A new review article published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience has summarized the most recent evidence supporting the controversial hypothesis that Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1) is a major causal factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The article makes particular note of new population data out of Taiwan, finding that people infected with HSV1 are...
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Brain wave device enhances memory function
The entrainment of theta brain waves with a commercially available device not only enhances theta wave activity but also boosts memory performance. That’s according to new research from the Center for Neuroscience at the University of California, Davis, published recently in the journal Cognitive Neuroscience. Image: The device uses light and sounds to stimulate theta brain waves. Credit: UC...
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Mouse study supports stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy
Neural stem cells can repair damaged parts of the brain and restore motor impairments in mice that display features of cerebral palsy, according to new research published in eNeuro. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using stem cells to address the underlying brain injuries responsible for this group of common movement disorders. The right common carotid artery of post-natal day 7 mice...
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Mutation in common protein triggers tangles, chaos inside brain cells
MADISON, Wis. — A pioneer in the study of neural cells revealed today (Oct. 23, 2018) how a single mutation affecting the most common protein in a supporting brain cell produces devastating, fibrous globs. These, in turn, disturb the location of cellular processing units, harm the flow of energy and signals through the brain, and...
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Much-needed new antibiotic shows great promise for treating gum disease
A new antibiotic being developed at the University of Virginia School of Medicine appears ideal for battling the periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, according to dental researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University led by Richard T. Marconi. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The drug, amixicile, was found to be effective against the...
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To see what’s right in front of you, your brain may need some rewiring
Life-changing moments are also brain-changing moments: everything from a first kiss to the last goodbye modifies cells within the skull. The capacity to learn and remember, however, extends beyond the profound experiences that we lament or treasure. In fact, a new study led by Rockefeller scientist Charles D. Gilbert suggests that even when we’re not...
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Houston Methodist scientists create device to deliver immunotherapy without side effects
HOUSTON-(Oct. 23, 2018) – Houston Methodist scientists have developed a nanodevice to deliver immunotherapy without side effects to treat triple-negative breast cancer. Inserted straight into a tumor, this nanofluidic seed makes it possible to deliver a one-time, sustained-release dose that would eliminate the need for patients to undergo several IV treatments over time. IMAGE: SMALLER THAN...
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Mushrooms’ and ‘brushes’ help cancer-fighting nanoparticles survive in the body
For a number of innovative and life-saving medical treatments, from organ replacements and skin grafts to cancer therapy and surgery, success often depends on slipping past or fending off the body’s immune system. In a recent development, aimed at aiding cancer detection and treatment, Drexel University researchers might have found the ideal surface texture for...
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Scientists discover a new lead for mechanism of action of diabetes drug metformin
Canadian and British researchers have discovered how the frontline Type 2 diabetes drugmetformin may work to help cells better take up and use glucose. Their study, published today in the prestigious journal Cell, may also explain other potential beneficial effects of metformin for prevention of a variety of chronic diseases, including cancers. To show that metformin appeared to make the cells act as...
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Salmonella loves hydrogen peroxide – and helps your body make more of it
Salmonella is a nasty little bacterium. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that it sickens one in six Americans each year, with illnesses ranging from mild to fatal. Part of the reason that Salmonella is so effective in making us sick is that it is able to turn the body‘s defense mechanism to its advantage. Now, new...