Newsline — Wednesday, June 19, 2013 13:00
Diabetes Drug Shows Promise in Treating Neurodegenerative Ailment
New Impact Sensor in Football Helmets Could Curb Concussion Dangers
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 9:00
For many athletes, one concussion is bad enough. However, recurrent concussions (which are likely in high-impact sports like football) can lead to Second Impact Syndrome (SIS), a condition in which sufferers grapple with learning, movement and communications problems, as well as an increased likelihood of dementia, depression and personality changes. Researchers are assessing the value of a new helmet-mounted sensor that gauges impact and alerts medical personnel when a player needs to be evaluated for concussion symptoms. Click here to read the full story.
Study: Baclofen Helps Patients Recover from Consciousness Disorder
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 13:00
Research conducted at the University of Athens in Greece has find that intrathecal baclofen (ITB) was effective in rousing patients from a minimally conscious state, which is defined as a disorder where a patient shows fluctuating signs of self-awareness and a sense of their surroundings. The drug, which eases spasticity resulting from brain injury, has been used to faciltate care but has not been used to restore brain function. Researchers suspect that the baclofen has an impact on receptors in the orexin system, which is key in maintaining wakefulness, and in the thalamic reticular nucleus, a brain structure linked to consciousness. For more information, click here to read the full article.
Glioma Study in Dogs May Guide Brain Tumor Treatment in Humans
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 9:00
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are studying gliomas in dogs in order to better understand the same type of brain tumor in humans. When Melody Jean’s dog, Murphy, was issued a grim prognosis after the discovery of a glioma, Jean learned of an experimental study treating brain cancer in canines. The program has increased the life spans for a number of pups, and Jean hopes it will do the same for Murphy. Click here to read the full story.
Stress-Related Ailments Can Be Passed on From Father to Child, Study Says
Monday, June 17, 2013 13:00
A preclinical study in the Journal of Neuroscience has found that a man’s stress level can have an impact on his sperm, which can then affect the stress reactions of his children. These findings suggest that stress-related diseases like anxiety and depression can be passed on from father to child.
Study: Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior Linked to Obesity
Monday, June 17, 2013 9:00
In a study conducted at the University of Iowa, brain circuits associated with obsessive compulsive behavior have been linked to circuits that control food intake and body weight. The findings in this mouse model study indicate possible treatments for compulsive behavior, including those associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Tourette syndrome and eating disorders. Click here to read the full article.
Study: Dogs, Humans Affected with Compulsive Disorders Have Similar Brain Abnormalities
Friday, June 14, 2013 9:00
Findings from a study publihsed in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology have indicated that brain abnormalities of dogs suffering from canine compulsive disorder (CCD) are similar to those found in human with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Both CCD and OCD respond to similar treatments, and researchers hope that studying dogs with CCD can help understand anxiety disorders that affect people. Click here to read the full article.
Your Brain on Zen? Meditation Said to Incite Anxiety-Reducing Changes in the Brain
Friday, June 14, 2013 9:00
Scientists have identified the brain functions involved in meditation’s power to reduce anxiety. The study, published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, found that meditation-induced anxiety relief activate the anterior cingulate cortex and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the areas of the brain that handle executive-level function and worrying respectively. “Mindfulness is premised on sustaining attention in the present moment and controlling the way we react to daily thoughts and feelings,” a researcher said. “Interestingly, the present findings reveal that the brain regions associated with meditation-related anxiety relief are remarkably consistent with the principles of being mindful.” Click here to read the full article.
Study: Biomarkers Hint at Increased Likelihood for Silent Strokes
Thursday, June 13, 2013 9:00
Researchers at the Methodist Hospital in Houston have found two biomarkers that indicate risk for “silent” strokes. These biomarkers, high blood levels of troponin T and NT-proBNP, have been widely investigated as predictors of heart and vascular disease. “The biomarkers are effective at identifying people who are likely to have mild brain disease and stroke well before damage is done,” a researcher says, believing that assessing the risk for not just cardiac events, but stroke and asymptomatic disease are key in launching preventative efforts before it’s too late. Click here to read the full article.
PET Imaging Technique Improves Patient Care in Pediatric Brain Cancer
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 13:00
Brain cancer imaging typically is done with a conventional MRI, but a new study has found that another imaging technique can provide details about a tumor’s metabolism and the extent of cancer in children with glioma. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has been found to be more effective in monitoring cases of brain cancer, subsequently improving the quality of care for children with glioma. Click here to read the full story.