All articles tagged with #neurological research
Scientists at Algoma University discovered that the human brain emits faint visible light called ultra-weak photon emissions (UPEs) during energy metabolism, which could have future applications in non-invasive neurological diagnostics.
Recent research suggests the brain might host its own microbiome, challenging the belief that it is sterile. Studies have found bacterial and fungal genetic material in brain tissues, particularly in those with Alzheimer’s, potentially linking the brain microbiome to diseases and offering new treatment avenues. However, much remains unknown about how microbes enter and affect the brain.
Chinese researchers at Fudan University have successfully revived a human brain that was frozen for 18 months using a new cryopreservation method called MEDY. This breakthrough, published in Cell Reports Methods, preserves neural cell functionality and structural integrity, potentially revolutionizing research into neurological disorders and future human cryopreservation. The achievement has sparked significant interest and discussion about the future possibilities of cryonics.
A review of 50 studies on aphantasia, the inability to visualize mentally, reveals its diverse impact on memory, face recognition, and occupation tendencies, suggesting a spectrum rather than a binary condition. Genetic and familial patterns hint at a wider range of cognitive experiences, while variations in physiology and brain connectivity are linked to the vividness of mental imagery. Aphantasia affects around 1% of the population and often runs in families, with implications for understanding different cognitive styles and their impacts on daily life.
New research reveals that specific neurons in the thalamus play a crucial role in integrating cardio-respiratory information, shedding light on the brain's role in processing vital signals from the heart and lungs. By employing microelectrode recordings during deep brain stimulation surgery, the study found that about 70% of recorded neurons were modulated by either the heartbeat, the cardiac inter-beat interval, or the respiration, underscoring the brain's intricate mechanism for maintaining homeostasis. This research offers insights into brain-body integration and has implications for various medical fields, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in understanding brain function.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have discovered that different areas of the brain share a similar organizational structure in early development, suggesting a universal blueprint for brain organization. This finding challenges previous assumptions about brain specialization and has significant implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used advanced optical imaging to observe synchronized activity in nerve cell networks across various brain regions, revealing a potential common foundation for brain disorders. Ongoing research will further explore how this shared developmental pattern evolves over time and across different brain areas.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have discovered that leaky blood vessels in the brain, in conjunction with a hyperactive immune system, may be the key drivers of brain fog associated with long COVID. This finding, published in Nature Neuroscience, provides a significant breakthrough in understanding the underlying cause of cognitive decline in some long COVID patients and may lead to the development of targeted therapies in the future. The study also suggests that similar mechanisms may be at play across various types of viral infections, shedding light on potential neurological dysfunction in patients.
A new study from the Champalimaud Foundation sheds light on dopamine's crucial role in movement, particularly in the context of Parkinson's Disease (PD). By using a novel behavioral task and one-photon imaging in mice, researchers discovered that dopamine neurons not only motivate movement but also specifically enhance movements on the opposite side of the body. The study suggests that different types of dopamine neurons in the brain play a more complex role in movement than previously thought, with potential implications for tailored management strategies in PD.
A study presents a novel Alzheimer’s treatment strategy focusing on memory restoration through the repair of damaged synapses, leveraging the critical role of the KIBRA protein. This approach shows promise in reversing memory loss without directly addressing the accumulation of toxic proteins. The research team found that brains with Alzheimer’s disease are deficient in KIBRA, and higher levels of KIBRA in the cerebrospinal fluid corresponded to the severity of dementia. By creating a functional version of the KIBRA protein, the team demonstrated its ability to reverse memory impairment in mice with a condition mimicking human Alzheimer’s disease, offering potential for future therapies to repair synapses and improve memory.
A new study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has found a potential neurological link between anxiety disorders and the TACR3 receptor in the hippocampus, particularly in male rodents with high anxiety levels. The research suggests that deficiencies in TACR3 may be associated with low testosterone levels and anxiety, and that these deficiencies can be rectified through testosterone administration, offering hope for new approaches to managing anxiety related to testosterone deficiency.
A study conducted in Turkey found that adding caffeine to the drinking water of rats exposed to social isolation stress prevented them from developing spatial memory impairments. The research, published in Developmental Neuroscience, revealed that rats who consumed caffeine did not show spatial memory impairments, unlike those who did not. The study sheds light on the effects of caffeine on the brains of stressed rats, but it should be noted that the study was conducted on rats and not on humans.
A pioneering research team has developed SynapShot, a groundbreaking technique that enables real-time observation of synapse formation and changes by conjugating dimerization-dependent fluorescent proteins to synapses. This method has successfully provided insights into synapse dynamics in live cells, revealing rapid and dynamic changes in synapses in various live situations on mice. The advancement is poised to revolutionize neurological research and deepen our understanding of brain functions like cognition, emotion, and memory.
Researchers have found a significant link between subtle changes in everyday memory, attention, and navigation abilities and biological markers of Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that simple self-reported and informant-reported assessments could serve as early indicators of the disease. The study, utilizing data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, revealed that declines in self-reported and informant-reported memory, attention, and spatial navigation abilities over time could be predicted by certain brain changes and biomarker levels. This opens avenues for future research in refining the detection of Alzheimer’s in its early stages and understanding the applicability of these findings across different groups.
Scientists have developed brain organoids from human fetal brain tissue, offering new insights into brain development and disease modeling. These 3D mini-organs could revolutionize research in neurology and oncology, as they closely mimic the complexity of the brain and can be used to study brain development and diseases, including brain tumors. The organoids were grown from small pieces of fetal brain tissue, self-organizing into complex 3D structures containing various brain cells. They also showed potential for modeling brain cancer and responding to cancer drugs, providing a valuable tool for studying the human brain and its diseases.
A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Pittsburgh has found that the recruitment of neurons in the temporal lobe of young children is a protracted process. The study, which involved analyzing brain tissue samples from children aged 2 to 13, revealed that the recruitment of new neurons in this region continues well into late childhood. This finding challenges the previous belief that neuronal recruitment in the temporal lobe is largely completed during early development and highlights the importance of studying brain development in older children.