English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
Esperanto
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
UrduUT Southwestern Medical Center is among 10 U.S. health systems selected for an initiative that aims to create and implement early detection programs for Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments.
Tag: Brain
Special Class of Immune Cells Found To Safeguard Brain Health, Memory Formation
Harvard Medical School research reveals highly specialized regulatory T cells that curb inflammation and act as gatekeepers to protect the inner regions of the brain.
Two New Artificial Intelligence Models Seek to Make MRI More Accurate, Reliable
Two new models, developed by researchers in the lab of Li Wang, PhD, associate professor of radiology in the UNC School of Medicine, can produce more accurate and reliable analysis of brain structures, which is critical for early detection, medical diagnosis, and neurological research.
Staying sharp: Study explores how brain changes may affect financial skills
A new paper co-written by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York sheds light on how age-related changes may affect the way we handle finances — and how we can stay sharp as we age.
UTSW Research: Python guts, emergency room visits, and more
Regeneration insights from snake intestines / Understanding why cancer patients visit the ED / How burr holes affect transcranial direct current stimulation
Pitt-led Study Likely to Change Standard of Care for One of the Deadliest Types of Strokes
Endovascular therapy, or EVT, – a minimally invasive surgery performed inside the blood vessels – is 2 ½ times more likely than standard medical management to achieve a positive outcome after vertebrobasilar stroke that affects the back of the brain, including the brain stem.
Scientists Create Model to Make MRI More Accurate, Reliable
The new model, developed by researchers at the UNC School of Medicine, can produce more accurate and reliable analysis of brain structures, which is critical for early detection, medical diagnosis, and neurological research.
Researchers Discover New Neurons that Suppress Food Intake
In a study published in the Dec. 5 issue of Nature, a team of researchers discovered a new population of neurons that is responsive to the hormone leptin. Leptin responsive neurons are important in obesity since leptin is sent to the brain from the body’s fat stores to suppress hunger.
Study May Reverse Century-Old Understanding of the Shape of ‘Arms’ on Mammals’ Brain Cells
Biology textbooks may need a revision, say Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists, who present new evidence that an armlike structure of mammalian brain cells may be a different shape than scientists have assumed for more than a century.
Alzheimer’s: A New Strategy to Prevent Neurodegeneration
A study led by Università Cattolica at Rome and the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS in Rome, published in the prestigious journal PNAS, has revealed an important mechanism underlying Alzheimer and identified new therapeutic targets.
FAU Acquires State-of-the-Art MRI System to Advance Research Capabilities
FAU has added a new state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system to its research infrastructure. This cutting-edge technology marks a transformative step forward for FAU’s research capabilities, enabling groundbreaking studies in neuroscience, clinical health and medical advancements.
Teaching AI the Rules of the Brain
As scientists across every field grapple with what AI will mean for their work, physician scientist Michael Halassa, an associate professor of neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine, is focused on how it could transform the study of cognitive processing, mental illness, and psychiatric medicine.
Researchers solve medical mystery of neurological symptoms in kids
Researchers at WashU Medicine collaborated with an international team of doctors and scientists to identify the cause of a rare disorder involving intellectual disability and brain malformations. The team found a link between the child’s neurological symptoms and a genetic change that affects how proteins are properly folded within cells, providing the parents with a molecular diagnosis and identifying an entirely new type of genetic disorder. The findings are published in Science.
Dramatic Drop in Marijuana Use Among U.S. Youth Over a Decade: (2011 to 2021)
Among 88,183 U.S. high school students, marijuana use declined from 23.1% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2021, with first-time use before age 13 dropping from 8.1% to 4.9%. In 2021, use was highest among 12th graders (22.4%) and 11th graders (18.7%). Notably, girls (17.8%) surpassed boys (13.6%) in reported use in 2021, reversing past trends. While Asian, Hispanic, and white adolescents saw declines, Black adolescents had a higher usage rate of 20.5% in 2021, indicating ongoing racial disparities.
Brain Imaging of Neuromelanin May be Key to Understanding Extensive Substance Use
A study that used a specialized type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), named neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, showed that this type of MRI signal was increased in regions of the midbrain in young adults ages 20 to 24 who had an extensive alcohol and drug use history. The findings are published early online in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Challenging Current Understanding, Study Reveals Rapid Release of Dopamine Not Needed for Initiating Movement
At a glance: Study in mice reveals rapid release of dopamine is not needed for initiating movement but is important for activities related to reward-seeking and motivation. The findings help explain why the widely used Parkinson’s drug levodopa improves movement-related symptoms but often fails to ameliorate some cognitive ones. The work may inform the development of new therapies that restore both slow and fast dopamine action to treat multiple symptoms.
