Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that plays an important role in controlling attention and cognition. Acetylcholine system dysfunction is believed to be one of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia. Now, a new drug that could treat Alzheimer’s disease, SAK3, has been developed by a Japanese research group led by...
Category: <span>Pharmaceutical Updates</span>
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A brain wide chemical signal that enhances memory
New research could lead to ways of enhancing cognitive function to counteract the effects of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia, as well as enhancing memory in healthy people. How does heightened attention improve our mental capacity? This is the question tackled by new research published today in the journal Cell Reports, which reveals a chemical...
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Scientists Have Unlocked the Code That Turns Genes On and Off
IN BRIEF Scientists from University of California – San Diego were able to confirm the code responsible for initiating transcription and regulation of more than half of human genes. Knowing how or why genes are turned on and off during development, as well as understanding how they respond to environmental changes, will help us find...
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New gene-delivery therapy restores partial hearing, balance in deaf mice
Investigators caution the approach is years away from use in humans Using a novel form of gene therapy, scientists from Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the Massachusetts General Hospital have managed to restore partial hearing and balance in mice born with a genetic condition that affects both. The new model overcomes a long-standing barrier to accessing...
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What primary care providers should know about diabetic neuropathy
New guidelines from Michigan Medicine researchers and the American Diabetes Association equip physicians with better information on the condition An estimated 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes develop some form of diabetic neuropathy, or the chronic nerve damage diabetes causes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. With...
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Drug candidate stabilizes essential transport mechanism in nerve cells
NAP blocks formation of ‘tangles’ that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease Tau is a key brain protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease and other brain diseases. Aggregates of Tau known as “neurofibrillary tangles” have been associated with nerve cell death and cognitive decline. An important new Tel Aviv University study published in Molecular Psychiatry pinpoints the mechanism harnessed by...
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Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of chronic headache
Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of chronic headache, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The findings were published in Scientific Reports. The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, KIHD, analysed the serum vitamin D levels and occurrence of headache in approximately 2,600 men aged between 42 and 60...
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Can marijuana help treat fibromyalgia?
Although best known as a recreational drug, marijuana has been used medicinally for thousands of years. In the United States, the use of marijuana (also known as cannabis) is illegal under federal law. However, many states have passed laws to decriminalize its use for the treatment of specific medical conditions. As a result, more and...
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Could marijuana chewing gum treat IBS? Scientists testing US-made product to ease colon spasms that cause crippling bowel condition
Dutch researchers are testing a US firm’s cannabis gum to treat IBS Irritable bowel syndrome affects 3.5 million Americans a year Scientists believe CBD – an ingredient in cannabis – could ease colon spasms that cause bloating, cramps, constipation and diarrhea Cannabis-laced chewing gum could cure irritable bowel syndrome, scientists believe. Until now, doctors...
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Fecal transplant improves autism symptoms
Could the key to helping autistic children lie in their gut? While many people are aware of the behavioural symptoms associated with autism, probably not so many realize that autistics often also have gastrointestinal problems. With that in mind, scientists at the University of Arizona recently conducted a study in which a group of 18...