Collaborate Disseminate
Brain cancer carries notoriously high mortality rates, but lately we’re seeing how blood tests could improve patient outcomes by picking up the disease in its earlier stages. The latest comes in the form of a highly sensitive biosensor likened to a “de… Continue reading “Deep surveillance” system tracks brain tumors from a speck of blood
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a vital line of defense to keep your brain safe from toxins, but frustratingly it can sometimes be too restrictive, keeping important drugs out. Researchers at MIT have now demonstrated an accurate new model of how this… Continue reading Experimental brain-on-a-chip better screens brain cancer treatments
A new article in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports has proposed a novel hypothesis for the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The article argues Alzheimer’s is caused by a damaged blood-brain barrier allowing fatty molecules known as lipids to invade the brain and trigger a cascade of events that result in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.
Category: Science
Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Brain, Blood-brain barrier, University of Reading, Fat cells, Neuroscience
Continue reading New hypothesis argues leaky blood-brain barrier triggers Alzheimer’s
Much of the millions of metric tons of plastic waste that washes into the sea each year is broken down into tiny fragments by the forces of the ocean, and researchers are beginning to piece together what this means for organisms that consume them. Scie… Continue reading Mouse study shows microplastics infiltrate blood brain barrier
Researchers in Korea have developed microbots made of stem cells that can be delivered through the nose into the brain. These “Cellbots,” which bypass the blood-brain barrier, could one day be used to treat brain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases…. Continue reading Stem cell microbots travel from nose to brain to treat disease
Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer that can be aggressive and, unfortunately, tricky to diagnose without a risky biopsy. But a new noninvasive method, tested in mice and pigs, could one day diagnose the disease with ultrasound pulses and a basic bl… Continue reading Ultrasound and blood test could replace invasive brain cancer biopsies
As researchers continue to search for the causes behind Alzheimer’s disease and age-related dementia, one possibility is that a leaky blood-brain barrier could have a role to play, allowing for the easy passage of harmful proteins. A new study has explored how this defense might be shored up through the use of an existing anti-cancer drug, with the authors demonstrating some promising results around the reversal of cognitive decline in mice.
Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Blood-brain barrier, University of British Columbia, New Atlas Audio
Continue reading Cancer drug restores blood-brain barrier to reverse Alzheimer’s in mice
Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a new molecule that may help reduce dangerous side effects in a drug that could be useful for treating alcohol use disorder. Essentially, the molecule disarms the drug in m… Continue reading Drug and anti-drug combo could help treat alcohol use disorder
Among the more interesting ways scientists hope to tackle the roots of Alzheimer’s disease is by using microbubbles to prise open the blood brain barrier and sneak in drugs that bust apart toxic plaques. A team in the UK has found new success using this experimental approach, demonstrating how the technique can be combined with ultrasound and a novel metal-based molecule to prevent this type of plaque buildup in its early stages.
Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Blood-brain barrier, Imperial College, Dementia, New Atlas Audio
Continue reading Metal, microbubbles and ultrasound combine to fight Alzheimer’s plaques
Among the more interesting ways scientists hope to tackle the roots of Alzheimer’s disease is by using microbubbles to prise open the blood brain barrier and sneak in drugs that bust apart toxic plaques. A team in the UK has found new success using this experimental approach, demonstrating how the technique can be combined with ultrasound and a novel metal-based molecule to prevent this type of plaque buildup in its early stages.
Tags: Alzheimer’s Disease, Blood-brain barrier, Imperial College, Dementia, New Atlas Audio
Continue reading Metal, microbubbles and ultrasound combine to fight Alzheimer’s plaques