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Study identifies a new mechanism that causes airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma

Asthma is a condition in which a person’s airways turn hyperresponsive.

15 Mar 2021

New signaling pathway prevents the overproduction of RNA-protein complexes

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as various forms of senile dementia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have one thing in common: large amounts of certain RNA-protein complexes (snRNPs) are produced and deposited in the nerve cells of those affected - and this hinders the function of the cells.

26 Feb 2021

First-in-human clinical trial to test safety, efficacy of gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have launched a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a gene therapy to deliver a key protein into the brains of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition that often precedes full-blown dementia.

From UC San Diego 19 Feb 2021

Cryogenic electron microscopy reveals shape of glutamate transporters involved in neurological diseases

An international research team has uncovered the shape of the glutamate transporter and helps explain how the human brain cells interact with each other.

18 Feb 2021

Regular caffeine intake can change gray matter of the brain

Coffee, cola, or an energy drink: caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance. Researchers from the University of Basel have now shown in a study that regular caffeine intake can change the gray matter of the brain. However, the effect appears to be temporary.

17 Feb 2021

Scientists identify mystery protein that explains the origins of Parkinson's Disease

Researchers have made a “vital step” toward inferring the origins of Parkinson’s disease—a neurological condition that is rapidly growing in the world.

11 Feb 2021

Using insights from neuroscience to build modern robots

Today, neuroscience and robotics are developing hand in hand. Mikhail Lebedev, Academic Supervisor at HSE University's Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces, spoke about how studying the brain inspires the development of robots.

4 Feb 2021

Electrical trigger sites in the brain change with experience, shows study

To process information in our brains, nerve cells produce brief electrical impulses, called action potentials, triggered from one highly specialized region.

22 Jan 2021

Gene therapy helps paralyzed mice to walk again

For the first time, scientists have successfully used gene therapy to make mice walk again after these animals suffered a complete cross-sectional injury.

18 Jan 2021

Automated electron microscopy helps visualize neural function and behavior

Researchers are still clueless about how the neural networks are linked together to make functional circuits.

From Harvard Medical School 12 Jan 2021

Scientists use stem cells to reverse memory and learning deficits in mice with craniosynostosis

In an effort to regenerate portions of the skull, researchers have successfully used stem cells, corrected the shape of the skull, and thus reversed learning and memory deficits in young mice afflicted with craniosynostosis.

8 Jan 2021

Abnormalities in cholesterol transport protein associated with schizophrenia

Scientists have suspected mutations in a cellular cholesterol transport protein are associated with psychiatric disorders, but have found it difficult to prove this and to pinpoint how it happens.

29 Dec 2020

Machine intelligence can be used to improve brain-mapping technique

Scientists in Japan's brain science project have used machine intelligence to improve the accuracy and reliability of a powerful brain-mapping technique, a new study reports.

21 Dec 2020

ECSIT protein can shed light on the origin of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers have found how a protein governs the behavior of proteins associated with the activity in mitochondria, which is impacted in Alzheimer's disease.

17 Dec 2020

Researchers develop a diagnostic tool for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Infrared analyses of neuronal proteins provide information on molecular changes in patients with ALS. This helps to verify their diagnosis.

10 Dec 2020

Damage to brain cells causes a chain reaction that impacts 'bystander' neurons

Injury or disease that afflicts a relatively small number of brain cells causes a chain reaction that stops activity across a vast network of neural circuits, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University.

9 Dec 2020

Biochemist discovers hidden cellular machinery essential for higher-order life

In his first year of graduate school, Rice University biochemist Zachary Wright discovered something hidden inside a common piece of cellular machinery that's essential for all higher order life from yeast to humans.

7 Dec 2020

Study shows fluorescent protein molecules act as tiny antennas with optical properties

Scientists have revealed that fluorescent protein molecules serve as antennas with optical characteristics according to their spatial orientation.

4 Dec 2020

CAR T cells display signs of efficacy against hard-to-treat pediatric cancer in phase 1 trial

A phase 1 trial involving 12 children with relapsed neuroblastoma - a hard-to-treat pediatric cancer - shows that anticancer CAR T cells displayed signs of efficacy against these tumors while avoiding damage to nerve tissue.

26 Nov 2020

Genetically edited form of herpes simplex virus outperforms key vaccine candidate

A genetically edited form of a herpes simplex virus -- rewired to keep it from taking refuge in the nervous system and eluding an immune response -- has outperformed a leading vaccine candidate in a new study from the University of Cincinnati, Northwestern University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

9 Nov 2020