Johns Hopkins Medicine

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have discovered that certain retinal photoreceptors employ two signaling pathways simultaneously for vision signal transmission, suggesting ancient evolutionary origins. This finding provides new insights into the complex functioning of the mammalian eye and marks a significant advancement in the field of neuroscience.Neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins have demonstrated that specialized cells can signal the presence of light simultaneously in two distinct waysWorking with mammalian retinal…

Digital reconstructions of endocasts of a woodpecker, Melanerpes aurifrons (top), and a troodontid dinosaur, Zanabazar junior (bottom). The blue area is the cerebellum. Credit: Amy BalanoffEvolutionary biologists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have combined PET scans of modern pigeons along with studies of dinosaur fossils to help answer an enduring question in biology: How did the brains of birds evolve to enable them to fly?The answer, they say, appears to be an adaptive increase in the size of the cerebellum in…

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals a link between lower serotonin levels in the brain and memory issues in people with mild cognitive impairment. This finding, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, suggests that targeting serotonin could offer a new approach to treating memory problems and possibly slowing Alzheimer’s disease progression. PET scans of people with mild cognitive impairment detected lower levels of serotonin, the brain chemical associated with positive mood, compared to those without it.…

A study by Johns Hopkins Children’s Center suggests that delaying ACL surgery in children leads to a higher risk of additional knee damage, unlike in adults. This difference is attributed to children’s likelihood to continue active sports post-injury. The study, analyzing 542 patient records, emphasizes timely pediatric surgery to prevent further damage, while adults can safely postpone surgery.Johns Hopkins Children’s Center investigators report active children are prone to further knee cartilage tears while awaiting…