Brain Archives

Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease patients provides benefits

Deep brain stimulation treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease patients provides benefits; But treatment also associated with increased risk of serious adverse events. – Patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) who received deep brain stimulation treatment had more improvement in movement skills and quality of life after six months than patients who received other medical therapy, but also had a higher risk of a serious adverse events, according to a study in the January 7 issue of JAMA.

Bulimia nervosa linked to brain circuit abnormalities

Functional abnormalities within a neural system subserves self-regulatory control, which may contribute to binge eating and other impulsive behaviors in women with Bulimia nervosa (BN). – Women with bulimia nervosa appear to respond more impulsively during psychological testing than those without eating disorders, and brain scans show differences in areas responsible for regulating behavior, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Brain cancer glioblastoma study possible with mouse model

Salk researchers develop novel brain cancer glioblastoma mouse model. – Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have developed a versatile mouse model of glioblastoma-the most common and deadly brain cancer in humans-that closely resembles the development and progression of human brain tumors that arise naturally.

Blood sugar level linked to cognitive aging

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center link blood sugar to normal cognitive aging – Maintaining blood sugar levels, even in the absence of disease, may be an important strategy for preserving cognitive health, suggests a study published by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC).

Premature babies have altered sensory responses in later life

In a British study, 43 eleven-year-old children born at less than 14 weeks (premature) were found less sensitive to temperature — cool, cold, warm and hot. – Premature infants who need intensive care or surgery are less sensitive to thermal (hot and cold) sensations later in life, according to research conducted at UCL (University College London).

Brain chooses right words during speech

Research by Rice psychologist identifies area of brain key to choosing words – New research by a Rice University psychologist clearly identifies the parts of the brain involved in the process of choosing appropriate words during speech.

Sleep disorder – an early sign of dementia, Parkinson’s disease

Sleep disorder may be early sign of dementia or Parkinson’s disease – People with a sleep disorder that causes them to kick or cry out during their sleep may be at greater risk of developing dementia or Parkinson’s disease, revealed by researchers.

Blind may walk with help of brain

Blind man walking: With no visual awareness, man navigates obstacle course flawlessly – Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that people can successfully navigate an obstacle course even after brain damage has left them with no awareness of the ability to see and no activity in the visual cortex, a region of the brain’s cortex that is primarily responsible for processing visual inputs.

Breathing life into injured lungs before lung transplant

Breathing life into injured lungs: World-first technique will expand lung donor organ pool – For the first time in the world, transplant surgeons at Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network used a new technique to repair an injured donor lung that was unsuitable for transplant, and then successfully transplanted it into a patient.

Brain genes linked to BMI, obesity

New research suggests that genes that predispose people to obesity act in the brain and that perhaps some people are simply hardwired to overeat. – A genetic study of more than 90,000 people has identified six new genetic variants that are associated with increased Body Mass Index (BMI), the most commonly used measure of obesity. Five of the genes are known to be active in the brain, suggesting that many genetic variants implicated in obesity might affect behaviour, rather than the chemical processes of energy or fat metabolism.

Fear of nuts creating hysteria

Measures imposed to reduce exposure to nuts are often based on irrational fears of nut allergies and are becoming increasingly sensationalist, according to a doctor on bmj.com – Measures to control nuts are instead making things worse in a cycle of over-reaction and increasing sensitisation, to the point where the responses bear many of the hallmarks of mass psychogenic illness.

MRI shows signs of multiple sclerosis before disease develops

If Brain MRI shows signs of Multiple sclerosis (MS), will the disease develop? – With more and more people having brain MRIs for various reasons, doctors are finding people whose scans show signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) even though they have no symptoms of the disease.