Researchers have developed the first scalable method to identify different subtypes of neurons in the human brain. The work lays the groundwork for “mapping” the gene activity in the human brain. It could also help provide a better understanding of brain functions and disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and depression. By isolating and analyzing the…
Stent Retrievers Triggering Paradigm Shift In Stroke Care
New devices called stent retrievers, which effectively reverse strokes, may be revolutionizing the treatment of certain stroke patients. According to an article by Loyola Medicine neurologists Rick Gill, MD and Michael J. Schneck, MD, stent retrievers are a major advance in acute ischemic stroke care and will have significant impact on the evolution of stroke…
Higher Learning Linked With Higher Risk Of Glioma Brain Tumor
A recent large observational study has found that higher levels of education are associated with higher risk of developing a brain tumor. Among people who had studied at university for at least three years, gliomas, in particular, were more common than they were in those who didn’t go on to higher education, the data show.…
Proofreading Reverse Transcriptase Fixes 3 Billion Year Old Genetic Error
RNA, one of the major carriers of information needed for life, has had a glitch for 3 billion years that creates errors when making copies of genetic information. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a fix that allows RNA to accurately proofread for the first time. The new discovery will increase…
Weekly Dose Of Nature Linked To Better Mental Health
People who visit parks for 30 minutes or more each week are significantly less likely to have high blood pressure or poor mental health than those who do not, according to new research. Led by The University of Queensland (UQ) and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED), the study suggests people might…
How Sugar Lays Waste To All 10 Of Our Vital Body Systems
I think you’ll agree with me when I say that sugar is not a drug. But it turns out that it’s effects are just as insidious as many illegal street drugs. Sugar lights up our reward pathways like heroin. Sugar addiction is very real, with serious, life-threatening consequences. Over 300,000 people die every year due…
Why Does This Artist With Amnesia Still Remember How To Paint?
She no longer recognizes a Van Gogh, but can tell you how to prepare a watercolor palette. She can’t recall a single famous composer, but knows the purpose of the bridge on a viola. She hasn’t flown an airplane since 2007, when viral encephalitis destroyed her hippocampus, the part of the brain used to form…
Huntington’s Disease May Be More Common Than We Thought
More people may have the potential to develop Huntington’s disease than previously thought, according to a new study. But the increase comes in the percentage of people who have a lower risk of developing the hereditary disease, which causes uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual abilities, emotional problems and eventually death. You see, this disease is…
Can Statistics Prove Causation When a Study Can’t?
A common problem with some scientific research, especially projects studying human health, is that it is typically difficult, if not impossible, to prove that a specific action directly causes an effect. For example, scientists have found that those who smoke cigarettes also are more likely to suffer from depression. However, scientists cannot uniquely determine whether…