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Released: 16-Feb-2010 12:30 PM EST
Lack of Morning Light Keeping Teenagers Up at Night
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

The first field study on the impact of light on teenagers’ sleeping habits finds that insufficient daily morning light exposure contributes to teenagers not getting enough sleep.

2-Feb-2010 2:00 PM EST
Simple Test May Help Judge Concussion in Athletes
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

A simple test of reaction time may help determine whether athletes have sustained a concussion (also known as mild traumatic brain injury) and when they are ready to play again, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

9-Feb-2010 3:00 PM EST
Secondary Stroke Prevention Needs Improvement
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

New research finds that one out of 12 people who have a stroke will likely soon have another stroke, and one out of four will likely die within one year. Researchers say the findings highlight the vital need for better secondary stroke prevention. The study is published in the February 16, 2010, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2-Feb-2010 2:00 PM EST
Drama or Reality TV: Do Medical Shows Depict Proper First Aid for Seizures?
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Watching TV medical shows might not be the best way to learn what to do when someone has a seizure. Researchers screened the most popular medical dramas and found that doctors and nurses on the shows responded inappropriately to seizures almost half the time, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

Released: 12-Feb-2010 5:00 PM EST
Mcgovern Institute Honors Pioneers in Neurogenetics
McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT announced today that Lily Jan and Yuh-Nung Jan of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the University of California San Francisco will be the joint winners of the 2010 Edward M. Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience.

Released: 12-Feb-2010 2:00 PM EST
New Study Finds Enhanced Brain Activity in Expert Sports Players
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

A study conducted by scientists at Brunel University and at the University of Hong Kong has found that expert sportsmen are quicker to observe and react to their opponents’ moves than novice players, exhibiting enhanced activation of the cortical regions of the brain. The results of the study, which appear in the most recent issue of NeuroReport (www.neuroreport.com), show that more experienced sports players are better able to detect early anticipatory clues from opposing players’ body movements, giving them a split second advantage in preparing an appropriate response.

2-Feb-2010 1:30 PM EST
Can Chocolate Lower Your Risk of Stroke?
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Eating chocolate may lower your risk of having a stroke, according to an analysis of available research that will be released today and presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010. Another study found that eating chocolate may lower the risk of death after suffering a stroke.

2-Feb-2010 1:30 PM EST
Headache May Linger Years Later in People Exposed to World Trade Center Dust, Fumes
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Workers and residents exposed to dust and fumes caused by the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 frequently reported headache years later, according to research released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

2-Feb-2010 2:40 PM EST
Migraine May Be Linked to Heart Disease
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

People with migraine may be at an increased risk of heart attack and other risk factors for heart disease, according to a study published in the February 10, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

9-Feb-2010 5:00 PM EST
Migraine May Double Risk of Heart Attack
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Migraine sufferers are twice as likely to have heart attacks as people without migraine, according to a new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

8-Feb-2010 3:40 PM EST
Researchers Find How Brain Hears the Sound of Silence
University of Oregon

University of Oregon team discovers that separate brain pathways process the start and end of what we hear.

Released: 10-Feb-2010 12:00 PM EST
Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Brain Functioning Different than Previously Thought
Washington State University

A study of the effects of sleep deprivation on executive functioning challenges an existing theory stating that sleep deprivation affects executive functions more than non-executive cognitive processes. WSU researchers found that working memory was unaffected by as much as 51 hours of sleep deprivation. The sleep deprived brain appears to be able of processing information, but this information may be distorted before it can be processed.

