FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPain·May 7, 2019·4 min readDoes insulin resistance cause fibromyalgia?Study finds a pathogenic relationship between insulin resistance and fibromyalgia. Treating fibromyalgia with metformin, a drug that combats insulin resistance, resulted in a dramatic reduction of pain levels for patients.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·May 7, 2019·5 min readEveryday stress may boost blood vessel dysfunction in people with depressionExposure to everyday stressors may result in impairments in endothelial function for patients with major depressive disorder. The findings reveal a possible reason for the association between stress, depression and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeurosciencePsychology·May 6, 2019·5 min readTransplanting gut bacteria alters depression-related behavior, brain inflammation in ratsThe gut microbiome contributes to depression-like behaviors and inflammation in the ventral hippocampus, according to a new rat study. Fecal transplants from rats with lower levels of Clostridia reduced depressive behaviors and inflammation in vulnerable rodents.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 6, 2019·5 min readPigment-producing stem cells can regenerate myelin sheath: Mouse studySkin-related stem cells may be key to helping restore the myelin sheath in patients with multiple sclerosis. Using mouse models, researchers discovered melanocyte stem cells can, under the right conditions, function as cells that create myelin.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·May 6, 2019·3 min readDetailed brain map uncovers hidden immune cells that may be involved in neurodegenerative disordersUsing 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 5, 2019·3 min readNew early detection blood test for Alzheimer’sA new two-tier diagnostic blood test which evaluates both amyloid beta and tau, can help detect Alzheimer's disease in presymptomatic patients.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·May 4, 2019·2 min readDa Vinci’s hand impairment caused by nerve damage, not strokeTraumatic damage to the right upper arm, resulting in ulnar palsy, and not a stroke, may have been the reason for da Vinci's impaired painting skills later in life, researchers speculate.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 3, 2019·4 min readNew method developed to target cause of Parkinson’sClioquinol, an anti-parasitic medication, overcomes the effect of mutations in the LRRK2 gene associated with Parkinson's disease by restoring the acidity of lysosomes and clearing out protein aggregates.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·May 1, 2019·9 min readAlzheimer’s disease is a ‘double-prion disorder’Self-propagating amyloid and tau act as prions in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Higher levels of the prions in human brain samples were strongly correlated with early onset of Alzheimer's and death at a younger age.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·May 1, 2019·4 min readHeartbeat predicts errors in expert pianistsChanges in heart rate help the brain predict when a musician is about to make an error, researchers discover.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·May 1, 2019·5 min readRestoring brain function in mice with symptoms of Alzheimer’s diseaseSenolytic drugs administered to mice reduced senescent cells around amyloid plaques by more than 90% and decreased neuroinflammation by 50%. Mice treated with the drug combination also showed improvements in spatial memory, compared to other Alzheimer's model mice who received no treatment. The findings could have positive implications for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in people with the condition.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·May 1, 2019·6 min readA comprehensive map of how Alzheimer’s affects the brainAxon myelination is significantly disrupted in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers also found brain cells of men and women vary significantly in how their genes respond to the neurodegenerative disease.Read More