Nervous System News and Research

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Study: Sleep allows brain to flush out damaging molecules linked with neurodegeneration

A good night's rest may literally clear the mind. Using mice, researchers showed for the first time that the space between brain cells may increase during sleep, allowing the brain to flush out toxins that build up during waking hours.

18 Oct 2013

Researchers receive grant to accelerate development of mobile seizure alert system for epilepsy patients

Approximately 2 million people, including 400,000 children, in the United States are being treated for epilepsy, and one-third continue to have seizures despite treatment. In order to address an important caregiver need, RTI International has been developing a prototype mobile seizure alert system to help epilepsy patients and their families cope with seizures.

17 Oct 2013

Scientists identify recessive gene mutation that reduces certain protein affecting brain development

Though worlds apart, four unrelated families have been united in a medical mystery over the source of a rare inherited disorder that results in their children being born with abnormal brain growth and severe functional impairments.

17 Oct 2013

Elderly people with hardening of arteries are more likely to have beta-amyloid plaques in brain

Even for elderly people with no signs of dementia, those with hardening of the arteries are more likely to also have the beta-amyloid plaques in the brain that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the October 16, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

17 Oct 2013

Research in mouse whiskers reveals signal pathway from touch neuron to brain

Human fingertips have several types of sensory neurons that are responsible for relaying touch signals to the central nervous system. Scientists have long believed these neurons followed a linear path to the brain with a "labeled-lines" structure.

17 Oct 2013

New England publishes results of phase III clinical trial of ABRAXANE for metastatic pancreatic cancer

Celgene International Sàrl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene Corporation , today announced the results of the MPACT phase III clinical trial of ABRAXANE® in combination with gemcitabine were published online in the October 16th edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

17 Oct 2013

SAGE Therapeutics obtains $20M Series B financing from two investors

SAGE Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel medicines to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases, today announced a $20 million Series B financing from investors ARCH Venture Partners and Third Rock Ventures, bringing the total raised to $57.8 million since launch in 2011.

16 Oct 2013

Locomotion of C. elegans worm to make big difference in biomedical research

One might wonder why researchers would even care about the nuances of the one-millimeter long nematode worm, let alone take the time to study them. But the answer is simple: they can provide powerful insights into human health and disease.

16 Oct 2013

Genetics professor turns accidental discovery into a way to study TBI

Faced with news of suicides and brain damage in former professional football players, geneticist Barry Ganetzky bemoaned the lack of model systems for studying the insidious and often delayed consequences linked to head injuries.

16 Oct 2013

Barcelona to host European Drosophila Research Conference

From 16 to 19 October, more than 700 international scientists will attend the European Drosophila Research Conference, the most important European conference focused on basic and biomedical research that uses the fly fruit, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model system.

15 Oct 2013

Modeling, identifying predictors of Parkinson's disease with stem cells

The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute has entered into a partnership with the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative to build resources for studying Parkinson's disease to accelerate new treatments. Sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, PPMI is a landmark effort to identify and validate biomarkers of Parkinson's disease.

15 Oct 2013

Cdk5 protein may play crucial role in deadly form of thyroid cancer

A specific protein once thought to exist only in the brain may play a crucial role in a deadly form of thyroid cancer, as well as other cancers, and provide a fresh target for researchers seeking ways to stop its progression, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report today in Cancer Cell.

15 Oct 2013

Pregabalin drug can help reduce incidence of chronic pain following cardiac surgery

The incidence of chronic pain following cardiac surgery can be reduced in patients when the drug pregabalin is used before surgery and for 14 days post-surgery, according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2013 annual meeting.

14 Oct 2013

Polyamine-deficient diets effective as pain relief treatment for chronic and acute pain

Before and after spinal surgery, patients on a polyamine-deficient diets experienced significant relief of both chronic and acute pain, according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2013 annual meeting.

14 Oct 2013

IV lidocaine infusion provides significant pain relief to fibromyalgia patients

Patients with fibromyalgia resistant to more routine therapies have a new pain relief treatment available, according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2013 annual meeting.

14 Oct 2013

NIH selects Salk scientist for EUREKA grant

The National Institutes of Health has selected Axel Nimmerjahn for a highly competitive EUREKA (Exceptional Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration) grant. Dr. Nimmerjahn is an Assistant Professor in the Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center and holds the Richard Allan Barry Developmental Chair.

13 Oct 2013

Researchers identify gene that orchestrates important branching of nerve fibers

Our ability to detect heat, touch, tickling and other sensations depends on our sensory nerves. Now, for the first time, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have identified a gene that orchestrates the crucially important branching of nerve fibers that occurs during development. The findings were published online today in the journal Cell.

11 Oct 2013