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Genetics

The diagram shows the symptoms of MS and the human body.

·May 6, 2013·2 min read

Multiple Sclerosis May Not Be As Rare As Thought in African-Americans

A population based study which looked at patients newly diagnosed with MS discovered African-Americans had a 47% increased risk of developing the disease compared with Caucasians. However, Hispanic and Asian people had a 58 and 80% lower risk.

Featured Genetics Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 25, 2013·3 min read

Scientists Create Novel Approach to Find RNAs Involved in Long-term Memory Storage

Researchers question why numerous different RNAs are transported to synapses. One reason, they suggest, is that they are stored to later help maintain long-term memory.

Featured Neurology

·April 23, 2013·4 min read

ALS Trial Shows Novel Therapy is Safe

A new treatment for ALS, which uses a technique that turns off the mutated SOD1 gene, has passed an early phase clinical trial for safety.

The image shows fluorescent dyes tracking the presence of RNA molecules.

Featured Genetics

·April 15, 2013·4 min read

Brain Development Is Guided by Junk DNA that Isn’t Really Junk

Researchers discover a role for long noncoding RNA in brain development and neurodegenerative diseases.

The image shows neural stem cells derived from people with bipolar disorder.

Featured Genetics

·April 11, 2013·4 min read

Do Drugs for Bipolar Disorder “Normalize” Brain Gene Function?

A new brain tissue study has shown gene expression in bipolar patients treated with antipsychotic medications is similar to the expression in subjects with no history of bipolar disorder.

20 brain scans are shown and described well in caption..

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 11, 2013·5 min read

Spring Cleaning in Your Brain: Stem Cell Research Shows How Important Autophagy Is

Years of mouse research lead to discovery of how autophagy keeps neural stem cells ready to replace damaged brain and nerve cells.

The image shows a drawing of the brain with the hypothalamus marked by an arrow and highlighted in orange.

Featured Genetics

·April 5, 2013·2 min read

Breakthrough in Neuroscience Could Help Re-Wire Appetite Control

Researchers discover a population of cells, called tanycytes, are capable of generating new appetite regulating neurons in the brains of both young and adult rodents. The discovery could offer new avenues for tackling obesity.

The image shows the brain activation in children with a family history of schizophrenia, who are themselves at greater risk for developing schizophrenia.

Featured Psychology

·March 22, 2013·3 min read

Alterations in Brain Activity in Children at Risk of Schizophrenia Predate Onset of Symptoms

A new study reveals neural circuitry is hyperactivated by performing certain tasks for children with a family history of schizophrenia, compare to peers without this family history. As the differences in brain function appear prior to the onset of psychiatric symptoms, researchers believe the findings could point to vulnerability markers for schizophrenia.

The image is a plastinated brain of a person with Alzheimer's disease.

Featured Genetics

·March 18, 2013·4 min read

Uncontrolled Hypertension Could Bring Increased Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

A new study finds increased amyloid levels in the brains of unmedicated hypertensive adults with a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

The image shows a neuron which creates dopamine. The caption best describes this image.

Featured Neurology

·March 14, 2013·4 min read

Transplanted Brain Cells in Monkeys Light Up Personalized Therapy

Researchers transplanted neural cells, derived from adult skin cells, into monkeys; where they developed into several different types of brain cells. The research could eventually help provide new treatment avenues for patients with a wide range of neurological diseases.

The image shows the structure of the LRRK2 protein.

Featured Genetics

·March 5, 2013·3 min read

Improper Protein Degradation in Neurons Identified as a Cause of Familial Parkinson’s

Studying neurons derived from brain and skin cells of Parkinson's patients, researchers discover how the most common genetic mutations in familial Parkinson's disease damage brain cells.

The image shows a brain MRI of a patient with ALS.

Featured Genetics

·March 3, 2013·5 min read

Two New Genes Linked to ALS and Related Neurodegenerative Disorders

A new study ties mutations in two genes to the death of nerve cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other related neurodegenerative diseases.