenses Amplify Parkinson’s Disease Damage
University of Alabama at Birmingham

The same mechanism that lets the immune system mount a massive attack against invading bacteria contributes to the destruction of brain cells as part of Parkinson’s disease.

4-Jun-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Neuronal Regeneration and the Two-Part Design of Nerves
University of Michigan

Researchers at the University of Michigan have evidence that a single gene controls both halves of nerve cells, and their research demonstrates the need to consider that design in the development of new treatments for regeneration of nerve cells.

Released: 4-Jun-2013 2:25 PM EDT
Seeing Our Errors Keeps Us On Our Toes
Johns Hopkins Medicine

If people are unable to perceive their own errors as they complete a routine, simple task, their skill will decline over time, Johns Hopkins researchers have found — but not for the reasons scientists assumed. The researchers report that the human brain does not passively forget our good techniques, but chooses to put aside what it has learned.

Released: 4-Jun-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Anxious? Activate Your Anterior Cingulate Cortex by Meditating
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Scientists, like Buddhist monks and Zen masters, have known for years that meditation can reduce anxiety, but not how. Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, however, have succeeded in identifying the brain functions involved.

   
Released: 4-Jun-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Two Biomarkers Predict Increased Risk For "Silent" Strokes
Houston Methodist

Two biomarkers being investigated as predictors of heart and vascular disease appear to indicate risk for "silent" strokes and other causes of mild brain damage that present no symptoms, report researchers in an upcoming issue of Stroke.

Released: 4-Jun-2013 6:00 AM EDT
Dogs, Humans Affected by OCD Have Similar Brain Abnormalities
Tufts University

Another piece of the puzzle to better understand and treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has fallen into place with the publication of new research that shows that the structural brain abnormalities of Doberman pinschers afflicted with canine compulsive disorder (CCD) are similar to those of humans with OCD. The research suggests that further study of anxiety disorders in dogs may help find new therapies for OCD and similar conditions in humans.

30-May-2013 7:00 PM EDT
Interleukin 17F Level and Interferon Beta Response in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

A study by Hans-Peter Hartung, M.D., of Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldoft, Germany, and colleagues examines the association between IL-17F and treatment response to interferon beta-1b among patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Released: 3-Jun-2013 12:35 PM EDT
Common Protein Known to Cause Autism Now Linked to Specific Behaviors
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

UCLA researchers find abnormal brain networks in Fragile X syndrome, a genetic malady that is the most common inherited cause of autism and intellectual disability.

Released: 30-May-2013 5:00 PM EDT
Technique Could Identify Patients at High Risk of Stroke or Brain Hemorrhage
Nationwide Children's Hospital

Measuring blood flow in the brain may be an easy, noninvasive way to predict stroke or hemorrhage in children receiving cardiac or respiratory support through a machine called ECMO, according to a new study by researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Early detection would allow physicians to alter treatment and take steps to prevent these complications—the leading cause of death for patients on ECMO.

Released: 29-May-2013 1:05 PM EDT
Safe for Stroke Patients to Continue Blood Thinners before Minor Surgical Procedures
Loyola Medicine

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology advises that it is likely safe to continue taking blood thinners before minor procedures such as dental procedures, cataract surgery or dermatologic procedures. The guideline is published in Neurology.

Released: 29-May-2013 8:00 AM EDT
Interventional Stroke Therapy Needs Further Study in Clinical Trials, Mayo Clinic Researchers Say
Mayo Clinic

Devices snaked into the brain artery of a patient experiencing a stroke that snatch and remove the offending clot, or pump a dissolving drug into the blockage, should primarily be used within a clinical trial setting, say a team of vascular neurologists at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

Released: 28-May-2013 5:00 PM EDT
Researchers Uncover Key to Development of Peripheral Nervous System
Geisinger Health System

Findings could have implications in treatment of hereditary neuropathy.

Released: 28-May-2013 4:00 PM EDT
Changing Gut Bacteria Through Diet Affects Brain Function
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

   
Released: 28-May-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Preventing ‘Traffic Jams’ in Brain Cells
University at Buffalo

An Alzheimer’s disease protein controls the speed at which materials move through brain cells, and defects could lead to deadly pileups of the kind seen in neurodegenerative disease, a new publication finds.

23-May-2013 1:25 PM EDT
Stem Cell Injections Improve Spinal Injuries in Rats
UC San Diego Health

An international team led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine reports that a single injection of human neural stem cells produced neuronal regeneration and improvement of function and mobility in rats impaired by an acute spinal cord injury (SCI).

