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).
Nicotine exploits COPI to foster addiction – A study in The Journal of General Physiology helps explain how nicotine exploits the body’s cellular machinery to promote addiction. The findings could lead to new therapies to help people quit smoking.
High good and low bad cholesterol levels are healthy for the brain, too – High levels of “good” cholesterol and low levels of “bad” cholesterol are correlated with lower levels of the amyloid plaque deposition in the brain that is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, UC Davis researchers have found.
Toward a Molecular Explanation for Schizophrenia — TAU researchers find inhibition of a basic cellular process may contribute to the mysterious disease – Surprisingly little is known about schizophrenia. It was only recognized as a medical condition in the past few decades, and its exact causes remain unclear. Since there is no objective test for schizophrenia, its diagnosis is based on an assortment of reported symptoms.
The Formula 1 legend underwent a second procedure on Monday night and has shown a ‘slight improvement’ – Michael Schumacher underwent a second surgery after a brain scan showed small, “surprising” signs of improvement. However, doctors said that they couldn’t offer any insight into the prognosis for the Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.
Contralateral needling at unblocked collaterals for post-stroke hemiplegia – Hemiplegia caused by stroke indicates the dysfunctions of the neurological network between the brain and limbs. Under this condition, conventional acupuncture at the acupoints on the affected side can not transmit stimulus signal to the brain.
Are concussions related to Alzheimer’s disease? – A history of concussion involving at least a momentary loss of consciousness may be related to the buildup of Alzheimer’s-associated plaques in the brain, revealed by researchers in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Duration of diabetes and advancing age independently predict diabetes complications, risk of death – The duration of diabetes and advancing age independently predict diabetes severity and risk of death in older adults with type 2 diabetes. In a new study led by Kaiser Permanente and the University of Chicago, researchers investigated contemporary rates of diabetes complications and risk of death then contrasted them across categories of age and duration of diabetes.
A single spray of oxytocin improves brain function in children with autism – A single dose of the hormone oxytocin, delivered via nasal spray, has been shown to enhance brain activity while processing social information in children with autism spectrum disorders.
Meat, egg and dairy nutrient essential for brain development — Deficiency of asparagine synthetase caused by rare genetic disorder affects brain development – Asparagine, found in foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy products, was until now considered non-essential because it is produced naturally by the body. Researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital found that the amino acid is essential for normal brain development.
Lower Blood Sugars May Be Good for the Brain – Even for people within the normal range of blood sugar, lowering their blood sugar levels could be a promising strategy for preventing memory problems and cognitive decline as they age.
Novel genetic mutations cause low metabolic rate and obesity — Researchers believe the gene could be a useful therapeutic target for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes – Gene changes can reduce basal metabolic rate – how the body burns calories, and thereby cause severe obesity, revealed by researchers from the University of Cambridge, UK. Researchers believe this gene could be a useful therapeutic target for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Brain may flush out toxins during sleep — NIH-funded study suggests sleep clears brain of damaging molecules associated with neurodegeneration – Using mice, researchers showed for the first time that the space between brain cells may increase during sleep, allowing the brain to flush out toxins that build up during waking hours. These results suggest a new role for sleep in health and disease.
