Rutgers Researchers Say Daily Drinking Can Be Risky link
By Robin Lally
October 26, 2012
In a recent study done by Megan Anderson and Tracey Shors it's been shown that regular alcohol intake can cause your brain's cell development to decrease. In the study where they made mice have a blood alcohol level of 0.08 (the same as the legal driving limit in the US) it decreased new cell development in the hippocampus of nearly 40 percent! The hippocampus is a region in the brain that make new cells and plays a critical role in learning new things. They are saying men who drink 14 or more drinks a week, and women who drink seven, are believed to be at-risk drinkers; and 70% involve adults 26 and older. "This research indicates that
social or daily drinking may be more harmful to brain health than what is now believed
by the general public," said Anderson.
October 29, 2012
June 11, 2012
Successful Alzheimer's Disease Vaccine
Alzheimer's Vaccine Trial a Success link
By Neuroscience News
June 7, 2012
CAD106, a new vaccine for Alzheimer's disease has successfully finished the first trial and is ready for go to the final trial with a larger amount of subjects. In this trial, the vaccine was modified to only affect the harmful beta-amyloid (what is believed to be the root to Alzheimer's disease). In the trial is was found that 80% of the patients were able to develop their own protective antibodies against beta-amyloid without side-effects. The researchers believe CAD106 is an appropriate treatment for patients who have mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Next step is to conduct larger trials to be positive of these results.
By Neuroscience News
June 7, 2012
CAD106, a new vaccine for Alzheimer's disease has successfully finished the first trial and is ready for go to the final trial with a larger amount of subjects. In this trial, the vaccine was modified to only affect the harmful beta-amyloid (what is believed to be the root to Alzheimer's disease). In the trial is was found that 80% of the patients were able to develop their own protective antibodies against beta-amyloid without side-effects. The researchers believe CAD106 is an appropriate treatment for patients who have mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Next step is to conduct larger trials to be positive of these results.
Parkinson's Vaccine
World's First Parkinson's Vaccine Is Trialed link
By New Scientist
June 7, 2012
Last week a new vaccine for Parkinson's was trialed on 32 people. The vaccine aims to destroy alphasynuclein, a protein believed to trigger the disease by messing up dopamine levels, "When it forms clumps in cells, alpha-synuclein disrupts normal levels of dopamine by locking it inside cells that produce it. It is also toxic, killing neurons and their connections," says Mandler Markus, a scientist who's part of the trial. This is an entirely new approach because most treatments just aim to boost dopamine levels instead of actually fixing the problem.
By New Scientist
June 7, 2012
Last week a new vaccine for Parkinson's was trialed on 32 people. The vaccine aims to destroy alphasynuclein, a protein believed to trigger the disease by messing up dopamine levels, "When it forms clumps in cells, alpha-synuclein disrupts normal levels of dopamine by locking it inside cells that produce it. It is also toxic, killing neurons and their connections," says Mandler Markus, a scientist who's part of the trial. This is an entirely new approach because most treatments just aim to boost dopamine levels instead of actually fixing the problem.
June 7, 2012
MRIs
Here is a fantastic website that talks all about MRI and how it works by Joseph P. Hornak PhD
Also, on a personal note I do want to apologize for updating so sporadically. School is taking up most of my time. But to prove it is worth it, I just found out I made the Dean's List! So at least all my time and devotion to school is paying off!
May 30, 2012
The More You Eat, The More You Want To Eat
High Fat Diet Triggers Neurological Tendency To Eat More link
By Petra Rattue
5/28/2012
So as you may or may not know (depending on whether you read my blog and/or other neuroscience sources) it is well known that neurogenesis (new neurons forming in the brain after birth) does indeed happen in a few very specific places: the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. What is amazing about this new study is that the scientists Seth Blackshaw PhD has found a new location where neurogenesis can occur - the hypothalamus. Not only is that incredible by itself, but Blackshaw and his team went a step further and found that this location for neurogenesis was originally beneficial for our ancestors when fatty foods were scarce and those foods were good for the body - AKA not beneficial for us today where fatty foods are at our beck and call (and our instinctual tendency to crave such foods is no longer beneficial to our survival). Through their experiments they found the more fatty foods you have the more neurogenesis will occur, but only making new neurons that encourage behavior of having a high fat diet. Blackshaw explains: "People typically think growing new neurons in the
brain is a good thing - but it's really just another way for the brain
to modify behavior." If these studies continue to prove positive, Blackshaw is very excitaed about the prospect of being able to develop new obesity treatments by blocking hypothalamic neurogenesis!
