Author: Julie
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Breakthrough in MS treatment
Drug shown to reduce new attacks/symptom progression in some patients In separate clinical trials, a drug called ocrelizumab has been shown to reduce new attacks in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), and new symptom progression in primary progressive MS. Three studies conducted by an international team of researchers, which included Amit Bar-Or and…
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Western University Researchers Show That Perception Of Time Can Be Distorted By Our Own Actions
Imagine a fender bender at an intersection. It’s a common occurrence and, usually, someone is at fault. But ask any police officer and you’ll find the blame may not be all that easy to determine. The stories from the drivers involved often oppose one another and eye-witness reports also may reveal striking differences in how…
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An inherited form of intellectual disability, due to mutations in the SYNGAP1 gene, impairs connection of inhibitory neurons
Intellectual disability is characterized by significant impairment of cognitive and adaptive functions and affects 1-3 in 100 individuals worldwide. A few years ago, scientists at CHU Ste.Justine reported for the first time that genetic mutations in the gene SYNGAP1 cause a form of intellectual disability, which is often associated with autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy.…
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Advocacy archives 2016-2015
Recent advocacy articles of interest We invite you to read these recent articles of interest: Shifting Demographics among Research Project Grant Awardees at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The present study was initiated because of concerns expressed by NHLBI-funded mid-career investigators regarding perceived difficulties in the renewal of their grant awards. This…
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University of Toronto Researchers May Have Found The Reason Loneliness Leads To Depression
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” -Mother Teresa At one time or another, everyone experiences moments of social isolation, when there is no one around and the world is confined to one’s own existence. In short bursts these moments of solitude can be therapeutic and may lead to moments…
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McMaster Scientists Discover Autism Gene Slows Down Brain Cell Communication
Scientists at McMaster University’s Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in collaboration with Sick Children’s Hospital have discovered genetic alterations in the gene DIXDC1 in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This gene was found to change the way brain cells grow and communicate. This finding, published today in Cell Reports, provides new insights into…
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While Studying the Toxic Effects of Alzheimer’s Disease on the Brain, UBC Researchers May Have Found A Possible Treatment.
Alzheimer’s disease is growing in Canada at an unprecedented rate. At the moment, over half a million people suffer from this debilitating condition but that number is expected to nearly double over the next generation. The effects of this illness are tragic, such as memory loss as well as changes in behaviour, judgement, and normal…
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UBC Researchers Unveil The Neurological Effects of Starvation
If you happen to watch any survival-based reality series, such as the Canadian Survivorman series, you’ll come to realize starvation has a dire effect on the body. A person becomes weak, disoriented, and begins to crave protein. In humans, this is considered to be normal as we are considered omnivores. Yet, this effect also can…
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Researchers at Université Laval identify a mechanism that leads to the death of neurons in Parkinson’s disease
It is known that neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s cause the gradual death of brain neurons. But what exactly are the mechanisms that go awry to cause degeneration of nerve cells? A team of researchers from Université Laval and the Quebec Mental Health Research Institute investigated the matter and show, in an article in Proceedings…
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McGill Researchers May Now Know Why You Need To Drink Right Before Bed
Have you ever noticed a tendency to drink some water or other liquid sustenance right before going to bed? It’s a common occurrence although the reason behind this action has not been well understood. This unfortunately has led to a rather large-scale debate regarding the potential health benefits and risks of having a swig before…