23-May-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Meta-Analysis: Bug and Weed Killers, Solvents May Increase Risk of Parkinson’s Disease
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

A large analysis of more than 100 studies from around the world shows that exposure to pesticides, or bug and weed killers, and solvents is likely associated with a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The research appears in the May 28, 2013, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23-May-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Should You Stop Blood Thinners Before Surgery? AAN Guideline Provides Direction
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology will help people who take blood thinners decide whether or not to take them during surgery or other medical procedures. The guideline is published in the May 28, 2013, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23-May-2013 3:45 PM EDT
Down Syndrome Neurons Grown From Stem Cells Show Signature Problems
University of Wisconsin–Madison

In new research published this week, Anita Bhattacharyya, a neuroscientist at the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, reports on brain cells that were grown from skin cells of individuals with Down syndrome.

Released: 24-May-2013 3:00 PM EDT
Newly Understood Circuits Add Finesse to Nerve Signals
University of Alabama at Birmingham

An unusual kind of circuit fine-tunes the brain’s control over movement and incoming sensory information, and without relying on conventional nerve pathways. The work may provide insight into the design of drugs for autism and movement disorders.

Released: 23-May-2013 9:30 AM EDT
The Secret Lives (and Deaths) of Neurons
University of North Carolina Health Care System

University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers uncover surprising insights about how nerve cells rewire themselves, shedding light on a process linked with neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia and autism.

Released: 23-May-2013 9:15 AM EDT
Regenerating Spinal Cord Fibers May be Treatment for Stroke-Related Disabilities
Henry Ford Health

A study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital found “substantial evidence” that a regenerative process involving damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord could hold the key to better functional recovery by most stroke victims. The findings may offer new hope to those who suffer stroke, the leading cause of long-term disability in adults.

14-May-2013 2:00 PM EDT
Migraine and Depression Together May Be Linked with Brain Size
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Older people with a history of migraines and depression may have smaller brain tissue volumes than people with only one or neither of the conditions, according to a new study in the May 22, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

16-May-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Scientists Uncover Molecular Roots Of Cocaine Addiction In The Brain And Reveal A Promising New Anti-Addiction Drug
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine’s effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice. The compound, already proven safe for humans, is undergoing further animal testing in preparation for possible clinical trials in cocaine addicts, the researchers say.

Released: 22-May-2013 8:00 AM EDT
Common Brain Processes of Anesthetic-Induced Unconsciousness Identified
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

A study from the June issue of Anesthesiology found feedback from the front region of the brain is a crucial building block for consciousness and that its disruption is associated with unconsciousness.

Released: 21-May-2013 11:20 AM EDT
Waiting for a Sign? Researchers Find Potential Brain 'Switch' for New Behavior
University of Michigan

You're standing near an airport luggage carousel and your bag emerges on the conveyor belt, prompting you to spring into action. How does your brain make the shift from passively waiting to taking action when your bag appears?

20-May-2013 2:15 PM EDT
Physicians Describe Challenges Encountered in Surgical Management of Spine Trauma in Morbidly Obese Patients
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)

Case series reveals logistic, medical and societal challenges faced in treating spine trauma in morbidly obese patients.

Released: 21-May-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Can High-Dose Statins Improve Outcomes after Aneurysm-Related Stroke?
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

Can treatment with high doses of a cholesterol-lowering statin drug improve outcomes for patients with stroke caused by rupture and bleeding of brain aneurysms? An ongoing clinical trial will soon find out, according to an article in the May issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

17-May-2013 5:00 PM EDT
For Combat Veterans Suffering From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, “Fear Circuitry” in the Brain Never Rests
NYU Langone Health

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks.

15-May-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Brain Makes Call on Which Ear Is Used for Cell Phone
Henry Ford Health

If you’re a left-brain thinker, chances are you use your right hand to hold your cell phone up to your right ear, according to a newly published study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. The study – to appear online in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery – shows a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used to listen to a cell phone.

7-May-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Skin Cancer May Be Linked to Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

People who have skin cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to new research published in the May 15, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The link does not apply to melanoma, a less common but more aggressive type of skin cancer.

15-May-2013 12:00 AM EDT
Virginia Tech Announces 2013 Football Helmet Ratings; One More Added to the 5 Star Mark
Virginia Tech

The newly redesigned Xenith X2 joined the Riddell 360, Rawlings Quantum Plus, and Riddell Revolution Speed as the only helmets with a 5 star rating awarded by the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings™.

14-May-2013 12:00 PM EDT
What Impacts Whether African Americans Call 9-1-1 Immediately for Stroke Symptoms?
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Strokes rates are high among African Americans, but concerns about medical cost, ambulance response time and unfamiliarity with the need for prompt hospital care impacted whether they called 9-1-1 immediately.

Released: 14-May-2013 3:20 PM EDT
‘Good Vibrations’! Brain Ultrasound Improves Mood
Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques aimed at mental and neurological conditions include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, and transcranial direct current (electrical) stimulation (tDCS), shown to improve memory. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has also shown promise.