By Petra Rattue
5/28/2012
March 29, 2012
Study Before Going to Bed
Learning Best When You Rest: Sleeping After Processing New Info Most Effective link
By The Science Daily
March 23, 2012
According to a new study done by researchers at University of Notre Dame, sleeping right after learning is most beneficial to remembering the information in both semantic (facts) and episodic (events) memory. So to all the students out there, be sure to study before going to bed so you can let your brain sleep on it!
By The Science Daily
March 23, 2012
According to a new study done by researchers at University of Notre Dame, sleeping right after learning is most beneficial to remembering the information in both semantic (facts) and episodic (events) memory. So to all the students out there, be sure to study before going to bed so you can let your brain sleep on it!
A colorized scanning electron microscope picture of a nerve ending that has been broken open to reveal the synaptic vesicles (orange and blue) beneath the cell membrane.
Source: http://www.cellimagelibrary.org
March 17, 2012
March 13, 2012
Update In My Life
I realized I haven't posted much in regards to my own pursuit lately so I'll go ahead and write a brief update on my latest experiences.
I'm doing well at Georgia Perimeter College, I have A's and B's in all my classes so far. Today, I went to a lecture at GPC by Sarah Brosnan (in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State University). Really fascinating lecture, she talked about her research with New World Monkeys and Old World Monkeys and their reactions to inequity. After her talk she was taking questions and I asked about her connection with the Neuroscience Institute and she talked about her research in oxytocin and then went on to tell me about summer research programs I can find at Emory and Georgia State. How AWESOME! Honestly, I hadn't even thought about that as a possibility since I'm not at Emory yet. Unfortunately all the deadlines for participating in an 8-10 week research program are past due, but now at least I know to keep my eyes open for them for next year. I'm actually really beside myself about it, I just didn't know that as an undergraduate I could get lab experience!
I'm also pretty stoked about a new scholarship program I came across, it is specifically for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors. Aside from giving 5,000 dollars to each student they also give us each our own faculty mentor to help us throughout the rest of our associates and have us go on field trips, industry tours, special lectures from people in the business, and workstudy groups with the other students in the program. How crazy awesome is that? I could really care less about the money, I'm just really excited about the extracurricular opportunities that the scholarship will provide! So I'm having a couple professors write recommendation letters for me. I'll keep you posted on whether I get it or not.
That's about it for now, cheers everyone!
I'm doing well at Georgia Perimeter College, I have A's and B's in all my classes so far. Today, I went to a lecture at GPC by Sarah Brosnan (in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State University). Really fascinating lecture, she talked about her research with New World Monkeys and Old World Monkeys and their reactions to inequity. After her talk she was taking questions and I asked about her connection with the Neuroscience Institute and she talked about her research in oxytocin and then went on to tell me about summer research programs I can find at Emory and Georgia State. How AWESOME! Honestly, I hadn't even thought about that as a possibility since I'm not at Emory yet. Unfortunately all the deadlines for participating in an 8-10 week research program are past due, but now at least I know to keep my eyes open for them for next year. I'm actually really beside myself about it, I just didn't know that as an undergraduate I could get lab experience!
I'm also pretty stoked about a new scholarship program I came across, it is specifically for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors. Aside from giving 5,000 dollars to each student they also give us each our own faculty mentor to help us throughout the rest of our associates and have us go on field trips, industry tours, special lectures from people in the business, and workstudy groups with the other students in the program. How crazy awesome is that? I could really care less about the money, I'm just really excited about the extracurricular opportunities that the scholarship will provide! So I'm having a couple professors write recommendation letters for me. I'll keep you posted on whether I get it or not.
That's about it for now, cheers everyone!
March 10, 2012
Art & Alzheimer's
Art and Alzheimer's link
By Stephanie Kramer
1/18/2012
The first installment in a tramaus series by the Urban Times team and GV Art is on the connection between art and Alzheimer's disease. The artist, William Utermohlen, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1995 but continued his art. As the disease slowly eroded his mind he adapted his style and technique to the growing limitations of his perception and motor skills. An interview was conducted with his wife Patricia Utermohlen and the interview can be found here.
By Stephanie Kramer
1/18/2012
The first installment in a tramaus series by the Urban Times team and GV Art is on the connection between art and Alzheimer's disease. The artist, William Utermohlen, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1995 but continued his art. As the disease slowly eroded his mind he adapted his style and technique to the growing limitations of his perception and motor skills. An interview was conducted with his wife Patricia Utermohlen and the interview can be found here.
