Newsline — Thursday, April 18, 2013 13:00
Smart Phone Technology May Hold Key in Stroke Rehabilitation
FDA Approves ALS Stem Cell Trial at University of Michigan
Thursday, April 18, 2013 9:00
A new approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration paves the way for the University of Michigan to become the second site of a trial using stem cell injections to treat sufferers of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The Phase II trial will determine the safety of the injections, which are delivered directly to the patients’ spinal cords. Click here to read the full story.
Alzheimer’s Risk Higher for African Americans Despite Lack of Major Genetic Difference
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 13:00
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that African-Americans have a slightly higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease than those who have a largely European ancestry, though there is no major genetic variation that accounts for the additional risk factor. Click here to read the full story.
Feeling the Strain of Brain Fatigue? Take a Walk Outside
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 9:00
Scientists long have known that brain fatigue can result after extended periods of constant noise and the demands of city life. Those with brain fatigue are distracted, forgetful and flighty. However, a new study from Scotland suggests that a walk in the park could provide quiet mental relief. Click here for more information.
Brain Mapping Techniques Can Preserve Motor, Language Function During Tumor Surgery
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 13:00
By using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neurosurgeons can see important pathways in the brain while removing cancerous tissue, allowing for the preservation of language, visual and motor function. As reported in a recent edition of Neurosurgical Focus, research review findings that the ability to visualize tracts of white matter during the resection of glioma can improve accuracy and extend survival rates. Click here to read the full story.
Researchers Find a Fix for Snafus in Surgical Robots
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 9:00
A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University have discovered a new technique to detect software glitches that cause snafus in surgical robots. The study unveiled a safety flaw that could allow a surgical instrument to go astray at the base of the skull, where the ear canals, major arteries and nerves are susceptible to injury. Click here to read the full story.
How Music Can Thrill Your Brain
Monday, April 15, 2013 13:00
Music’s long-standing correlation with neuroscience has been refueled by findings from researchers at the Rotman Research Institute in Canada. Brain scans determined that when participants heard music they were willing to pay for, there was stimulation in the brain region responsible for the feeling of pleasant surprised, an area known as the nucleus accumbens. Click here to read the full story.
Transparent Brain May Unearth Neurological Mysteries
Monday, April 15, 2013 9:00
A neuroscientist at Stanford University has created a technique to make brains transparent, an innovation that could offer researchers a clear view of the pathways that drive healthy mental function and that of a number of neurological ailments. The announcement comes on the heels of President Barack Obama’s launch of a $100 million program designed to scour the mysteries of brain function. Click here to read the full story.
Study: Shifting Language Function to Brain’s Right Hemisphere Not Viable in Aphasia Recovery
Friday, April 12, 2013 13:00
A study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience has found that a restructuring of language function to the right hemisphere of the brain is not an effective method in curbing aphasia, the loss of language functions (like speaking and writing) that can occur after a stroke. Patients who recovered from aphasia regained normal language patterns in the left hemisphere of their brains. These finds may show promise for new rehabilitation techniques. Click here to read the full story.
Treating Brain Cancer with Genetic Material from Bone Marrow Cells?
Friday, April 12, 2013 9:00
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital have discovered a new approach in treating tumors. By introducing genetic material produced by mesenchymal bone marrow cells reduced a resistant form of malignant brain tumor in rats. This foray into experimental cancer therapy may open doors for customizable treatments for cancer patients, researchers believe. Click here to read the full story.