In animals, the brain (enkephale) (Greek for “in the skull”), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. The brain is located in the head, protected by the skull and close to the primary sensory apparatus of vision, hearing, equilibrioception (balance), sense of taste, and olfaction (smell).
Increasing triglyceride levels linked to greater stroke risk — Study finds higher cholesterol levels only increase risk of stroke in men – Increasing levels of non-fasting triglycerides are associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in men and women, revealed by researchers in Denmark.
Ischemic stroke hospitalizations decline in middle-aged, elderly, increases in young – The number of acute ischemic stroke hospitalizations among middle-aged and older men and women fell between 1994 and 2007, but sharply increased among those under age 35 – including teens and children – according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2011.
Fetal surgery, pioneered at UCSF, is more effective than operating after birth – Thirty years ago, the first human fetal surgery was performed at the University of California, San Francisco. Now, a randomized controlled trial has proven definitively that fetal surgery can help certain patients before birth.
Antipsychotics for Schizophrenia Associated With Subtle Loss in Brain Volume – Patients with schizophrenia who take antipsychotic medications appear to lose a small but measurable amount of brain tissue over time, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Psychotic Illness Appears to Begin at Younger Age Among Those Who Use Cannabis – Cannabis use appears to be associated with an earlier onset of psychotic illness, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies published in Archives of General Psychiatry.
Eggs are now naturally lower in cholesterol — New study shows large eggs are 14 percent lower in cholesterol and 64 percent higher in vitamin D – Eggs are lower in cholesterol than previously thought, according to new nutrition data from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS).
Scripps Research scientists convert skin cells to beating heart cells — Breakthrough discovery offers hope for new therapies for range of diseases – Adult skin cells are converted into beating heart cells efficiently without generating embryonic-like stem cells, revealed by researchers.
Spike reported in number of people with HIV having a stroke – While the overall hospitalization rate for stroke has declined in recent years, the numbers have jumped dramatically for patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), suggesting they may be up to three times more likely to suffer a stroke than people uninfected by the virus that causes AIDS.
Imaging Procedure Can Identify Biomarker Associated With Alzheimer Disease – Preliminary research suggests that use of a type of molecular imaging procedure may have the ability to detect the presence of beta-amyloid in the brains of individuals during life, a biomarker that is identified during autopsy to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease.
Reducing diet early in pregnancy stunts fetal brain development — Study shows that the fetal brain is vulnerable to moderate decreases in maternal nutrition – Eating less during early pregnancy impaired fetal brain development in a nonhuman primate model, revealed by researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio.
New guidelines for preventing falls in the elderly include: start tai chi, cut-back on meds – In the first update of the American Geriatrics Society and the British Geriatric Society’s guidelines on preventing falls in older persons since 2001, they now recommend that all interventions for preventing falls should include an exercise component and that a number of new assessments should be used, including; feet and footwear, fear of falling, and ability to carry out daily living activities.
Statin risks may outweigh benefits for patients with a history of brain hemorrhage – People with brain hemorrhage – a type of stroke – should avoid taking cholesterol lowering drugs called statins, revealed by researchers in US.
