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Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·April 30, 2020·4 min read

COVID-19: Using wastewater to track the pandemic

Examining wastewater is helping researchers track coronavirus infection trends. The waste reflects the viral load excreted by a population within a few hours and can help establish COVID-19 community hot spots. While researchers will not be able to calculate the exact number of community cases of coronavirus by examining wastewater, they can trace the increase of SARS-CoV-2 concentration and track the level of infection rate.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 30, 2020·3 min read

Researchers unravel protein mystery of three brain diseases

Researchers have identified two different shapes of alpha-synuclein associated with multiple systems atrophy (MSA) and Lewy body dementia. The structure of the protein is helical in MSA, causing the symptoms to occur more quickly and aggressively. In Lewy body dementia, the protein takes on a cylindrical form.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 30, 2020·2 min read

Blood clotting a significant cause of death in patients with COVID-19

Abnormal blood clotting contributes to death in some patients with severe COVID-19 infections. The abnormal blood clotting caused micro-clots within the lungs. Those with higher levels of blood clotting activity were significantly more likely to require ICU admission. Findings reveal an association with a unique type of blood clotting disorder that primarily focuses within the lung and contributes to higher levels of mortality in coronavirus cases.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 30, 2020·4 min read

Scientists regenerate neurons in mice with spinal cord injury and optic nerve damage

LIN28, a molecule that regulates cell growth could help in the treatment of spinal cord injury and optic nerve damage. When expressed above normal levels, the molecule fuels axon growth in mice with injury, enabling the body to repair damaged nerves.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 30, 2020·3 min read

DNA may hold the key to protecting populations from COVID-19

A new genetics test for COVID-19 has been developed by an international team of researchers. The full genome sequencing test can not only provide accurate results in less than two minutes, but it can also extract intricate and highly complex genetic data about the strain of the coronavirus infection.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 30, 2020·5 min read

Persistent and worsening insomnia may predict persistent depression in older adults

Older people who experience a worsening in insomnia symptoms are thirty times more likely to be diagnosed with major depression than those whose sleep patterns improved.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 30, 2020·6 min read

Nanodevices for the brain could thwart formation of Alzheimer’s plaques

Researchers have developed a new approach to prevent amyloid plaque formation by engineering a nanodevice that captures the peptides before they can assemble. The silica nanodevice might be a new tool in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases associated with amyloid-beta.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 30, 2020·5 min read

Experts warn against malarial drugs as a cure for coronavirus

Researchers warn early encouraging signals from small-scale preliminary trials for the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus should be taken with caution. Current evidence suggests chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can not be used as a general treatment for all COVID-19 infections. Researchers say the medications should be restricted for the treatment of COVID-19 patients with pneumonia and high death risk, and only then as part of a clinical trial. The study also points out the negative side effects produced by the anti-malarial drugs and warns that those who need the medication to treat Lupus might not have access to treatment if widespread use for coronavirus occurs. The study reports there is no evidence to support the mass use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine to prevent infection from occurring.

This shows a person with the neuroprosthetic arm

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·April 30, 2020·7 min read

Mind-controlled arm prostheses that ‘feel’ are now a part of everyday life

A prosthetic arm that is attached to the bone and controlled by electrodes implanted in nerves and muscles can operate more precisely than conventional prosthetic limbs. Researchers improved the neuroprosthetic hand by integrating tactile sensory feedback, so the patient can "feel" items.

Featured Neurology Pain

·April 30, 2020·2 min read

A potential treatment for chronic pain

A newly developed peptide called Tat-P4-(C5)2 is targets and only affects nerve changes that pose a problem resulting in chronic pain. Previous studies have also shown the peptide can also reduce addiction.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·April 30, 2020·2 min read

Eyes send an unexpected signal to the brain

A new study puts into question conventional belief that the eyes communicate with the brain exclusively via one signaling pathway. Researchers have identified a subset of retinal neurons that sends inhibitory signals to the brain. This subset of neurons is also involved in the synchronization of circadian rhythms to light/dark cycles and pupil constriction to bright light intensity.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 30, 2020·6 min read

Antibodies from Llamas Could Help in Fight Against COVID-19

Linking two copies of a specific antibody produced by llamas, researchers have created a new antibody that binds tightly to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The antibody, called VHH-72, blocks the virus from infecting cells in lab cultures. Researchers say this is one of the first antibodies found to neutralizes SARS-CoV-2. Animal studies are currently underway to test if the antibody is viable in the fight against coronavirus. If successful, the antibody therapy will move into human testing.