Autism distorts developing brain in children
Autism skews developing brain with synchronous motion and sound – Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to stare at people’s mouths rather than their eyes.
Brain
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).
Gene therapy promising for treating obesity
Gene therapy shows early promise for treating obesity – With obesity reaching epidemic levels, researchers at the Ohio State University Medical Center are studying a potentially long-term treatment that involves injecting a gene directly into one of the critical feeding and weight control centers of the brain.
Lower IQ in children of older fathers
Children of older fathers perform less well in intelligence tests during infancy – Children of older fathers perform less well in a range of cognitive tests during infancy and early childhood, according to a study published this week in the open-access journal PLoS Medicine.
Gene mutations cause childhood brain cancer medulloblastoma
Researchers discover gene mutations that cause childhood brain cancer. May lead to better drug treatments. – Researchers funded by the Canadian Cancer Society have discovered eight similar genes that, when mutated, appear to be responsible for medulloblastoma ? the most common of childhood brain cancers.
Stem cells may help stroke patients
This research is another step towards using stem cell therapy in treating and reversing the brain damage caused by stroke. – Effective stem cell treatment for strokes has taken a significant step forward today as scientists reveal how they have replaced stroke-damaged brain tissue in rats.
MRI wait times to be managed in Canada
Lack of strategies to manage MRI wait lists a key reason for excessive wait times – A new study headed by Dr. Tom Feasby, Dean of UCalgary’s Faculty of Medicine, shows that while Canada lags behind other countries in the number of diagnostic imaging devices, more machines are not the only solution to long wait times.
Low vitamin B12 in pregnancy raises neural tube defect risk in newborn
Low levels of vitamin B12 may increase risk for neural tube defects; Vegans, vegetarians may be at risk. – Children born to women who have low blood levels of vitamin B12 shortly before and after conception may have an increased risk of a neural tube defect, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, Trinity College Dublin, and the Health Research Board of Ireland.
Meningitis bacteria mimic as human cells to evade immune system
Meningitis bacteria dress up as human cells to evade our immune system – The way in which bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis mimic human cells to evade the body’s innate immune system has been revealed by researchers at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London.
Brain cancer malignant glioma linked to gene mutations
Newly discovered gene could be a prime target in the most lethal brain cancer – Scientists at Duke University Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University have discovered mutations in two genes that could become therapeutic targets in malignant glioma, a dangerous class of brain tumors.
Ultrasound with tPA effective for stroke
Study shows transcranial doppler ultrasound and clot busting drug tissue plasminogen activator tPA effective for stroke. – An experimental therapy using tiny bubbles activated by transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound combined with the clot busting drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is more effective than tPA alone in treating patients suffering from ischemic stroke, according to new research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in San Diego.
A-beta clearance – a key to treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease
New study provides insight into ways organ systems outside the brain may affect Alzheimer’s disease – In Alzheimer’s disease the brain accumulates a molecule called A-beta that can be quite toxic to brain cells. Many researchers believe that finding ways to clear A-beta may be a key to treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
X-rays help in early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease
X-ray eyes bring us closer to early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease – It is estimated that 4 million people world-wide are suffering from Parkinson’s disease, a complex disease that varies greatly among affected individuals.