Newsline — Tuesday, February 4, 2014 13:00
Unlocking the Brain’s Secrets Using Sound
Promising New Drug Targets for Cocaine Addiction Found
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 9:00
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a new molecular mechanism by which cocaine alters the brain’s reward circuits and causes addiction. The research team discovered two key players that contribute to the addiction. An abundant enzyme (PARP-1) and synaptic gene (Sidekick-1) effect a reward circuit in the brain, changing the way genes are expressed in the nucleus accumbens. Both are said to influence the rewarding effects of cocaine. Scientists explain the discovery offers new leads into the development of addiction treatments and will help identify other proteins regulated by cocaine. To read more about the results of this study, click here.
Brain Structure Shows Who is Most Sensitive to Pain
Monday, February 3, 2014 13:00
In a study published in the current issue of the journal Pain, researchers found that the brain’s structure is related to how intensely people perceive pain. The findings show that individual differences in the amount of grey matter in certain regions of the brain are related to how sensitive different people are to pain. Grey matter processes information much like a computer, while white matter coordinates communication between difference regions of the brain. Scientists discovered that people with higher pain intensity ratings had less grey matter in brain regions contributing to internal thoughts and attention control. Understanding the key differences between brain structures can provide insight into the development of pain treatment and prevention. To find out more about this study, click here.
Breast Cancer Cells Disguise Themselves to Cause Brain Tumors
Monday, February 3, 2014 9:00
A recent study published in the February issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences discovered how breast cancer cells are able to spread to the brain — sometimes years after remission — and grow as new tumors. Scientists found that breast cancer cells can masquerade as neurons, allowing them to hide from the immune system and cross the blood-brain barrier. Taking samples from brain tumors resulting from breast cancer, scientists discovered that the breast cancer cells were using the brain’s most abundant chemical as a fuel source, the GABA neurotransmitter used for communication between neurons. Although more research needs to be conducted, scientists are hoping this discovery will lead to new therapies. To read more about this study, click here.
New Nanotherapy May Help Reduce Recurrent Heart Attacks and Stroke
Friday, January 31, 2014 13:00
A recent report in the journal of Nature Communications showcased the development of a new technology that may provide a solution for controlling inflammation inside heart arteries — the process that leads to clots rupturing and causing myocardial infarction or stroke. A research team designed and tested a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanoparticle loaded with a statin drug. In mouse studies, the HDL nanotherapy was capable of directly targeting and lowering dangerous inflammation in blood vessels. According to the senior investigator of the study, HDL nanotherapy could potentially avert repeat heart attacks and reduce recurrent strokes caused by clots in brain arteries. To find out more about this study, click here.
Cognitive Health is Major Concern in 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014 9:00
A consensus among key influencers in the health and wellness community says that cognitive health, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease will continue to be major health concerns in 2014. Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and more than 93,000 patients die from it each year. However, progress is being made in identifying possible nutrients that may restore brain health, such as Magnesium-L-Threonate, which has been shown to significantly enhance cognitive functions and decrease symptoms of cognitive impairments. To read more, click here.
Telestroke is Cost-saving for Society
Thursday, January 30, 2014 13:00
Research published in the American Journal of Managed Care found that using telemedicine to deliver stroke care (also known as telestroke) is cost effective from the societal perspective. Telestroke care allows a patient who has suffered a stroke to be examined in real time by a neurology specialist elsewhere; who consults via computer with an emergency room physician who may not have a neurology specialist on hand. Although treating telestroke patients is associated with higher costs upfront, the entire network of hospitals sees a greater total cost savings due to reduced resource use related to various stroke therapies. To read more about this research, click here.
Neuroscience Study Uncovers New Player in Obesity
Thursday, January 30, 2014 9:00
A recent study published in the January issue of The Journal of Neuroscience revealed how a protein in the brain helps regulate food intake and body weight. Scientists discovered that the alpha2/delta-1 protein in the hypothalamus is necessary for normal function of another key protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Deficiencies in BDNF have been previously linked to obesity in both humans and mice. When scientists blocked activity of the alpha2/delta-1 protein in mice using gabapentin (an anticonvulsant), the mice ate significantly more food and gained substantially more weight. The findings indicate potential new treatments for obesity and may help explain why medications prescribed for epilepsy and other conditions can cause weight gain. To read more about this study, click here.
Nociceptin: Nature’s Balm for the Stressed Brain
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 13:00
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute, the National Institutes of Health and the University of Camerino in Italy have published results from a recent study confirming the importance of nociceptin — a natural stress-reducing system in the brain — which could act as a potential target for therapies against anxiety disorders and other stress-related conditions. Nociceptin is produced in the brain and belongs to the family of opioid neurotransmitters. Studies in rodents have found evidence that nociceptin can act in the amygdala (the part of the brain that controls basic emotional responses) in order to counter the usual anxiety-producing effects of acute stress. To read more about this study, click here.
Stimulating Brain Cells Stops Binge Drinking, Animal Study Finds
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 9:00
Results from a recent study led by researchers at the University of Buffalo suggest that it may be possible to use gene therapy in the brain to treat substance abuse or neurological diseases. Using the emerging technique of optogenetics — which uses light to stimulate neurons — scientists found a way to modify alcohol-drinking behavior in rodents by stimulating certain dopamine neurons in a precise pattern. The findings could lead to potential new ways to treat alcoholism, mental illnesses or other neurological issues. To find out more about this study, click here.