Newsline — Tuesday, February 11, 2014 13:00
Even Without a Diagnosis Psychiatric Symptoms Affect Work Outcomes
Regulator of Plaque Buildup in Alzheimer’s Disease Found
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 9:00
In a recent study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute identified a critical regulator of a molecule deeply involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The study showed that levels of this regulating protein are decreased in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers. The regulator, known as Rheb, is a protein believed to be active in relation to neural plasticity — the brain’s ability to change in response to learning. Furthermore, researchers found that Rheb binds and regulates the activity of a molecule known as BACE1, a significant enzyme in Alzheimer’s disease pathology. According to the lead author of the study, because autopsied brains of Alzheimer’s patients have shown a reduction in Rheb, it’s possible that increasing it could reverse the buildup of amyloid plaque. To read more about this study, click here.
Study Identifies Gene Tied to Motor Neuron Loss in ALS
Monday, February 10, 2014 13:00
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have identified a gene that appears to play a major role in motor-neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The findings from a mouse study explain why most, but not all, motor neurons are affected by the disease. In order to understand why only some motor neurons are vulnerable to ALS, researchers used DNA microarray profiling to compare the activity of tens of thousands of genes in neurons that resist ALS, such as eye movement, to those affected by ALS, such as leg movement. One of the genes, MMP-9, was strongly expressed into adulthood, which is significant because ALS is an adult-onset disease. Furthermore, researchers confirmed that the MMP-9 protein is present in ALS-vulnerable motor neurons, but not in those that are ALS-resistant. The findings suggest the potential for identifying new therapeutic targets to help treat ALS. To read more about this study, click here.
Mount Sinai Research Underscores the Complexity in Schizophrenia
Monday, February 10, 2014 9:00
In a recent study published in the journal Nature, researchers at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai revealed new information regarding the genetic complexity underpinning of schizophrenia. Scientists at Mount Sinai collaborated with researchers at several other universities to create a large-scale project that sequenced the genes of 6,948 people in Bulgaria and Sweden, including those diagnosed with schizophrenia, their parents, and healthy controls. Scientists found that a large number of rare genetic mutations contribute to the disease, not just a few ‘faulty’ genes as previously believed. The clinical and genetic information that was gathered on more than 3,000 people has produced the world’s largest database on schizophrenia, establishing a critical new resource for the biomedical community. To read more about this study, click here.
Parental Exposure to Drugs Linked to Compulsive Behavior in Next Generation
Friday, February 7, 2014 13:00
In a recent study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that exposing adolescent rats to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — can lead to molecular and behavioral alterations in the next generation of offspring, even though they were not directly exposed to the drug. Few studies have yet to address the adverse effects of parental drug use on future generations. In this study, researchers found that the male offspring of rats who were previously administered 1.5 milligrams of THC, showed stronger motivation to self-administer heroin during their adulthood, causing molecular changes in their glutamatergic system — the most important excitatory system in the brain. Damage in the glutamate pathway has been linked to disturbances in goal-directed behavior and habit formation. To read more about this study, click here.
Shingles Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke in Young Adults
Friday, February 7, 2014 9:00
According to research published in the January 2014 issue of Neurology, having shingles may increase the risk of having a stroke later in life. Shingles, a painful viral infection caused by the same virus attributed to chickenpox, can appear as a result of the dormant chickenpox virus that stays in the nerve roots years after recovery. The study found that people from ages 18 to 40 who had shingles were more likely to have a stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack (TIA), years later than people who did not have shingles. People over 40 who had shingles were more likely to have a heart attack or TIA — but not a stroke — compared to those who did not have shingles. The study involved 106,600 people who had shingles in addition to 213,200 people who did not. To read more about the results of this study, click here.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Linked to Larger Brain Volume
Thursday, February 6, 2014 13:00
Findings from a study published in the January 2014 issue of Neurology show that people with higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may also have larger brain volumes in old age. Of the 1,111 women who were tested at the age of 70, those with higher levels of omega-3s had larger total brain volumes at age 78, according to their MRI scans. Researchers say the results suggest the effect on brain volume is the equivalent of delaying the normal loss of brain cells associated with aging by one to two years. Those with higher levels of omega-3s also had a 2.7-percent larger volume in the hippocampus area of the brain, which plays an important role in memory. To read more about this study, click here.
Long-term Spinal Cord Stimulation Stalls Symptoms of Parkinson’s-like Disease
Thursday, February 6, 2014 9:00
In a study published by the journal Scientific Reports, researchers at Duke Medicine found that long-term spinal-cord stimulation appears to produce improvements in symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease — caused by the progressive loss of neurons — affects movements, muscle control and balance. The results of the study showed a significant improvement in rats with Parkinson’s-like symptoms, after researchers applied electrical stimulation to a particular location in the dorsal column twice a week, for 30-minute sessions. The recovery included improved motor skills, a reversal of severe weight loss, and better neuron survival. The findings suggest that the treatment can protect against the loss of or damage to neurons. To read more about this study, click here.
Fast-eye Movements Possible Indicator of Impulsive Decision Making
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 13:00
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported in a recent study that people who are less patient tend to move their eyes with quicker speed. During the study, researchers measured the saccades (simple eye movements) of volunteers to determine whether their saccade speed correlated with decision making and impulsivity. The speed of the volunteers’ saccades was compared to their impulsivity during a patience test, involving a series of dots appearing on a screen. The authors of the study reported that people who made quick eye movements tended to be less patient, suggesting a fundamental link between the way the nervous system evaluates time and reward, and furthermore how it relates to movement control and decision making. To read more about this study, click here.
Researchers Generate Brain-development Index
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 9:00
A recent study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex found a relationship between cognitive development and physical changes in the brain. Researchers generated a brain-development index from MRI scans that captured the complex patterns of maturation during childhood to early adulthood. Findings suggest that MRI scans may be a useful tool to aid in the early detection of developmental abnormalities. The study is the first to present a comprehensive index for the entire brain during late childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood — periods when the healthy human brain maturates in a consistent way — deviations from which could possibly signify neuropsychiatric problems later in life. To read more about this study, click here.