Neurology

A study has identified similar changes in gene activity related to synaptic function in the brains of those with schizophrenia and the elderly, suggesting a common biological link to cognitive impairment, through the analysis of the Synaptic Neuron and Astrocyte Program (SNAP) in brain tissue samples. Credit: SciTechDaily.comCognitive impairment in both conditions might be linked to closely coordinated genetic alterations in two kinds of brain cells, providing hints for potential treatments.Researchers from the Broad…

Our brains are in rougher shape than we might think. New research from the World Health Organization and others estimates that nearly half of people globally are living with neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, or epilepsy, just to name a few. Collectively, these neurological problems are now thought to be the single largest leading cause of disability and illness worldwide.Do We Have to Send Humans to Mars for Exploration?The findings are the latest to emerge from the Global Burden of Diseases…

A study reveals a link between post-concussion headaches and increased brain iron levels, suggesting potential as a biomarker for understanding these conditions. Analyzing individuals with mild traumatic brain injuries against a control group, the research found significant differences in iron accumulation in specific brain regions, with the degree of accumulation correlating with the number of concussions and headache frequency.Individuals experiencing headaches following concussions may also be more likely to have…

A Cleveland Clinic study has found that sildenafil (Viagra) may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, showing potential in reducing diagnoses and targeting harmful brain proteins. This groundbreaking research suggests sildenafil could offer a new hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s, warranting further investigation through clinical trials.Large-scale study provides evidence that FDA-approved drug can help protect brain cells from Alzheimer’s disease.Research led by the Cleveland Clinic suggests that…

A new study shows traumatic brain injuries affect the entire brain, not just the injury site, altering how brain regions communicate and adapt to tasks. This insight into brain plasticity opens new avenues for targeted treatment and rehabilitation, with further research planned to explore long-term changes and intervention strategies.Researchers at the School of Medicine at Tufts University have developed a new imaging technology that captures neuronal activity across the entire brain during the initial weeks of…

Recent research indicates that pesticides and herbicides used in farming could be contributing to higher rates of Parkinson’s disease in certain U.S. regions, emphasizing the need for more in-depth studies and potential reduction in pesticide usage to mitigate disease risk.A preliminary study recently presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting has linked pesticides and herbicides used in farming to Parkinson’s disease in the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains region of the country“We used geographic…

An illustration of a brain cell in a person with Alzheimer’s disease, showing the accumulation and clumping of tau proteins (blue squiggles) in the cytoplasm of a brain cell. Protein clumps, also known as aggregates, are thought to lead to cell death and dementia. New research suggests that such clumps may not cause brain cell death directly, but rather throw the cell’s response to stress off balance so that it never gets switched off. Credit: National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of HealthResearch from UC…

Odysseus passes over the near side of the moon. Credit: Intuitive Machines From enraptured voles and space robots on the moon to brain gears and dense objects, it was a heck of a week in science. Let's take a look at some of the most interesting developments over the past seven days. Love evaluated Prairie voles, native to the U.S. Midwest, are so…

Researchers at the University of Cologne discovered that stick insects’ depressor muscle neurons are uniquely excited in a rhythmic pattern, challenging the belief that all motor neurons are uniformly activated by central pattern generators. This finding highlights the specialized neural control required for stabilizing walking movements.A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Cologne has shed light on how nerve cells (neurons) that regulate the movement of leg muscles in stick insects operate in a…

Recent research has identified brief seizures as a potential cause for the sudden, unexpected deaths of young children during sleep, shedding light on over 3,000 annual tragedies in the U.S. This study emphasizes the critical need for further investigation into seizures’ role in these deaths, offering new directions for understanding and prevention efforts.In research aimed at gaining insights into the sudden, unexpected deaths of young children, often happening during sleep, scientists have pinpointed brief seizures that…