Month: August 2013
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Identifying genes that maintain stem cells and healthy cognition
The cellular mechanisms that promote long-term cell survival and maintenance of the adult nervous system are only poorly-understood, in spite of their clinical relevance. A study from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the University of Toronto has identified one such mechanism in brain stem cells that may be important for healthy cognitive…
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Impaired visual signals might contribute to schizophrenia symptoms
By observing the eye movements of schizo-phrenia patients while playing a simple video game, a University of British Columbia researcher has discovered a potential explanation for some of their symptoms, including difficulty with everyday tasks.
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McMaster study debunks controversial MS theory
There is no evidence that impaired blood flow or blockage in the veins of the neck or head is involved in multiple sclerosis, says a McMaster University study. The research, published online by PLOS ONE Wednesday, found no evidence of abnormalities in the internal jugular or vertebral veins or in the deep cerebral veins of…
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A new role for sodium in the brain
Findings identify a novel pharmaco-logical target for drug development Researchers at McGill University have found that sodium – the main chemical component in table salt – is a unique “on/off” switch for a major neurotransmitter receptor in the brain. This receptor, known as the kainate receptor, is fundamental for normal brain function and is implicated…
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New research takes us one step closer to unravelling the mysteries of the human brain
New insight into how the brain communicates using a chemical messenger may lead to better understanding of memory preservation and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease research. Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry researchers Trevor Hamilton and Bill Colmers recently published findings in the Journal of Neuroscience
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Essential clue to Huntington’s disease found by McMaster researchers
Researchers at McMaster have discovered a solution to a long-standing medical mystery in Huntington’s disease (HD). HD is a brain disease that can affect one in roughly 7,000 people in mid-life, causing an increasing loss of brain cells at the centre of the brain.
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Early screenings key to diagnosing glaucoma
New research is emphasizing the importance of regular screenings for glaucoma, a disease that deteriorates the optic nerve over time and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The onset of glaucoma is associated with a delay in diagnosing the disease.
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FASD impacts brain development throughout childhood and adolescence not just at birth: UAlberta medical research
Medical researchers at the University of Alberta recently published findings showing that brain development is delayed throughout childhood and adolescence for people born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).