   
13-May-2013 2:00 PM EDT
Brain-Imaging Study Links Cannabinoid Receptors to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder —Findings Bring First Pharmaceutical Treatment for Ptsd Within Reach—
NYU Langone Health

In a first-of-its-kind effort to illuminate the biochemical impact of trauma, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a connection between the quantity of cannabinoid receptors in the human brain, known as CB1 receptors, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the chronic, disabling condition that can plague trauma victims with flashbacks, nightmares and emotional instability. Their findings, which appear online today in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, will also be presented this week at the annual meeting of the Society of Biological Psychiatry in San Francisco.

13-May-2013 1:30 PM EDT
Salk Scientists Develop Drug That Slows Alzheimer's in Mice
Salk Institute for Biological Studies

A drug developed by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, known as J147, reverses memory deficits and slows Alzheimer's disease in aged mice following short-term treatment. The findings, published May 14 in the journal Alzheimer's Research and Therapy, may pave the way to a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease in humans.

10-May-2013 8:00 AM EDT
Out of Sync: Body Clocks Altered at Cell Level in Depression
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Every cell in our bodies runs on a 24-hour clock, tuned to the night-day, light-dark cycles that have ruled us since the dawn of humanity. But new research shows that the clock may be broken in the brains of people with depression -- even at the level of the gene activity inside their brain cells.

13-May-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Partial Recovery From Disorders of Consciousness
International Neuromodulation Society

Two traumatic brain-injury patients steadily emerged from minimally conscious state after receiving intrathecal baclofen therapy under the care of neurosurgeons at Evangelismos Hospital in Athens.

Released: 9-May-2013 3:10 PM EDT
Sense of Touch Reproduced Through Prosthetic Hand
University of Chicago Medical Center

University of Chicago neurobiologists have shown how an organism can sense a tactile stimulus, in real time, through an artificial sensor for the first time.

8-May-2013 4:25 PM EDT
Scientists Show How Nerve Wiring Self-Destructs, Discovery Relevant to Diseases of Peripheral and Central Nervous Systems
Washington University in St. Louis

Many medical issues affect nerves, from injuries and chemotherapy to glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. The common theme in these scenarios is destruction of nerve axons, the long wires that transmit signals to other parts of the body. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a way the body can remove injured axons, identifying a potential target for new drugs that could prevent the inappropriate loss of axons.

Released: 9-May-2013 10:45 AM EDT
Researchers Discover Dynamic Behavior Of Progenitor Cells In Brain
Johns Hopkins Medicine

By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.

Released: 9-May-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Heads Up – the Human Brain Holds Key for Healthy Future
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research experts discuss brain-related diseases.

8-May-2013 4:10 PM EDT
Scientists Identify Early Predictors of Disease Progression Which Could Speed Huntington’s Disease Drug Trials
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Scientists have identified a set of tests that could help identify whether and how Huntington’s disease (HD) is progressing in groups of people who are not yet showing symptoms. The latest findings from the TRACK-HD study*, published Online First in The Lancet Neurology, could be used to assess whether potential new treatments are slowing the disease up to 10 years before the development of noticeable symptoms.

Released: 8-May-2013 10:40 AM EDT
Weeks After Stroke, Some Patients Develop Chronic, Debilitating Pain
Loyola Medicine

Nearly 1 in 10 stroke patients suffer chronic and debilitating pain, typically described as sharp, stabbing or burning. It is treatable with medications and magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain. But physicians often fail to correctly diagnose the condition.

7-May-2013 2:00 PM EDT
Turning Alzheimer’s Fuzzy Signals Into High Definition
Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists discover that cholinesterase inhibitors allow signals to enter the brain with less background noise. And the drugs work in the sensory cortices, not the more sophisticated processing regions.

Released: 7-May-2013 4:40 PM EDT
Restless Legs Syndrome, Insomnia And Brain Chemistry: A Tangled Mystery Solved?
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Johns Hopkins researchers believe they may have discovered an explanation for the sleepless nights associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS), a symptom that persists even when the disruptive, overwhelming nocturnal urge to move the legs is treated successfully with medication.

3-May-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Study Finds Increase in Fall-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Elderly Men and Women
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

“Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of hospitalization, disability, and death-worldwide, and among older adults, falling is the most common cause of TBI,” writes Niina Korhonen, B.M., of the Injury and Osteoporosis Research Center, Tampere, Finland, and colleagues in a Research Letter.

Released: 7-May-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Nerve Stimulation for Severe Depression Changes Brain Function
Washington University in St. Louis

For nearly a decade, doctors have used implanted electronic stimulators to treat severe depression in people who don’t respond to standard antidepressant treatments. Now, preliminary brain scan studies conducted by School of Medicine researchers are revealing that vagus nerve stimulation brings about changes in brain metabolism weeks or even months before patients begin to feel better.

Released: 6-May-2013 6:00 PM EDT
New Perspective Needed for Role of Alzheimer's Gene
Washington University in St. Louis

Scientists’ picture of how a gene strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease harms the brain may have to be revised, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found.



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