Neuroscience researchers have identified a new molecular pathway underlying Parkinson's disease. The pathway involves polyamines, which were discovered to be responsible for increased build-up of other toxic proteins in neurons. The research also suggests polyamine lowering drugs could have a protective effect from Parkinson's disease.
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Leading neuroscience researchers will be attending a conference in Milwaukee this month. The conference will focus on obtaining better insights into the inner workings of the brain to better understand thinking, brain development and neurological diseases. Some key neuroscience presentations will include Neuropsychiatric Disorders, The Genetics of Brain Connectivity and The Mathematical Modeling of Brain Regions.
Neuroscience researchers have discovered how a structural component within neurons performs coordinated movements when connections are strengthened. Researchers also distinguished two separate steps during long term potentiation which are involved in remodeling the internal "skeletons" of dendritic spines. The research could be influential in providing further understanding of many neurological, cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases.
Neuroscience researchers are investigating axon clusters in order to develop a "brain atlas". The research could provide a way for clinicians to recognize groups of abnormal axon clusters. When systematically arranged into the "brain atlas", abnormal axon clusters could be used as bio-markers to diagnose neurological disorders.
Neurologists have established new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of infantile spasms. Infantile spasms is a rare epileptic disorder which typically affects children under the of age 8 months.
New research proposes that academic performance of adolescents is linked to specific dopamine gene variations. Researchers also suggest a correlation exists between the variants of dopaminergic genes a student possesses and performance in specific subject areas.
Scientists have identified two proteins which may have a critical function in biological systems. The proteins, named Piezo1 and Piezo2, have been identified as being involved in cellular response to mechanical stimulation.
Neuroscience researchers suggest that utilizing fMRI studies could help to provide biomarkers for the diagnosis of depression. A recent fMRI study of patients with depression showed marked abnormal activations in the medial prefronal cortex. Researchers believe that by identifying the neurobiological markers for depression, psychiatrists can tailor medications and therapies to suit the needs of individual patients.
Researchers have discovered the brain enters and leaves states of anesthetic-induced unconsciousness through different processes. The study suggests both forward and reverse paths through which induced unconsciousness dissipates and arrives are not identical. Noted was a delay in returning to a state of consciousness even after levels of anesthetic diminish.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon have examined the function of neuron diversity and discovered that diversity is vital to comprehensive brain function. The study explored how specific neurons process complex stimuli and code information.
New research released from the University of Florida suggests the production of new nerve cells within the Hippocampus could prevent memory loss and assist in improving memory.
New research published in Nature Genetics suggests that there is a genetic component for late-onset Parkinson's disease.