Collaborate Disseminate
New research published in the journal Nature Neuroscience is the first to demonstrate how the SARS-CoV-2 virus can directly damage cells in the brain. An international group of scientists found vascular cells that comprise the blood-brain barrier can b… Continue reading Study reveals how COVID-19 can directly damage brain cells
While there are already eye implants that allow the blind to see simple patterns, Spanish scientists have recently had success with a different approach. They bypassed the eyes, producing perceivable images by directly stimulating the brain’s visual co… Continue reading Brain implant bypasses the eyes to help blind users “see” images
Building on a growing body of evidence linking viral infections with neurodegenerative disease, a new study published in Nature Communications has demonstrated how certain molecules on the surfaces of viruses can promote the aggregation of toxic proteins associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Category: Science
Tags: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Brain, Neuroscience, Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, DZNE, Virus
Continue reading New evidence shows how viral infections could promote Alzheimer’s
Living with chronic pain can be very difficult, especially since heavy-duty pain relievers typically have unwanted side effects, and can be habit-forming. An experimental new treatment, however, gets around those limitations by using implanted electrod… Continue reading Implanted microelectrodes used for side-effect-free pain relief
A pair of new studies are building on a growing hypothesis that the neurological disease multiple sclerosis (MS) can be triggered by viral infections in a person’s teenage years. The research indicates serious adolescent infections such as glandular fever are associated with higher rates of MS diagnoses, and concerns are being raised as to whether the current COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a surge in MS cases in the future.
Category: Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle
Tags: Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Brain, The Immune System, Neuroscience, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Virus, New Atlas Audio
Continue reading Viral infections in teenagers linked to later onset of multiple sclerosis
The interplay between high blood pressure and brain health is one scientists continue to shed new light on, with studies increasingly linking hypertension to a decline in cognitive function later in life. New research has drilled into the details around when exactly this relationship begins to take shape, finding that it not only begins earlier than suspected, but that even those with blood pressure at the higher end of the normal recommended range can be at risk of premature brain aging.
Tags: anti-aging, Australian National University, Brain, Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease
Continue reading Optimal blood pressure in early adulthood slows the brain’s aging process
Striking new research investigating blood samples taken from Russian cosmonauts before and after long stints on the International Space Station (ISS) has revealed significant elevations of several biomarkers that could indicate brain damage. The study … Continue reading Brain damage biomarkers detected in cosmonauts after long space jaunts
Researchers on the hunt for a pre-approved medicine that can be repurposed to treat Alzheimer’s disease have found promising signs of effectiveness in a 50-year-old generic drug commonly used as a diuretic. Through a variety of animal studies and real-world investigations, the new study indicates exposure to the common drug could significantly reduce a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Category: Science
Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Drugs, Brain, FDA, U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Continue reading Common diuretic pill offers clues to new Alzheimer’s treatment
Early in the pandemic researchers saw disproportionately high rates of dementia patients suffering from severe COVID-19. A common hypothesis was that memory impairments associated with neurodegeneration affect a person’s ability to consistently follow infection control measures such as social distancing and mask wearing. But a new study led by scientists from University College London is proposing a key gene variant, known to heighten one’s risk for Alzheimer’s, stimulates the body’s inflammatory responses and can lead to greater susceptibility to severe COVID-19.
Category: Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle
Tags: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Brain, Inflammatory, The Immune System, University College London
Continue reading Missing link between severe COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease discovered
A new study is describing a potential biomarker to identify a person’s risk of developing anorexia nervosa. The research proposes measuring levels of anxiety alongside a specific type of twitching eye movement can effectively identify both those with, … Continue reading Twitching eye movement could offer objective anorexia diagnosis