March 3, 2012
How Marijuana Destroys Your Memory
Acute Cannaboids Impair Working Memory link
By Jing Han
3/2/2012
A new study shows that THC in marijuana is not directly affecting the neurons themselves but in fact the neural support system: astrocytes. Both astrocytes and neurons have cannaboids type-1 receptors (CB1R) and to compare the effects of THC in mice researchers mutated two groups of mice. One group did not have the CB1R on their astrocytes and the other group didn't have them on their neurons. The researchers found that the mice without the CB1R on the astrocytes did NOT have impaired spatial working memory, whereas those lacking the receptors on the neurons did. So in conclusion that means the astrocytes are the ones that cause the memory problems when taking cannaboids.
This new development clearly raises questions about astrocytes general role in forming memories. This new information will also potentially help engineer a THC using drug that doesn't mess with your memory.
By Jing Han
3/2/2012
A new study shows that THC in marijuana is not directly affecting the neurons themselves but in fact the neural support system: astrocytes. Both astrocytes and neurons have cannaboids type-1 receptors (CB1R) and to compare the effects of THC in mice researchers mutated two groups of mice. One group did not have the CB1R on their astrocytes and the other group didn't have them on their neurons. The researchers found that the mice without the CB1R on the astrocytes did NOT have impaired spatial working memory, whereas those lacking the receptors on the neurons did. So in conclusion that means the astrocytes are the ones that cause the memory problems when taking cannaboids.
This new development clearly raises questions about astrocytes general role in forming memories. This new information will also potentially help engineer a THC using drug that doesn't mess with your memory.
February 25, 2012
Brain Difference Between Ages
A healthy human brain (left) compared to the brain of a 90 year old (right) which is only two thirds the size of the young brain. Over time, white matter decreases and the brain shrinks. This gradual shrinkage is most extreme between age 70 and 80.
On a side note: my apologies for not posting lately, since I started school all of my time has been devoted to studying like crazy, the good part of that though is that I'm rocking it! Now that I know what to expect with school I will be able to post more frequently. Cheers.
January 9, 2012
A Drug That Can Make the Hippocampus GROW
The Pill That Could Cure Depression By Growing Your Brain link
By Kristin Philipkoski
1/9/2012
There have been tons of studies coming out that show long term depression, Alzheimer disease, and schizophrenia all result in shrunken hippocampi. Well Neuralstem's CEO, Dr. Karl Johe, is here to tell you that there may be a way to reverse that! They have recently gotten FDA's approval to go ahead and do human trials on a new drug that can literally regrow the hippocampus, giving people with severe depression hope for a brighter future. And the best part is, the goal with this drug is to be able to get off of it! Dr. Johe says, "If we can show by MRI that we've increased hippocampus volume and at the same time reversed depression symptoms for six months after patients have stopped taking the drug, then we'll have a cure." Now most antidepressants work by increasing or decreasing certain neurotransmitters (like seretonin or dopamine) but with this new drug it aims to change neurotransmitters, neurons themselves, AND the size of the hippocampus (which plays a huge part in memory and spatial navigation and tends to be the first thing to go in those with Alzheimers). Its a great time for the drug industry for two reasons; one, well holy moly what an incredible drug! To ACTUALLY change the size of a region in the brain is something I never imagined possible, but I think more importantly two, an aim to actually cure instead of subdue the symptoms of a problem (which, in my opinion, has always made the drug industry a very very corrupt organization). So happy days are ahead of us, and more literally than ever before.
By Kristin Philipkoski
1/9/2012
There have been tons of studies coming out that show long term depression, Alzheimer disease, and schizophrenia all result in shrunken hippocampi. Well Neuralstem's CEO, Dr. Karl Johe, is here to tell you that there may be a way to reverse that! They have recently gotten FDA's approval to go ahead and do human trials on a new drug that can literally regrow the hippocampus, giving people with severe depression hope for a brighter future. And the best part is, the goal with this drug is to be able to get off of it! Dr. Johe says, "If we can show by MRI that we've increased hippocampus volume and at the same time reversed depression symptoms for six months after patients have stopped taking the drug, then we'll have a cure." Now most antidepressants work by increasing or decreasing certain neurotransmitters (like seretonin or dopamine) but with this new drug it aims to change neurotransmitters, neurons themselves, AND the size of the hippocampus (which plays a huge part in memory and spatial navigation and tends to be the first thing to go in those with Alzheimers). Its a great time for the drug industry for two reasons; one, well holy moly what an incredible drug! To ACTUALLY change the size of a region in the brain is something I never imagined possible, but I think more importantly two, an aim to actually cure instead of subdue the symptoms of a problem (which, in my opinion, has always made the drug industry a very very corrupt organization). So happy days are ahead of us, and more literally than ever before.
