Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas are exploring how mild stimulation of the vagus nerve could help alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a complex condition that can cause debilitating anxiety and mental anguish. The vagus nerve controls the parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees a vast array of crucial bodily functions including digestion...
Category: <span>Mental health</span>
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How coping mechanisms help autistic people
Wildlife presenter Chris Packham was diagnosed with Asperger’s in his 40s. In a recent documentary, naturalist and wildlife presenter, Chris Packham, talked about having Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. It was a rare snapshot into the life of an adult with Asperger’s – and especially so as Packham only realised this in his 40s....
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New ‘plaque destroying’ light therapy could prevent Alzheimer’s disease by blitzing dangerous proteins
Researchers from Rice University in Houston, Texas, developed a probe to target proteins in the brain that cause Alzheimer’s disease More than five million people in the US suffer from the degenerative disease Previous studies have used medication to attempt to target these proteins Experts say this probe could improve medication for the disease Rogue...
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Molecular basis for memory and learning: Brain development and plasticity share similar signalling pathways
Learning and memory are two important functions of the brain that are based on the brain’s plasticity. Scientists from Goethe University Frankfurt report in the latest issue of the scientific journal “Cell Reports” how a trio of key molecules directs these processes. Their findings provide new leads for the therapy of Alzheimer’s disease. The brain...
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The human brain contains ‘waste pipes,’ study reveals
Groundbreaking research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that the brain has lymphatic vessels, allowing it to process “waste” leaked from the blood vessels. This may shed fresh light on the relationship between the brain and the immune system. MRI brain scans confirm the existence of lymphatic vessels in the brain. The...
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New insight into how brain cells die in Alzheimer’s and FTD
Epigenetic regulator LSD1 tangled up; brain cells go haywire without it Removal of a regulatory gene called LSD1 in adult mice induces changes in gene activity that look unexpectedly like Alzheimer’s disease, scientists have discovered. Researchers also discovered that LSD1 protein is perturbed in brain samples from humans with Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)....
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Human minibrains reveal effects of psychedelic substance
Study brings first evidence that psychedelics interfere with molecular signaling related to learning and memory in the human brain tissue. Minibrains, also known as cerebral organoids, have been considered a breakthrough in neuroscience studies IMAGE: THESE ARE DMT-RESPONSIVE RECEPTORS. A Brazilian study, published in Scientific Reports on October 09, 2017, has identified changes in signaling pathways associated with...
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New autism study a “shocking wake-up call” for society, say academics
People who show characteristics of autism are more at risk of attempting suicide, according to a Coventry University study whose results are being presented to a United States federal advisory committee tomorrow. Researchers found that people who exhibited higher levels of autistic traits were more likely to try to end their lives than people without the...
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Genre may impact cognitive training using video games
Games that utilize distinctive mechanics may offer different benefits, reports restorative neurology and neuroscience Video games are quickly becoming a hot topic in cognitive training. Many see them as a potential tool to help patients improve their performance and memory, yet little is known about how different types of video games may affect white matter...
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Transcranial direct current stimulation reduces fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis
Researchers Lauren Krupp, MD, and Leigh Charvet, PhD, of the Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center led the new study People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who underwent a non-invasive form of electrical brain stimulation experienced significant reductions in fatigue, a common and often debilitating symptom of the disease, according to new research from the Multiple...