   
2-Feb-2010 1:30 PM EST
Drinking Milk During Pregnancy May Lower Baby’s Risk of MS
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Drinking milk during pregnancy may help reduce your baby’s chances of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) as an adult, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

2-Feb-2010 12:45 PM EST
Mediterranean Diet May Lower Risk of Brain Damage That Causes Thinking Problems
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

A Mediterranean diet may help people avoid the small areas of brain damage that can lead to problems with thinking and memory, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

4-Feb-2010 5:00 PM EST
Hypertension May Predict Dementia in Older Adults With Certain Cognitive Deficits
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

High blood pressure appears to predict the progression to dementia in older adults with impaired executive functions (ability to organize thoughts and make decisions) but not in those with memory dysfunction, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

4-Feb-2010 5:00 PM EST
Medication Appears Well Tolerated, Beneficial in Huntington’s Disease Patients
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

A medication previously studied in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (latrepirdine) appears well tolerated and may improve thinking, learning and memory skills among individuals with Huntington’s disease, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Released: 8-Feb-2010 11:30 AM EST
Geisinger Hospitals Offer Unique Treatment for Movement Disorders
Geisinger Health System

Deep Brain Stimulation, a new treatment being offered at Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, can dramatically reduce symptoms of movement disorders.

2-Feb-2010 12:00 PM EST
Industrial Cleaner Linked to Increased Risk of Parkinson’s Disease
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Workers exposed to tricholorethylene (TCE), a chemical widely used to clean metal such as auto parts, may be at a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

27-Jan-2010 3:30 PM EST
Recent Immigrants May Have Lower Risk of Early Stroke
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

New immigrants to North America may be less likely to have a stroke at a young age than long-time residents, according to a study published in the February 3, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Released: 2-Feb-2010 4:00 PM EST
Three Brain Diseases Linked by Toxic Form of Same Neural Protein
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Researchers have found that three different degenerative brain disorders are linked by a toxic form of the same protein. Elk-1 was found in clumps of misshaped proteins that are the hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. This suggests a molecular link between the presence of inclusions and neuronal loss that is shared across a spectrum of neurodegenerative disease. Identifying these links could open up novel avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Released: 2-Feb-2010 2:40 PM EST
Press Room Registration Opens for AAN Annual Meeting
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Registration is now open to journalists planning to attend the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Toronto, April 10–17, 2010. The AAN Annual Meeting is the world’s largest gathering of neurologists who come together to share the latest advances in neurologic research.

Released: 2-Feb-2010 11:20 AM EST
Parkinson’s Disease Research Uncovers Social Barrier
McGill University

People with Parkinson’s disease suffer social difficulties simply because of the way they talk, a McGill University researcher has discovered. Marc Pell, at McGill’s School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, has learned that many people develop negative impressions about individuals with Parkinson’s disease, based solely on how they communicate. These perceptions limit opportunities for social interaction and full participation in society for those with the disease, reducing their quality of life.

Released: 1-Feb-2010 4:20 PM EST
Ability to Navigate May be Linked to Genes
 Johns Hopkins University

New research for the first time links genes to our ability to orient ourselves to the world around us an then navigate through it.

26-Jan-2010 3:00 PM EST
Memory Failing? You May Be at Higher Risk for Stroke
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

People who experience memory loss or a decline in their thinking abilities may be at higher risk of stroke, regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with dementia, according to a new study published in the February 2, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

1-Feb-2010 3:15 PM EST
New Form of Stem Cell Communication Rescues Diseased Neurons
Sanford Burnham Prebys

Investigators at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, the Karolinska Institutet, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School and Université Libre de Bruxelles have demonstrated in mouse models that transplanted stems cells, when in direct contact with diseased neurons, send signals through specialized channels that rescue the neurons from death.

   
Released: 1-Feb-2010 12:40 PM EST
Novelty Lures Lab Rats from Cocaine-Paired Settings, Hinting at New Treatments for Recovering Addicts
American Psychological Association (APA)

The brain’s innate interest in the new and different may help trump the power of addictive drugs, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. In controlled experiments, novelty drew cocaine-treated rats away from the place they got cocaine.

   
Released: 1-Feb-2010 11:00 AM EST
Seeing The Brain Hear Reveals Surprises About How Sound Is Processed
University of Maryland, College Park

New research shows our brains are a lot more chaotic than previously thought, and that this might be a good thing. Neurobiologists at the University of Maryland have discovered information about how the brain processes sound that challenges previous understandings of the auditory cortex, which had suggested an organization based on precise neuronal maps. In the first study of the auditory cortex conducted using advanced imaging techniques, Patrick Kanold, assistant professor of biology, Shihab Shamma, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Sharba Bandyopadhyay, post-doctoral associate, describe a much more complex picture of neuronal activity.

