Tag Archives: brain
Of flies and men: investigating human disease in fruit flies
My lab studies diseases which affect the neurons connecting our brains to the muscles throughout our bodies, called motor neurons. In particular, we are interested in the hereditary spastic paraplegias (or HSPs for short), a group of
Ventral medial prefrontal cortex: is it a brain target for drug-seeking control?
A weak direct current applied non-invasively (transcranial Direct Current Stimulation – tDCS) over the scalp in both sides over the frontal lateral region of the head, corresponding to what it is called as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,
Mapping red nucleus connections in humans by using dMRI and tractography
Human brain is an enormous and complex network. Central to current scenario on brain networks is the concept of the connectome, which likely describes patterns at multiple levels of scale, for instance, by encompassing connections between the
Inflammation alters brain function and pain processing centrally
In the last couple of years, some fascinating abilities of the immune system have emerged: The immune system is tightly interconnected with the nervous system, and can directly affect how the brain functions, and how a person
What makes people under stress more vulnerable to become addicted to cocaine? Brain BDNF may be the key
Annually, drug addiction leads to 0.5 – 1.3% of mortality for people between 15-64 years of age and has an estimated economic impact of $524 billion in the U.S, due to addiction-related health care, loss of productivity,
Brain bypass: current trends in the treatment of patients with complex cerebrovascular disease
Cerebral Revascularization or bypass is the neurosurgical equivalent of coronary artery bypass. In these procedures a surgeon uses existing vessels in the head and brain or vessels harvested from another part of the body to either replace
Pedophilia emerging in a 64 years old pediatrician
Everyone knows what pedophilia is, but probably only few people are aware that pedophilia might also emerge anytime in life as a consequence of brain damage. Indeed, sometimes pedophilic behavior could be observed in old people with
Neurofeedback for ADHD – specific effects on behaviour and brain
Children with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) are commonly described as having difficulties in controlling their attention and in regulating and especially withholding actions when they are inadequate. One common way of addressing these problems is medication. While
“What a long headache you’ve had!” Lingering concussion symptoms may not be what they appear in kids
For most children with a concussion, their symptoms disappear in 1-2 weeks. However, up to 15%-30% of children with a concussion will have symptoms that last 3 months or more. On-going symptoms are important for healthcare providers
Brain imaging of the oldest old who aged successfully
The oldest old, defined as 90 years and over, is the fastest growing segment of the population worldwide. Dementia is one of the major health challenges at this age, since the risk of dementia increases steadily with
Can metal-exposure induce innate immune reactivity in brain cells and thus contribute to neurotoxicity?
Use of metals in dentistry is quite common for braces, crowns, fillings, implants. Problems sometimes occur, such as allergy, locally inflamed mucosae, or vague symptoms throughout the entire body. However, alternatives such as methacrylates will never completely
Tuning rapid brain response to rare emotional stimuli may calm down impulsivity
We may have experiences of doing something on impulse (e.g., impulse buying). Although impulsivity helps us to explore something new, and is important for establishing a prominent leadership to head up people in our communities. However, unusual
ARTS (Aspiration-Retriever Technique for Stroke): A novel method for stroke treatment
Ischemic stroke is not only one of the worldwide leading causes of disability and mortality but is also a significant burden on health systems. Actually the standard treatment for the acute event is based on a clot
Astrocytes, friend or foe in the brain
Glia, the “support” cells of the nervous system, are vital to the production, maintenance, and repair of one of the greatest triumphs of vertebrate evolution: the myelin sheath. For nerves to receive and conduct signals, as wells
Importance of diagnosing spontaneous intracranial hypotension with uncommon clinical presentation
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) results from loss of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), most commonly from a CSF spinal leak, without history of recent surgery, spinal procedure or trauma. Patients typically present with orthostatic headache, i.e. headache upon standing
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a miracle fertilizer for our brain?
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is sometimes called “miracle grow for the brain” because several studies have reported that BDNF “nourishes neurons like fertilizer.” It is well-known that BDNF protects brain cells and stimulates growth of their dendrites
A rare and insidious brain vessel disorder in children with HIV infection
Over the last decade children who acquire HIV infection from their mothers are surviving longer due to improved access to health care, nutritional support and antiretroviral therapies (ART). As they live longer, complications which were previously not recognised in
Mapping brain shrinkage in dementia
Dementia is not a specific disease but rather an umbrella term for a collection of syndromes that affect thinking and behaviour. This is similar to cancer being the umbrella term for different cancer types, such as melanoma,
Acute exercise causes changes in cognition
Catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine) play important roles in the brain and in the body. In the brain dopamine and norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, act as neurotransmitters. In the body, norepinephrine and epinephrine, also known as
Neurons share the same destiny irrespective of their location: A closer look at PP-MS pathogenesis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system, caused by the reaction of immune cells against myelin, a membrane that surrounds the axons of nerve cells. MS is characterized by the presence of inflammatory
