Brain Archives

Skin cells can be morphed into brain cells in multiple sclerosis & cerebral palsy patients

Ordinary skin cells morphed into functional brain cells — Scientists at CWRU School of Medicine discover new technique that holds promise for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy – Researchers at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have discovered a technique that directly converts skin cells to the type of brain cells destroyed in patients with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other so-called myelin disorders.

Two more Autism Centers of Excellence funded

New NIH funding for two Autism Centers of Excellence — A total of 11 centers now funded for up to five years – The National Institutes of Health has awarded $5.3 million in initial one-year funding to the latest two recipients of the Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) program. With these awards, announced on World Autism Awareness Day, these and nine other ACE centers in US are now being funded for up to five years.

U.S. dementia care costs going to rise

NIH-supported study finds U.S. dementia care costs as high as $215 billion in 2010 — Formal and unpaid dementia care costs are tallied – The costs of caring for people with dementia in the United States in 2010 were between $159 billion to $215 billion, and those costs could rise dramatically with the increase in the numbers of older people in coming decades, according to estimates by researchers at RAND Corp. and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

BRAIN – $100m to find new ways to treat, cure, and prevent brain disorders

Barack Obama launched a plan to map the human brain, in an attempt to find vital clues for treating diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders. – US President Barack Obama unveiled a bold new research initiative designed to revolutionize understanding of the human brain. Launched with approximately $100 million in the President’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative ultimately aims to help researchers find new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Buphenyl a possible drug for Alzheimer’s disease

Rush scientists identify buphenyl as a possible drug for Alzheimer’s disease – Buphenyl, an FDA-approved medication for hyperammonemia, may protect memory and prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Hyperammonemia is a life-threatening condition that can affect patients at any age. It is caused by abnormal, high levels of ammonia in the blood.

Early detection of PML improves survival of multiple sclerosis patients

Early detection of MS treatment complication may improve survival – The drug natalizumab is effective for treating multiple sclerosis (MS), but it increases the risk of a rare but potentially fatal brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The study suggests that early detection of PML may help improve survival and disability levels.

Alcohol helps accelerate brains of heavy drinkers

Enhanced brain acetate metabolism may reward heavy drinkers – Increased brain uptake and oxidation of acetate in heavy drinkers – In addition to its well-known effects on the CNS, alcohol consumption has a significant impact on metabolism. After consumption, the body rapidly begins converting ethanol to acetate, which can serve as an energy source for the brain and other organs.

Women have efficient brains with great inductive reasoning

Women are better at inductive reasoning: the ability to arrive at general principles from the study of detailed facts – Women may have smaller brains than men, but they are more efficient at completing a task. It has been a mystery for scientists and reasearchers why women show no difference in intelligence, although their brains are eight per cent smaller than men’s.

Prevent colon cancer with colon cancer awareness

Work with your health care provider to find out what your personal risk is and how often you should be screened. Have you had your colon cancer screening test? – March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in US. “Colon cancer can be prevented with screening and removal of any polyps before they develop into cancer” says Sheryl M. Ness, R.N., Mayo Clinic nurse educator.

Folic acid in pregnancy lowers autism risk in baby

Folic acid supplements early in pregnancy may reduce child’s risk of autism by 40 percent — Large study in Norway finds early timing of folic acid supplements is critical – Prenatal folic acid supplements appear to reduce the risk for autistic spectrum disorders. It is estimated that about 1 in 88 children in the U.S. have been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Delivery of drug tPA directly into brain helps stroke patients

Treatment with clot-busting drug yields better results after stroke than supportive therapy alone – In an update to previous research, Johns Hopkins neurologists say minimally invasive delivery of the drug tPA directly into potentially lethal blood clots in the brain helped more patients function independently a year after suffering an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), a deadly and debilitating form of stroke.

Brain activity detected in MRI of Ariel Sharon ex Israeli PM

Ex-Israeli PM Ariel Sharon shows ‘significant brain activity’ — Israeli hospital officials say a comatose former prime minister has undergone a special brain imaging scan – After remaining in a vegetative state for seven years following a devastating stroke, former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has shown “significant signs” of brain activity, doctors have said.