Released: 28-Jan-2010 8:30 PM EST
Researchers Image Earliest Signs of Alzheimer’s Before Symptoms Appear
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

Researchers at UCLA were able to predict a brain’s progression to Alzheimer’s long before the symptoms of AD can be seen, hopefully allowing for early intervention.

Released: 28-Jan-2010 8:30 PM EST
Non-invasive Testing, Earlier Surgery Can Stop Seizures in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

A study by researchers with UCLA's Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program has found that an alternative, non-invasive approach to pre-surgical testing, along with earlier consideration for surgery, is associated with the best seizure-free surgical outcome in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.

26-Jan-2010 3:00 PM EST
Prenatal Phthalate Exposure May Alter Children’s Behavior and Cognitive Function
Environmental Health Perspectives (NIEHS)

A study published January 28 in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that women with higher exposure to phthalates during their pregnancy report more disruptive and problem behaviors in their children, using standardized measures. The study included 188 children whose mothers enrolled in Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s New York Children’s Environmental Health Study during their third trimester of pregnancy.

Released: 27-Jan-2010 8:00 PM EST
Parkinson's Rates Highest in Whites, Hispanics
Washington University in St. Louis

The largest epidemiological study of Parkinson's disease in the United States has found that the disease is more common in the Midwest and the Northeast and is twice as likely to strike whites and Hispanics as blacks and Asians. The study is based on data from 36 million Medicare recipients.

Released: 27-Jan-2010 3:00 PM EST
Brain Responses During Anesthesia Mimic Those During Natural Deep Sleep
University of Wisconsin–Madison

The brains of people under anesthesia respond to stimuli as they do in the deepest part of sleep – lending credence to a developing theory of consciousness and suggesting a new method to assess loss of consciousness in conditions such as coma.

Released: 27-Jan-2010 2:40 PM EST
Keith Black Named Recipient of 2010 BET Honors Award for Public Service and Nominated for 41st NAACP Image Award
PR Pacific

Keith L. Black, M.D., has been named the recipient of the 2010 BET Honors Award in Public Service. In addition, he has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Literary Work/Non-fiction category for his book, “BRAIN SURGEON: A Doctor’s Inspiring Encounters with Mortality and Miracles.”

Released: 27-Jan-2010 10:55 AM EST
Anti-Spasticity Medications Need Further Research
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Only a few anti-spasticity medications used for children with cerebral palsy are backed by sufficient research to justify their use, according to a new review of scientific literature headed by a UT Southwestern Medical Center neurologist and conducted by a national panel of interdisciplinary experts nationwide.

Released: 27-Jan-2010 9:00 AM EST
Ascent Scientific Licenses Novel Columbia University Technology for High-Resolution Optical Imaging of Synaptic Activity in the Brain
Columbia Technology Ventures

Columbia University and Ascent Scientific announced that they have entered into a license agreement for FFN511, a novel fluorescent probe for optical imaging and measurement of synaptic activity in the brain.

   
Released: 26-Jan-2010 9:00 PM EST
Music in Speech=Empathy in Heart?
University of Southern California (USC)

Brain circuits involved in prosody seem to operate on a mirror neuron system, according to USC neuroscientists. PLoS ONE study also finds correlation between empathy and prosodic ability, meaning the ability to produce and perceive the music of speech.

   
25-Jan-2010 1:30 PM EST
New Formula Helps Gauge the Winds of Change
University of Washington

Researchers devise formula to examine just what types of change occur over time among complex and integrated structures.

19-Jan-2010 2:30 PM EST
AAN Guideline Evaluates Treatments for Kids with Cerebral Palsy
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society finds botulinum toxin type A to be an effective treatment for spasticity, muscle tightness that interferes with movement, in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, but poses some risk. The guideline is published in the January 26, 2010, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Released: 25-Jan-2010 3:00 PM EST
Fluctuating Blood Glucose Levels May Affect Decision Making
Association for Psychological Science

People's preferences for current versus later rewards may be influenced by fluctuating blood glucose levels: Volunteers who drank a regular soda containing sugar were more likely to select receiving more money at a later date while the volunteers who drank a diet soda were likelier to opt for receiving smaller sums of money immediately.

