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).
Updated guidelines include new research, advances in stroke prevention — American Heart Association scientific statement – Healthy lifestyle choices and emergency room interventions can help prevent first-time strokes, according to revised American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines.
University of Utah and Harvard researchers take major step toward first biological test for autism – Researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital and the University of Utah have developed the best biologically based test for autism to date. The test was able to detect the disorder in individuals with high-functioning autism with 94 percent accuracy.
High alpha-carotene levels associated with longer life – High blood levels of the antioxidant alpha-carotene appear to be associated with a reduced risk of dying over a 14-year period’
Daily dose of beet juice promotes brain health in older adults – Drinking beet juice can increase blood flow to the brain in older adults ? a finding that could hold great potential for combating the progression of dementia.
Geron Initiates Clinical Trial of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Therapy — First Patient Treated at Shepherd Center in Atlanta – Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) announced the enrollment of the first patient in the company’s clinical trial of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, GRNOPC1.
Acute pain is eased with the touch of a hand – Self touch offers significant relief for acute pain under experimental conditions, revealed by researchers in Current Biology. This is a reason that people naturally clutch their hand after receiving an injury.
Function found for Alzheimer’s protein — amyloid precursor protein (APP) – A new study reveals that when amyloid precursor protein (APP) fails to convert iron from an unsafe form to a safe one for transport or storage, it leads to rise in iron levels inside neurons mount to toxic levels and eventually causes Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists identify protein that spurs formation of Alzheimer’s plaques – In Alzheimer’s disease, the problem is beta-amyloid, a protein that accumulates in the brain and causes nerve cells to weaken and die. Drugs designed to eliminate plaques made of beta-amyloid have a fatal problem: they need to enter the brain and remove the plaques without attacking healthy brain cells.
First genetic link to common migraine exposed — Genetic variant may increase susceptibility to migraine triggers – Researchers have produced new insights into the triggers for migraines attacks. They have identified the first-ever genetic risk factor associated with common types of migraine.
HIV virus hides in the brain – Studies of the spinal fluid of patients given anti-HIV drugs have resulted in new findings suggesting that the brain can act as a hiding place for the HIV virus.
Rheumatoid arthritis signaling protein reverses Alzheimer’s disease in mouse modeln — New study shows GM-CSF reduces AD pathology and eliminates memory loss – A signaling protein released during rheumatoid arthritis dramatically reduced Alzheimer’s disease pathology and reversed the memory impairment of mice bred to develop symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease, a new study by the University of South Florida reports.
Immune responses during pregnancy linked to schizophrenia among offspring – Infections like the flu are common occurrences during pregnancy, and research has shown that children born to mothers who suffered from flu, viruses and other infections during pregnancy have about a 1.5 to 7 times increased risk for schizophrenia.
