Newsline — Wednesday, July 3, 2013 9:00
Emory University Repairs Brain Impairment with Cognitive Rehab Study
In Animal Model, Bladder Function Restored After Spinal Cord Injury
Wednesday, July 3, 2013 1:00
As published in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Cleveland Clinic have used nerve regeneration to restore significant bladder function in rats suffering from severe spinal cord injuries (SCI). The animals did not regain the ability to walk, but were able to recover a high level of bladder control. The findings show promise in restoring body functions in humans with SCI. Click here to read the full story.
Novel Drug Reverses Alzheimer’s-induced Loss of Brain Connections
Tuesday, July 2, 2013 13:00
The Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute has developed a drug that brings the Alzheimer’s-triggered loss of brain connection to a halt. NitroMemantine is the combination of two FDA-approved drugs, and it boosts lost brain synapses. the findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), suggest that doctors may be able to treat the disease a little later than expected. Click here to read the full story.
Ending Drug-Resistant Seizures with Laser Surgery
Tuesday, July 2, 2013 9:00
For children who suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy, a laser treatment may be the key to reducing or eliminating the onset of seizures altogether. Young Jessie Hernandez had been suffering from tumor-induced seizures for which the only treatment was to remove the part of the brain causing the tumor. Now, after undergoing a visualase laser ablation surgery that uses lasers to destroy the tumor and seizure-causing tissue, Hernandez is seizure-free. Click here to read the full story.
Study: Computer Model Supports Social Brain Theory
Monday, July 1, 2013 13:00
A study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B have found that a computer model supports the theory that animals in large social groups have bigger brains, lending credence to the belief that people need bigger brains to handle living in big social groups. The research team at Oxford University assessed the cognitive demands of social decision making and found that doing so required more “brain power.” “The study has made an important first step by offering a formal description of the social brain,” one researcher told BBC News. Click here to read the full story.
Study: One-fourth of Stroke Survivors Experience from PTSD
Monday, July 1, 2013 9:00
Researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center found that 25 percent of those who survive a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within the year after the event. One in nine stroke and TIA survivors suffer from chronic PTSD more than a year later. “Our current results show that PTSD in stroke and TIA survivors may increase their risk for recurrent stroke and other cardiovascular events,” one researcher said. Click here to read the full article.
Mouse Study Identifies Promising Key to Preventing Epilepsy
Friday, June 28, 2013 13:00
After conducting studies in mice, researchers at Duke Medicine have located a nervous system receptor that may help keep epilepsy at bay after a period of prolonged seizures. These findings provide a molecular target for developing drugs to prevent epilepsy, not just treat its symptoms. Click here to read the full story.
Dementia and Diabetes-Related Hypoglycemia Linked, Could Trigger Dangerous Cycle
Friday, June 28, 2013 9:00
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that episodes of hypoglycemia associated with diabetes may increase an individual’s risk of developing dementia. At the same time, having dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment may increase a person’s risk of experiencing episodes of low blood sugar. “Older patients with diabetes may be especially vulnerable to a vicious cycle in which poor diabetes management may lead to cognitive decline and then to even worse diabetes management,” a researcher said. Click here to read the full article.
TED Talk: Brain Scientist Studies Her Own Stroke
Thursday, June 27, 2013 13:00
From Ted.com: Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions — motion, speech, self-awareness — shut down one by one. An astonishing story. Taylor studied her own stroke as it happened — and has become a powerful voice for brain recovery. Click here if you are unable to watch the video above.
Neurosurgical Trainees Using Surgery Simulation Tool to Hone Skills
Thursday, June 27, 2013 9:00
Residents at the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University are using surgery simulation technology to train in a number of neurosurgical procedures. The benefits of surgery simulation allow doctors and trainees to figure out how to approach complex cases without risking the life of a real, live patient. Click here to read the full story from LiveScience.