UTSW study explores link between high school IQ and alcohol use
A person’s IQ during high school is predictive of alcohol consumption later in life, according to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers published in Alcohol and Alcoholism. Participants with higher IQ levels were significantly more likely to be moderate or heavy drinkers, as opposed to abstaining.
Research by UWF professor uncovers how our brains stay ready
A University of West Florida Department of Mathematics and Statistics professor’s brain research was recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications. Dr. Shusen Pu’s study focused on the prefrontal cortex, a key area of the brain responsible for higher-order functions like decision-making and memory.
Houston Methodist and Rice University team up to track gut-brain connection
For the next two years, 120 Division I Rice University athletes will be part of a concussion study with Houston Methodist researchers to identify reliable and novel concussion biomarkers in their gut microbiomes in ways that standard brain imaging cannot.
Novel motion simulator reveals key role of airflow in rodent navigation
With the assistance of a novel motion simulator, researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel have discovered that rats rely on airflow to navigate their surroundings. When they move, the flow of air relative to their bodies provides crucial information, complementary to their sense of balance, to perceive their own motion in space. This might explain their agility in the dark as they scurry through pipes and tunnels, turn corners, and effortlessly travel from one location to another, all while knowing exactly where they’re headed.
Finding love: Study reveals where love lives in the brain
We use the word ‘love’ in a bewildering range of contexts — from sexual adoration to parental love or the love of nature. Now, more comprehensive imaging of the brain may shed light on why we use the same word for such a diverse collection of human experiences.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Linked to Neurotransmitter Switching in the Brain
Neurobiologists studying the emergence of autism spectrum disorders have found evidence of altered early development of the nervous system. They linked environmentally induced forms of ASD to changes in neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that allow neurons to communicate with each other.
How Thyroid Hormone Fuels the Drive to Explore
Research in mice sheds light on how thyroid hormone alters wiring in the brain.
Findings reveal that thyroid hormone syncs up the brain and body to drive exploratory behavior.
Researchers say their work could illuminate new treatments for certain psychiatric conditions.
Low cortisol, hair-trigger stress response in the brain may underlie Long COVID
A new animal study shows that exposure to immune-stimulating proteins left behind by COVID-19 leads to lower cortisol, brain inflammation and a heightened reaction to subsequent stressors.
Natural grass may pose greater risk for football concussions
Young football players who sustained a head-to-ground concussion practicing or playing games on natural grass experienced more symptoms – and significantly higher severity – than those who suffered concussions on artificial turf, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found.
State-of-the-Art Brain Recordings Reveal How Neurons Resonate
Researchers at UC San Diego have shed new light on how the brain processes and synthesizes information. Findings help solve a longstanding mystery in neuroscience.
Fentanyl May Increase or Decrease Oxygen Levels Depending on Dosage
Article title: Oxygen fluctuations in the brain and periphery induced by intravenous fentanyl: effects of dose and drug experience Authors: Shinbe Choi, Michael R. Noya, Eugene A. Kiyatkin From the authors: “We report that fentanyl’s effects are highly dose-dependent, drawing…
New visual technique could advance early detection of neurodegenerative diseases
Researchers at the University of Minnesota, have developed a new visual diagnostic technique that can be used to advance early detection for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease and similar diseases that affect animals, including Chronic Wasting Disease in deer.
Daily rhythms depend on receptor density in biological clock
Tweaking the numbers of receptors in a key brain area changes the daily rhythms of rest and wake in mice, according to research from WashU, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Good Timing: UNLV Study Unravels How Our Brains Track Time
Ever hear the old adage that time flies when you’re having fun? A new study by a team of UNLV researchers suggests that there’s a lot of truth to the trope.
Study Pinpoints Origins of Creativity in the Brain
The new results could ultimately help lead to interventions that help spark creative thought or aid people who have mental illnesses that disrupt these regions of the brain.
Researchers Identify Potential Therapeutic Target for Management of Thirst Disorders
In a recent mouse-model study, published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers at University Hospitals (UH), Harrington Discovery Institute at UH, and Case Western Reserve University have now found that the cerebellum also controls thirst, a major function necessary for survival. Specifically, the research team found that a hormone, asprosin, crosses from the periphery into the brain to activate Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum. This leads to an enhanced drive to seek and drink water.