Released: 25-Jan-2010 10:35 AM EST
Mayo Clinic and IBM Advance Early Detection of Brain Aneurysms
Mayo Clinic

Preventing deadly ruptures of the blood vessels in the brain is the aim of a new Mayo Clinic project to help radiologists detect aneurysms with far greater speed and accuracy.

Released: 21-Jan-2010 3:30 PM EST
How Does an Outfielder Know Where to Run for a Fly Ball?
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

To test three theories that might explain an outfielder’s ability to catch a fly ball, researcher Philip Fink, PhD, from Massey University in New Zealand and Patrick Foo, PhD, from the University of North Carolina at Ashville programmed Brown University’s virtual reality lab, the VENLab, to produce realistic balls and simulate catches. The team then lobbed virtual fly balls to a dozen experienced ball players.

12-Jan-2010 3:00 PM EST
Drowsiness, Staring, and Other Mental Lapses May Signal Alzheimer’s Disease
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Older people who have “mental lapses,” or times when their thinking seems disorganized or illogical or when they stare into space, may be more likely to have Alzheimer’s disease than people who do not have these lapses, according to a study published in the January 19, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Released: 15-Jan-2010 1:05 PM EST
Cited Clinical Neurosurgery Articles Reveal Impact Factors and Interesting Trends
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)

Clinical and basic science papers do not have to be published in large, high-impact publications to garner attention, and in fact when it comes to specialized areas of medicine such as neurosurgery, publications devoted to the subspecialty produce many citation classics. “Citation classic” is a term given to articles that have been cited more than 400 times.

Released: 14-Jan-2010 9:00 PM EST
Methodist First in Houston to Treat Brain Aneurysm with Liquid, Not Coils
Houston Methodist

A 68-year-old woman became the first patient in Houston to have her brain aneurysm treated with a recently FDA-approved liquid material instead of traditional open skull surgery or platinum coils.

Released: 14-Jan-2010 3:00 PM EST
Neural "Ignition" and the Experience of Seeing
Weizmann Institute of Science

How do the visual images we experience, which have no tangible existence, arise out of physical processes in the brain? New research at the Weizmann Institute of Science provides evidence, for the first time, that an “ignition” of intense neural activity underlies the experience of seeing.

5-Jan-2010 3:45 PM EST
Migraine and Depression May Share Genetic Component
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

New research shows that migraine and depression may share a strong genetic component. The research is published in the January 13, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

11-Jan-2010 8:30 PM EST
Dual Role for Immune Cells in the Brain
Salk Institute for Biological Studies

We all have at one time or another experienced the typical signs of an infection: the fever, the listlessness, the lack of appetite. They are orchestrated by the brain in response to circulating cytokines, the signaling molecules of the immune system. But just how cytokines' reach extends beyond the almost impenetrable blood-brain barrier has been the topic of much dispute.

12-Jan-2010 5:25 PM EST
Surplus of Serotonin Receptors May Explain Failure of Antidepressants in Some Patients
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

An excess of one type of serotonin receptor in the center of the brain may explain why antidepressants fail to relieve symptoms of depression for 50 percent of patients, a new study from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center shows.

7-Jan-2010 3:15 PM EST
Loss of Smell Function – a Common Symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease – May Predict Early Onset
NYU Langone Health

A study published in the January 13, 2010 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience links a loss of smell function in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model animals with amyloid beta (protein) accumulation in the brain, a distinguishing hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Research conducted by NYU Langone Medical Center suggests that olfactory dysfunction, a common symptom of AD, may serve as an early diagnostic tool for the disease.

11-Jan-2010 12:25 PM EST
As in Humans, Sleep Solidifies a Bird’s Memories
University of Chicago Medical Center

Sleeping is known to help humans stabilize information and tasks learned during the preceding day. Now, researchers have found that sleep has similar effects upon learning in starlings, a discovery that will open up future research into how the brain learns and preserves information.



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