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Neurology
Concussion recovery worse in women
Women may have a more difficult time than men in recovering from concussion.
Professional jobs protect against cognitive decline
Professionals whose jobs require more speaking, developing strategies, conflict resolution and managerial tasks may experience better protection against cognitive decline in old age, according to a University of Leipzig study.
Glioblastoma brain tumour review
Led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute and University of California, a comprehensive genetic review of treatment strategies for glioblastoma brain tumours has been published.
Cell death finding paves way for new drugs
University of Cambridge research highlights how nerves – whether harmed by disease or traumatic injury – start to die, a discovery that unveils novel targets for developing drugs to slow or halt peripheral neuropathies and neurodegenerative disorders.
Foul air heightens stroke risk, anxiety
Air pollution is linked to a higher risk of stroke, particularly in developing countries, a 28-country University of Edinburgh meta-analysis found. Other research shows air pollution to be associated with anxiety, according to a large Johns Hopkins and Harvard study.
Testing for early signs of Alzheimer’s
Rockefeller University identifies opportunities for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's through simple blood tests on the molecular contact system between the amyloid-β peptide (the main component of plaques found in Alzheimer's patient brains) and chronic inflammation.
Cannabis bad for the memory, bipolar symptoms
US teens who were heavy cannabis users had an abnormally shaped hippocampus and performed poorly on long-term memory tasks. Separate British research found that among people with bipolar disorder the drug is linked to increases in both manic and depressive symptoms.
‘Feel the burn’ mechanism a culprit in CFS
The mechanism that causes high-performance athletes to 'feel the burn' is what makes people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) feel exhausted by the most common daily activities, University of Florida Health research found.
'No thalamus required'
A Harvard study in mice found that the basal ganglia can communicate directly to the cortex, no thalamus required. The findings upend classic anatomy and provide possible new insights into psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia.
Activity may protect against some brain damage
Older people who are physically active may be protecting themselves from the effects of small areas of brain damage that can affect their movement abilities.
Epilepsy drug benefits patients at risk of dementia
A drug commonly used to treat epilepsy reverses a condition in elderly patients who are at high risk for dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered.
Decreased heart function link to memory loss
A Vanderbilt University study found participants with decreased heart function, measured by cardiac index, were two to three times more likely to develop significant memory loss over the follow-up period.
Fit at 40 means smart at 60
People with poor physical fitness in their 40s may have lower brain volumes by the time they hit 60, an indicator of accelerated brain ageing, according to data from the Framingham Offspring Study.
Gout means less chance of Alzheimer's
People who have gout are significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, a meta-analysis has concluded. Gout appears to have a protective effect for the brain, possibly thanks to uric acid.
Common meds linked to dementia risk
A large study links a significantly increased risk for developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, to taking commonly used medications with anti-cholinergic effects at higher doses or for a longer time.
Non-drug care the 'first choice' in dementia
Non-drug approaches should be the first choice for treating dementia patients' common symptoms such as irritability, agitation, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, aggression, apathy and delusions. The researchers, from the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University, reviewed two decades' worth of studies.
Findings will help in management of cerebral haemorrhage
A study has found that among patients with oral anti-coagulation-associated intra-cerebral haemorrhage (bleeding within the brain), reversal of international normalised ratio below a certain level within 4 hours and systolic blood pressure less than 160 mm Hg at 4 hours were associated with lower rates of haematoma enlargement, and resumption of anticoagulant therapy was associated with a lower risk of ischaemic events without increased bleeding complications.
Diabetes and depression increase dementia risk
People with mild cognitive impairment are at higher risk of developing dementia if they have diabetes or psychiatric symptoms such as depression, finds a review led by University College London researchers.
Low blood flow increases stroke recurrence risk
Risk of recurrent stroke is higher in patients who have low blood flow to the back of the brain, a six-year, multi-centre trial at the University of Illinois has found.
Creatine does not slow Parkinson's disease
Treatment with creatine monohydrate for at least 5 years for patients with early and treated Parkinson's disease failed to slow clinical progression of the disease, a University of Rochester study found.
Parents' PTSD compromising child stroke outcomes
Parents of children who have suffered a stroke can experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the children show signs of clinical anxiety, factors that could interfere with treatment and outcomes, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2015.
Better recovery for hydrated stroke victims
People who are well hydrated at the time of their stroke have a greater chance of better recovery compared to people who are dehydrated, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's 2015 conference
Alzheimer’s therapy prevents neuronal decay
An evaluation of a new Alzheimer's therapy at Denmark's Karolinska Institute suggest that the introduction of a nerve growth factor can prevent neuronal degradation in Alzheimer's patients.
Opoid medication could lead to depression
Patients who increased doses of opioid medicines to manage chronic pain were more likely to experience an increase in depression, according to St Louis University research.
Eye tracker improves concussion detection
A New York University proof of concept study utilised a novel eye-tracking device to effectively measure the severity of concussion or brain injury in patients presenting to emergency departments following head trauma.
Spike timing and spike rate are complementary
The brain's alphabet is a mix of rate and precise timing of electrical pulses, contrary to what was previously thought, according to a new Italian study.
Excessive salt intake re-programmes the brain
An international research team has found that excessive salt intake 're-programmes' the brain, interfering with a natural safety mechanism that normally prevents the body’s arterial blood pressure from rising.
A 'central switch' in epilepsy found
An international team of scientists have discovered the molecule sestrin-3 is a central switch in epilepsy and in animal models were able to demonstrate that its inhibition leads to a reduction in seizures.
Coma patients do respond to loved ones
Family members are desperate to know when a loved one with a traumatic brain injury is in a coma and a new Northwestern Medicine and Hines VA Hospital study shows the voices of loved ones telling the patient familiar stories stored in his long-term memory can help awaken the unconscious brain and speed recovery from the coma.
Less rest advised for mild concussion
Contrary to expectations, new research shows that strict rest for a prolonged period in adolescents who suffer a concussion isn't helpful and may be harmful.
Insulin spray may ease mild cognitive impairment
A man-made form of insulin delivered by nasal spray may improve working memory and other mental capabilities in adults with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease dementia, according to a US pilot study.
Little benefit found in common back pain treatment method
A study has found that the widely used method of treating a common cause of back and leg pain – steroid injections for spinal...
Simple test to measure pre-dementia
A study involving nearly 27,000 older adults on five continents found that nearly 1 in 10 met criteria for pre-dementia based on a simple...
Regular pulse checking may help prevent another stroke
Regularly checking the pulse of a stroke survivor may help prevent another stroke. Medicinenet quotes study author Dr Bernd Kallmunzer, of Erlangen University in...
Origin of 40 Afrikaner families’ Parkinson’s disease traced
SA scientists have traced the origin of Parkinson’s disease in 40 Afrikaner families back through the generations to a Dutch-German couple who married in...
Link between higher levels of hormones in womb and autism
Research on children in Denmark has found that boys with autism were more likely to have been exposed to higher levels of hormones in...
Study will help in understanding Huntington’s disease
Healthy human tissue grafted to the brains of patients with Huntington's disease in the hopes of treating the neurological disorder, also developed signs of...
Findings show sleep improves memory
The mechanism by which a good night’s sleep improves learning and memory has been discovered by scientists. BBC News report that the team in...
Switch-like mechanism between resilience and defeat found
Scientists continue to search for the underlying genes and neurobiology that dictate our reactions to stress. Now, says a report in The Washington Post,...
Older drugs still best for treating Parkinson’s disease
When it comes to which drug works best for patients with newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease, older may still be better. Health24 reports that new...