Study reveals roots of Parkinson’s in the brain
Changes in the brain's serotonin system may occur years before Parkinson's disease symptoms begin. Serotonin alterations could be used as a biomarker for Parkinson's disease.... Read More...
PET
Sleep history predicts late-life Alzheimer’s pathology
Your sleep history during middle age may predict Alzheimer's pathology later in life. A decrease in sleep quality between 50 and 70 years of age is associated with higher levels of tau and amyloid beta in the brain. Changes in brain activity and quality of sleep could be a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.... Read More...
Education and intelligence may protect cognition’ but don’t prevent Alzheimer’s disease
Intelligence, education and participating in cognitively challenging tasks may stave off the effects of dementia for longer, but can not protect against the inevitable Alzheimer's pathology in those at risk.... Read More...
Antibiotic treatment alleviates Alzheimer’s disease symptoms in male mice
Study reports specific gut bacteria can influence the development of Alzheimer's disease. In mouse models, long term antibiotic treatment reduced inflammation and the formation of amyloid plaques. However, the reduction was only seen in males. Additionally, the antibiotic treatment altered the activation of microglia in the male mouse models.... Read More...
Biomarker reveals PTSD sufferers at risk of suicide
PET imaging study reveals higher levels of mGluR5 in those with PTSD who had suicidal thoughts. The findings could serve as a biomarker to assess suicide risk in people with PTSD.... Read More...
When is Alzheimer’s not Alzheimer’s? Researchers characterize a different form of dementia
LATE, a form of dementia that appears in the oldest-old is often mistaken for Alzheimer's disease, but the brain pathology is very different. The protein TDP-43 appears to play a significant role in the development of LATE. The neurodegenerative disease may progress more gradually than Alzheimer's, but when combined with Alzheimer's disease (a common combination), appears to cause a more rapid decline than either would alone.... Read More...
Experimental PET scan detects abnormal tau protein in brains of living former NFL players
PET imaging of former NFL players who exhibited cognitive decline and psychiatric symptoms linked to CTE showed higher levels of tau in areas of the brain associated with the neurodegenerative disease.... Read More...
A sleep-deprived brain interprets impressions negatively
Sleep loss leads to negativity bias, negative mood and impaired emotional regulation.... Read More...
Alzheimer’s diagnosis and management improved by brain scans
PET imaging that helps detect dementia-related amyloid plaques significantly influences the clinical management of patients, a new study reports.... Read More...
Blunting pain’s emotional component
Blocking the release of dynorphin, researchers restore motivation in animals experiencing pain. The findings may help in the development of new, less addictive, pain medications.... Read More...
NIH Study of Brain Energy Patterns Provides New Insights into Alcohol Effects
Neuroimaging research from NIH/NIAAA provides a new method to characterize how brain activity relates to glucose consumption, which could help us understand how alcohol and other substances and activities affect our brains.... Read More...
Neuromelanin-Sensitive MRI Identified As a Potential Biomarker for Psychosis
A new study reports neuromelanin sensitive MRI is able to measure dopamine function associated with psychosis.... Read More...