Author: Julie
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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…
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Gaming camera could aid MS treatment
3D depth-sensing camera shown to measure walking difficulties A commonly used device found in living rooms around the world could be a cheap and effective means of evaluating the walking difficulties of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The Microsoft Kinect is a 3D depth-sensing camera used in interactive video activities such as tennis and dancing. It…
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Journey to the end of the neuron
Study confirms the existence of a molecular transport mechanism involved in fragile X syndrome A team from the Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec– Université Laval has furthered our understanding of fragile X syndrome, the leading genetic cause of mental retardation in children. The article published by these researchers in…
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Brain’s biological clock stimulates thirst before sleep
Discovery could lead to ways to mitigate effects of jet lag and shift work The brain’s biological clock stimulates thirst in the hours before sleep, according to a study published in the journalNature by McGill University researchers. The finding — along with the discovery of the molecular process behind it — provides the first insight…