January 6, 2012
Our Brains Are Shrinking
If Modern Humans Are So Smart, Why Are Our Brains Shrinking? link
By Kathleen McAuliffe
1/20/2011
Over the last ten to twenty thousand years our brains have gone from 1500 cc to 1350 cc; why are our brains shrinking?!
In this article there are a whole lot of speculations as to why our brains are getting smaller. The theories range from becoming more idiotic to our diet to domestication or even to our brains becoming more efficient. Read the article to learn more about each theory and tell me what you think.
By Kathleen McAuliffe
1/20/2011
Over the last ten to twenty thousand years our brains have gone from 1500 cc to 1350 cc; why are our brains shrinking?!
In this article there are a whole lot of speculations as to why our brains are getting smaller. The theories range from becoming more idiotic to our diet to domestication or even to our brains becoming more efficient. Read the article to learn more about each theory and tell me what you think.
January 5, 2012
Mimicking the Brain, In Silicon
Mimicking the Brain, In Silicon link
By Anne Trafton
11/15/2011
MIT researchers have created a computer chip that can simulate synapses. They intend to use the chips to simulate entire neural systems like the visual processing system, to be able to further explore it and how it works. Currently it could take hours to even days to simulate only one brain function on a computer, but with this new analog chip it could function even faster than the biological circuit itself. They are also hopeful to be able to inferace these chips with biological systems, where they could be useful in helping communication between neural prosthetic devices such as artificial retinas.
By Anne Trafton
11/15/2011
MIT researchers have created a computer chip that can simulate synapses. They intend to use the chips to simulate entire neural systems like the visual processing system, to be able to further explore it and how it works. Currently it could take hours to even days to simulate only one brain function on a computer, but with this new analog chip it could function even faster than the biological circuit itself. They are also hopeful to be able to inferace these chips with biological systems, where they could be useful in helping communication between neural prosthetic devices such as artificial retinas.
January 3, 2012
Ten Brain Science Studies from 2011 Worth Talking About
Ten Brain Science Studies Worth Talking About link
By David DiSalvo
12/27/2011
1. Brain implant enables memories to be recorded and played back
2. Controlling mircoRNA could eventually make cells "death resistant"
3. Maximizing the brain's marijuana-like chemical could lead to better meds
4. Using magnetism to alter moral judgement isn't all that far fetched
5. New blood test may predict whether antidepressants will help you
6. Abused children's brains and soldiers' brains are similarly wired
7. Alzheimer's damage can in some cases be reversed by deep brain stimulation
8. 'Brain reading' makes a big leap forward
9. A little practice goes a long way in the brain
10. Boosting thought control with real-time brain feedback
Consult the link for details of the studies done on each of these
By David DiSalvo
12/27/2011
1. Brain implant enables memories to be recorded and played back
2. Controlling mircoRNA could eventually make cells "death resistant"
3. Maximizing the brain's marijuana-like chemical could lead to better meds
4. Using magnetism to alter moral judgement isn't all that far fetched
5. New blood test may predict whether antidepressants will help you
6. Abused children's brains and soldiers' brains are similarly wired
7. Alzheimer's damage can in some cases be reversed by deep brain stimulation
8. 'Brain reading' makes a big leap forward
9. A little practice goes a long way in the brain
10. Boosting thought control with real-time brain feedback
Consult the link for details of the studies done on each of these
Zapping The Brain Improves Math Skills
Zapping The Brain Improves Math Skills link
By Eric Bland
11/04/2010
Scientists at University of Oxford are currently doing research with a method known as transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS), which involves passing electricity through the skull to increase or decrease the activity of neurons. With the studies they've conducted so far it has shown an increase in math skills, this makes the scientists hopeful that it could help treat the 20 percent of the population with moderate to severe dyscalculia (math disability) and potentially could help aid students in other subjects as well. TDCS can only help certain types of learning, like language, as long as they are near the surface of the brain; structures like the limbic system, which is closer to the center of the brain, are most likely beyond the help of TDCS, says researchers.
By Eric Bland
11/04/2010
Scientists at University of Oxford are currently doing research with a method known as transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS), which involves passing electricity through the skull to increase or decrease the activity of neurons. With the studies they've conducted so far it has shown an increase in math skills, this makes the scientists hopeful that it could help treat the 20 percent of the population with moderate to severe dyscalculia (math disability) and potentially could help aid students in other subjects as well. TDCS can only help certain types of learning, like language, as long as they are near the surface of the brain; structures like the limbic system, which is closer to the center of the brain, are most likely beyond the help of TDCS, says researchers.
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