FeaturedNeurology·October 19, 2012·4 min readScientists Pinpoint Key Player in Parkinson’s Disease Neuron LossStem cell study may help to unravel how a genetic mutation leads to Parkinson's symptoms. By reprogramming skin cells from Parkinson's disease patients with a known genetic mutation, researchers identified damage to neural stem cells as a powerful player in Parkinson's disease.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·October 18, 2012·5 min readUsing the Eye as a Window into the BrainAn inexpensive, five-minute eye scan can accurately assess the amount of brain damage in people with the debilitating autoimmune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS), and offer clues about how quickly the disease is progressing.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·October 16, 2012·3 min readLess Invasive Method of Brain Stimulation Helps Patients with Parkinson’s DiseaseElectrical stimulation using extradural electrodes—placed underneath the skull but not implanted in the brain, is a safe approach with meaningful benefits for patients with Parkinson's disease according to new research.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience Abstracts·October 15, 2012·4 min readDoes Motherhood Dampen Cocaine’s Effects?Mother rats respond much differently to cocaine than female rats that have never given birth, according to new University of Michigan research that looks at both behavior and brain chemistry.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·October 4, 2012·3 min readA Molecular Scissor Related to Alzheimer’s DiseaseAn international research team revealed the atomic‐level structure of the human peptidase enzyme meprin β (beta).Read More
FeaturedNeurology·October 3, 2012·3 min readDrug Reverses Abnormal Brain Function in Rett Syndrome Micein a mouse model of Rett syndrome, researchers were able to reverse abnormalities in brain activity and improve neurological function by treating animals with an FDA-approved anesthesia drug, ketamine.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·October 2, 2012·2 min readNew Research Model to Aid Search for Degenerative Disease CuresEfforts to treat disorders like Lou Gehrig’s disease, Paget’s disease, inclusion body myopathy and dementia will receive a considerable boost from a new research model created by UC Irvine scientists.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·October 2, 2012·4 min readLow Vitamin D Levels Linked to More Severe Multiple Sclerosis SymptomsLow blood levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased number of brain lesions and signs of a more active disease state in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study finds, suggesting a potential link between intake of the vitamin and the risk of longer-term disability from the autoimmune disorder.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·October 1, 2012·3 min readResearchers Halt Autoimmune Disease Myasthenia Gravis in MiceWorking with mice, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have developed a gene-based therapy to stop the rodent equivalent of the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis by specifically targeting the destructive immune response the disorder triggers in the body.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·September 19, 2012·4 min readScientists Show Biological Mechanism Can Trigger Epileptic SeizuresResearchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center report that molecular disruptions in small neurons called granule cells – located in the dentate gyrus region of the brain – caused brain seizures in mice similar to those seen in human temporal lobe epilepsy.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·September 18, 2012·3 min readSome Viruses Not to Blame for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After AllContrary to previous findings, new research finds no link between chronic fatigue syndrome and the viruses XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) and pMLV (polytropic murine leukemia virus). A study reveals that research that reported patients with chronic fatigue syndrome carried these two viruses was wrong and that there is still no evidence for an infectious cause behind chronic fatigue syndrome.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·September 17, 2012·3 min readToxic Protein Build-up in Blood Shines Light on Fatal Brain DiseaseA new light-based technique for measuring levels of the toxic protein that causes Huntington's disease (HD) has been used to demonstrate that the protein builds up gradually in blood cells.Read More