Neurology News and Research

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Unraveling the Genetic Blueprint of the Deep Brain

Researchers have discovered 254 genetic variations that influence important “deep brain” structures, such as those that govern memory, motor skills, addictive behaviors, and more, in one of the biggest-ever investigations of DNA and brain volume.

22 Oct 2024

Unlocking the Mysteries of Repeat Expansion in Genetics

Research led by scientists at Queen Mary University of London is heralding in a new era for genetic sequencing and testing.

3 Oct 2024

Bipolar Disorder and Epilepsy Share Genetic Roots

A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered compelling evidence of a genetic link between bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) and epilepsy, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of these complex neuropsychiatric conditions.

1 Oct 2024

Study Confirms Comparable Efficacy of Lamotrigine and Mexiletine in Muscle Channelopathy

The study, published in Lancet Neurology, detailed the "head-to-head" trial implemented by the researchers to test two drugs, mexiletine and lamotrigine, on people with the condition.

30 Sep 2024

Stem Cell Study Reveals Developmental Dance Behind Individual Variation

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the variations present in human stem cells. This study sheds light on how the unique “developmental dance” at the molecular level within an individual's cells can shape the formation of the brain and the body.

26 Sep 2024

The Molecular Process That Causes MS and Autoimmune Diseases

A human immune system suppressor known as “regulatory T cells” was first identified more than 20 years ago by a research team working in the lab of Yale researcher David Hafler, who was at Harvard at the time.

29 Aug 2024

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Cellular Changes in Early Alzheimer's Disease

An analysis of more than 1.6 million brain cells from older adults has captured the cellular changes that occur in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, potentially revealing new routes for preventing the most common cause of dementia in older individuals.

29 Aug 2024

New Model Reveals Underlying Similarity in Mammalian Brain Shapes

A novel method for characterizing the cerebral cortex's shape has been devised by researchers, who also present evidence that cortices in all mammalian species share a common, fractal design.

31 Jul 2024

Rapid Parkinson's Model Opens Door to Personalized Treatments

Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a key member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, have created a model that swiftly transforms stem cells into brain cells exhibiting protein structures associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

30 Jul 2024

Innovative Model Creates Personalized Parkinson's Disease Brain Cells for Drug Testing

A new model developed by Brigham researchers rapidly converts stem cells to brain cells characteristic of Parkinson’s disease to create personalized stem cell models with opportunities to test treatments

29 Jul 2024

Specific Genes May Determine Stroke Recovery Path

New research led by UCLA Health has found that specific genes may be related to the trajectory of recovery for stroke survivors, providing doctors insights useful for developing targeted therapies.

29 Jul 2024

Fruit Fly Motor Circuitry Revealed Through Advanced Mapping Techniques

Work is underway on a wiring diagram of the motor circuits in the central nervous system that control muscles in fruit flies.

27 Jun 2024

Study Uncovers a Biological Explanation for Long-Term Memories

Whether it's a first-time visit to a zoo or when we learned to ride a bicycle, we have memories from our childhoods kept well into adult years.

27 Jun 2024

Christchurch Variant Offers Protection Against Early-Onset Alzheimer's

A scientific story that began with a discovery in just one extraordinary patient is now panning out.

21 Jun 2024

New Study Discovers Gene Associated with Epilepsy and Autism

A genetic mutation or variation in the SCN2A gene is known to cause infantile seizures, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability, among other moderate-to-severe impairments in movement, communication, feeding, and vision.

29 Apr 2024

Unraveling the Key to Suppressing Protein Misfolding in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Proteins known as oligomeric chaperones help suppress the formation of misshaped proteins that cause a variety of degenerative and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's.

13 Apr 2024

RNA Modification Offers Hope for Treating Neurological Diseases

The research team led by Yongchao C. Ma, Ph.D., at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, uncovered a fundamental biological mechanism that holds promise for the development of novel treatments for neurological disorders like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and autism, as well as various types of cancer.

5 Apr 2024