Toddlers’ brains show significant growth in cognitive skills by 16 months, study finds
Toddlers engage more regions of their brains around 16-months to help them develop important cognitive skills enabling them to follow simple instructions and control impulses. Findings from the study, led by the Universities of Bristol and Oxford, and published in Imaging Neuroscience, suggests 16 months is a critical period for brain development.
UNC Researchers Identify Potential Treatment for Angelman Syndrome
Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have identified a small molecule that could lead to a safe and effective treatment for the neurodevelopmental condition known as Angelman syndrome.
Chemotherapy disrupts gut microbiome in patients with breast cancer
“For the first time ever, our Intelligut Study found that the gut microbiome has been implicated in cognitive side effects of chemotherapy in humans,” said senior author Leah Pyter, associate professor of psychiatry and neuroscience with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.
Study Challenges ED Protocols for Geriatric Head Injuries and Blood Thinners
Out of 3,425 patients enrolled in the study, 0.4% (13 patients) experienced a delayed intracranial hemorrhage, a significantly lower rate than previously reported (7.2%).
Alcohol misuse can disrupt gut microbiota, causing inflammation that leads to organ damage
Alcohol researchers have long known that excessive drinking can cause damage to the liver, pancreas, heart, muscle, bone, and brain. However, only a subset of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) appear to develop organ damage. New research shows that alcohol-induced gut inflammation is the missing link between unhealthy drinking and organ damage among certain AUD patients.
Gut Microbiome Linked to Brain Structure and Symptom Severity in People Who Drink Heavily
Gut bacteria may be associated with differences in brain structure and clinical symptom severity in people with alcohol use disorder.
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: Virginia Tech researchers work toward better treatments
Alzheimer’s disease, a deadly brain disease than can cause loss of memory and mobility, affects millions of lives daily. June marks Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and Virginia Tech researchers are engaged in research meant to advance treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and assist caregivers of loved ones with dementia.
How can AI cope with changing categories?
Bar-Ilan University researchers have uncovered a new universal law detailing how artificial neural networks handle an increasing number of categories for identification. This law demonstrates how the identification error rate of such networks increases with the number of required recognizable objects.
UC San Diego Develops First-In-Kind Protocol for Creating ‘Wired Miniature Brains’
Researchers have developed — and shared — a process for creating brain cortical organoids — essentially miniature artificial brains with functioning neural networks
NUTRITION 2024 showcases groundbreaking research on what we eat and why it matters
Be among the first to hear breaking news in food and nutrition science at NUTRITION 2024, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29–July 2 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Scientists aim to stop harmful gut bacteria triggering Alzheimer’s
Australian scientists are exploring how harmful gut bacteria from a poor diet can access the brain and trigger early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Tricking the Brain’s inner GPS: Grid cells responses to the illusion of self-location
Dr. Hyuk-June Moon from the Bionics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), in collaboration with Prof. Olaf Blanke’s team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), has successfully induced self-location illusions with multi-sensory virtual reality (VR) in the MRI scanner and observed corresponding changes in the human brain’s grid cell activity.
UTSW Research: Improved bladder cancer detection, tracking gamma waves, and more
Blue light improves bladder cancer detection across races; Gamma waves distinguish goal-oriented movements; Giving abnormal bone formation a closer look; Dissecting the HIV-1 transcriptional circuitry
Scientists have mathematically simulated an epileptic seizure for the first time
Scientists at Immanuel Kant BFU have developed a mathematical model that describes human brain condition in epilepsy. The system reproduced changes in brain activity during a seizure, as well as taking into account multiple interactions among neurons and other brain cells.
Everyday social interactions predict language development in infants
In a study published April 8 in Current Biology, University of Washington researchers found that when the adult talked and played socially with a 5-month-old baby, the baby’s brain activity particularly increased in regions responsible for attention — and the level of this type of activity predicted enhanced language development at later ages.
Feeding the lonely brain
Study finds that lonely women experienced increased activation in regions of the brain associated with food cravings.
Press passes available now for NUTRITION 2024 to be held June 29–July 2
Complimentary press passes are now available for NUTRITION 2024, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.
Gene therapy offers hope for giant axonal neuropathy patients
A gene therapy developed by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center for a rare disease called giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) was well tolerated in pediatric patients and showed clear benefits, a new study reports. Findings from the phase one clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could offer hope for patients with this rare condition and a host of other neurological diseases.