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microglia

·June 11, 2019·3 min read

Promising treatment option for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Blocking the activity of interleukin-1 in mouse models of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) helped reverse symptoms. Researchers say patients with CRPS should respond to immune-based treatments which reduce some of the disease features.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 4, 2019·4 min read

Exercise fine-tunes brain’s connections, eases autism spectrum disorder in mouse model

Participating in exercise improved synaptic pruning in mouse models of autism. The study also found microglia dependant synaptic pruning is impaired by maternal inflammation, which has been previously connected to the development of ASD.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·May 7, 2019·6 min read

Why visual stimulation may work in fight against Alzheimer’s: Mouse study

Inducing gamma oscillations with visual stimulation via a process known as gamma entrainment using sensory stimuli, or GENUS, was shown to reduce amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau in mouse models of dementia. Providing GENUS daily during the early stages of neurodegeneration helps preserve neural and synaptic density across multiple brain areas and improves cognitive performance for learning and spatial memory tasks.

This shows the outline of two heads and neurons

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 6, 2019·3 min read

Detailed brain map uncovers hidden immune cells that may be involved in neurodegenerative disorders

Using mouse models, researchers have developed a comprehensive map of the brain's immune cells. The study found microglia in the choroid plexus showed a similar activation state as microglia that come into contact with Amyloid deposits.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 5, 2019·4 min read

New chemical probe for visualizing brain immune cells

The chemical probe CDr20 can label microglia in living cells, researchers report.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 30, 2019·4 min read

Do microglia hold the key to stop Alzheimer’s disease?

Mouse models and human brain tissue studies reveal microglia react to amyloid beta earlier in older females. Findings may provide avenues for the development of new drugs to help treat the neurodegenerative disease.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 30, 2019·3 min read

New technique may improve detection and treatment of advanced brain cancer

Researchers discovered changes in thousands of genes induced by the tumor microenvironment. The study may help in identifying new biomarkers for the early detection, and subsequent treatment, of brain cancers.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·April 23, 2019·3 min read

Microglia, immune cells of the central nervous system, shown to regulate neuroinflammation

In uveitis, microglia facilitates the entry of inflammatory immune cells into the retina, enabling the host immune responses to attack cells not normally recognized by the immune system.

This shows tyrobp expression in cells from the spinal cord in ALS

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 7, 2019·5 min read

How ALS progresses on genetic and cellular level revealed by high-res spinal cord study

Changes in gene expression help researchers identify ALS associated pathways and establish the key drivers of motor neuron degeneration in the disease.

This image shows microglia passing from the CNS to PNS

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 7, 2019·4 min read

Microglia, cells thought restricted to central nervous system, are redefined in new study

In response to injury, microglia cross the spinal boundary from the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system. While in the PNS, microglia provide the function of clearing cellular debris at the point of injury, then return to the CNS in an altered state. Researchers propose this could account for some damage associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

The male and female symbols are shown here

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 31, 2019·4 min read

Allergic reactions play role in sexual behavior development in unborn males/females

Exposure to allergic inflammation, while in utero, increased mast cell and microglia activation, leading to masculinization of dendritic spine density in the preoptic area of females. During adulthood, females exposed to allergic inflammation showed an increase in more masculine behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 2, 2019·3 min read

Clues to Brain Differences Between Males and Females

A new study reveals how male sex steroids impact brain development. The findings could help shed light on behavioral developmental differences between males and females.