Hippocampus, Amygdala Asymmetries May Track Alzheimer's Progression

A unique approach to analyzing brain structure that focuses on the shape instead of the size of features may allow identification of individuals in early pre-symptomatic stages of Alzheimer’s disease. A team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators using advanced computational tools to analyze data from standard MRI scans report that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease,…

Published

ATAD3A Variation Results In Distinct Neurological Syndromes

Rare neurological syndromes for which there was no cause can be the result of variations in the gene ATAD3A, a team of scientists from a number of institutions around the world, including Baylor College of Medicine, has discovered. The finding sheds light on the causes of these diseases and opens the possibility for developing better…

Published

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis RNA-binding Proteins Role Revealed

Only 10 percent of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are hereditary, but a significant number of them are caused by mutations that affect proteins that bind RNA, a type of genetic material. University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers studied several ALS cases with a mutation in an RNA-binding protein known as hnRNP…

Published

Major Biological Pathways For Schizophrenia Development Found

Using a recently developed technology for analyzing DNA, UCLA scientists found dozens of genes and two major biological pathways that are likely involved in the development of schizophrenia but had not been uncovered in previous genetic studies of the disorder. The work provides important new information about how schizophrenia originates and points the way to…

Published

Myelin Sheath Instability May Trigger Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is one of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases. It affects some 2.5 million people worldwide. It has no known cure. Until now, researchers have speculated that the body’s own immune system was unleashing an uncontrolled attack on myelin sheaths, our neurons’ protective shield, that was largely responsible for the sudden outbreak of the…

Published

Phantom Sensations: Neural Fingerprints Of A Missing Hand

Our brains have a detailed picture of our hands and fingers, and that persists even decades after an amputation, Oxford University researchers have found. The finding could have implications for the control of next generation prosthetics. Dr. Tamar Makin, the research team’s leader, said: “It has been thought that the hand ‘picture’ in the brain,…

Published

Can Stem Cell Therapy Really Treat Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferer Eric Thompson was able to rise from his wheelchair and walk just days after treatment with haematopoietic stem cells, according to a recent Daily Mail article. Unable to receive this aggressive treatment through the NHS, Thompson and his family raised £40,000 to undergo the treatment in Mexico. The treatment Thompson received…

Published

What Is Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a condition characterized by progressive problems with movement. People with this condition, also known as olivopontocerebellar atrophy I, initially experience problems with coordination and balance (ataxia). Other signs and symptoms of SCA1 include speech and swallowing difficulties, muscle stiffness (spasticity), and weakness in the muscles that control eye movement…

Published

Middle Aged Obese People’s Brains 10 Years Older Than Average

From middle-age, the brains of obese individuals display differences in white matter similar to those in lean individuals ten years their senior, according to new research led by the University of Cambridge. White matter is the tissue that connects areas of the brain and allows for information to be communicated between regions. Our brains naturally…

Published