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UCSD

·August 6, 2020·4 min read

Implanted Neural Stem Cell Grafts Show Functionality in Spinal Cord Injuries

Researchers implanted specialized neural stem cell grafts directly into mice with spinal cord injuries. As the grafts grew, they integrated with and mimicked the animal's existing neural network.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 4, 2020·3 min read

Can Sleep Protect Us From Forgetting Old Memories?

Memories are dynamic, not static, researchers report. Sleep helps reorganize memories and presents them in the most efficient ways. Even old memories are not final. Sleep helps to keep memories constantly updated.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 30, 2020·5 min read

Botox Injections May Lessen Depression

Botox injections appear to improve symptoms of depression, regardless of the injection site, a new study reports. Researchers found depression was reported 40 - 88% less often in patients treated with Botox.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·June 24, 2020·6 min read

One-time treatment generates new neurons and eliminates Parkinson’s disease

Researchers administered PTB antisense oligonucleotide treatment directly to the midbrain of mice. In the mouse models exposed to the treatment, a small subset of astrocytes converted to neurons, increasing the number of neurons by 30%. Three months after treatment, mice were completely free of Parkinson's disease symptoms and remained in remission for the rest of their lives.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 2, 2020·4 min read

Your brain needs to be ready to remember?

When hippocampal firing rates are high before exposure to a learning task, people are better able to successfully encode memory. Findings suggest the hippocampus may have a "ready to encode" mode that facilitates memory recall.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 4, 2020·4 min read

Exercise boosts motor skill learning via changes in brain’s transmitters

Neurons in the caudal pedunculopontine nucleus, an area of the brain that regulates motor coordination, switch neurotransmitters from acetylcholine to GABA as a result of exercise. The switch appears to provide feedback control that regulates motor coordination and skill learning.

This shows someone holding a box of actemra

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 3, 2020·2 min read

Arthritis Drug Presents Promise as Treatment for COVID-19 Pneumonia

UCSD has launched a Phase III clinical trial to assess whether tocilizumab (Actemra), a drug commonly prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders, has therapeutic value for those at risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection. The drug is a monoclonal antibody-based therapy that blocks receptors for interleukin-6, a cytokine that triggers inflammation as an early immune response to coronavirus. Blocking IL-6 could prevent the risk of the COVID-19 associated cytokine storm many with severe infection experience.

This shows a woman in a facemask smelling a flower

Featured Neuroscience

·April 27, 2020·5 min read

Loss of smell associated with milder clinical course and less hospitalizations in COVID-19

COVID-19 patients who reported smell loss as a symptom of their infection are ten times less likely to be hospitalized for coronavirus than those who do not report anosmia.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 15, 2020·4 min read

When damaged, the adult brain repairs itself by going back to the beginning

Mouse models of corticospinal injuries reveal adult neurons begin a natural regeneration process by reverting back to an embryonic state. The regeneration is sustained with the help of a gene more commonly associated with Huntington's disease.

This shows covid19 and a depressed woman

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 14, 2020·4 min read

In wake of COVID-19 pandemic, a crashing wave of neuropsychiatric problems?

Reviewing data from past pandemics, researchers suggest some of those exposed to COVID-19 could have an increased risk of developing neurological and mental health disorders in the long term. Acute viral infections can result in encephalopathy, psychosis, depression, demyelination disorders, and problems with neuromuscular function.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 13, 2020·4 min read

Loss of smell and taste validated as COVID-19 symptoms in patients with high recovery rate

Study confirms sensory loss associated with taste and smell is strongly linked to early coronavirus infection. Based on the findings, people who report olfactory or taste loss are ten times more likely to have COVID-19 than other infections. Patients reported their sensory loss to be profound rather than mild. Encouragingly, the rate of sensory recovery was high, with patients reporting a return of normal smell and taste function within two to four weeks, which matches the time of disease recovery. Researchers also found people who reported sore throats more often tested negative for COVID-19.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 31, 2020·4 min read

Discovery of new biomarker in blood could lead to early test for Alzheimer’s disease

Increased levels of PHGDH exRNA levels were found in the blood approximately two years before people were clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.