Cell phone data helps to curb spread of malaria

Using cell phone data to curb the spread of malaria — Study in Kenya finds measuring movement of people could lead to more effective ways to control spread of disease – New research that combines cell phone data from 15 million people in Kenya with detailed information on the regional incidence of malaria has revealed, on the largest scale so far, how human travel patterns contribute to the disease’s spread. The findings indicate that malaria, in large part, emanates from Kenya’s Lake Victoria region and spreads east, chiefly toward the capital, Nairobi.

Stroke becoming more common in young people

Study: Stroke becoming more common in young people – Stroke may be affecting people at a younger age, revealed by researchers. “The reasons for this trend could be a rise in risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol,” said study author Brett Kissela, MD, MS, with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.

Language learning makes the brain grow better

Language learning makes the brain grow – At the Swedish Armed Forces Interpreter Academy in the city of Uppsala, young people with a flair for languages go from having no knowledge of a language such as Arabic, Russian or Dari to speaking it fluently in the space of 13 months. From morning to evening, weekdays and weekends, the recruits study at a pace unlike on any other language course.

Omega 3 fatty acids linked to aging and memory problems

Fish oil omega-3 fatty acids linked to brain health — A Diet Rich in Fish May Help the Aging Brain – A diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients commonly found in fish, may cause your brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities. Omega-3 fatty acids include the nutrients called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Cognitive decline linked to brain volume decreases in parkinson’s disease patients

Cognitive Decline in Patients with Parkinson Disease Associated With Certain Patterns of Brain Volume Decreases – Patients with Parkinson disease-related dementia appear to have increased brain atrophy in the hippocampal, temporal and parietal lobes and decreased prefrontal cortex volume compared to patients with Parkinson disease without dementia.

Heading a soccer ball could lead to brain injury

Frequent ‘heading’ in soccer can lead to brain injury and cognitive impairment – Einstein Montefiore research suggests frequency threshold for injury that could lead to safety guidelines – Frequent ‘heading’ in soccer can lead to brain injury and cognitive impairment, revealed by researchers. Einstein Montefiore research suggests frequency threshold for injury that could lead to safety guidelines.

Low calorie diet improves heart function in diabetic obese patients

Restricted calorie diet improves heart function in obese patients with diabetes – A low-calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. It is striking to see how a relatively simple intervention of a very low calorie diet effectively cures type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, these effects are long term.

Children with ADHD may have functional brain pathways disrupted

Functional brain pathways disrupted in children with ADHD – Some abnormalities in the brains of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may serve as a biomarker for the disorder, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Depression uncouples brain’s hate circuit

MRI study finds that depression uncouples brain’s hate circuit — Depressed people may process feelings of hate differently – Depression frequently seems to uncouple the brain’s “Hate Circuit”. The study entitled “Depression Uncouples Brain Hate Circuit” is published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Autism linked to gene mutation on chromosome 16

CSHL team finds evidence for the genetic basis of autism — Models of autism show that gene copy number controls brain structure and behavior – Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have discovered that one of the most common genetic alterations in autism — deletion of a 27-gene cluster on chromosome 16 — causes autism-like features.

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