Hallucinations linked to differences in brain structure People diagnosed with schizophrenia who are prone to hallucinations are likely to have structural differences in a key region of the brain compared to both healthy individuals and people diagnosed with schizophrenia who do not hallucinate;
Modulating brain's stress circuitry might prevent alzheimer's disease In a novel animal study design that mimicked human clinical trials, researchers report that long-term treatment using a small molecule drug that reduces activity of the brain's stress circuitry significantly reduces Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology and prevents onset of cognitive impairment in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative condition.
Detailing global brain disorders research agenda The breadth and complexity of brain and nervous system disorders make them some of the most difficult conditions to diagnose and treat, especially in the developing world, where there are few resources. An NIH-led collaboration of more than 40 scientists has studied these complex issues that occur across the lifespan and today published a supplement to the journal Nature that lays out a research strategy to address them.
College studies may reduce risk of dementia for older adults, Older adults who take college courses may increase their cognitive capacity and possibly reduce their risk for developing Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
Several Campylobacter cases linked to raw milk Campylobacter cases have been reported in several children younger than 2. Some of the cases have been linked to drinking unpasteurized, or raw, milk. Bacteria such as E. coli O157, Campylobacter and Salmonella can contaminate milk
New Zealand group seeks zero tolerance for pesticide in baby food A petition seeking zero tolerance for pesticide residues in baby food was discussed Friday by a committee of the New Zealand parliament, but members reportedly took no action on it. The Safe Food Campaign, which is sponsoring the petition, noted that the European Commission has mandated no detectable pesticide levels.
America's research funding squeeze imperils patient care Constraints in federal funding, compounded by declining clinical revenue, jeopardize more than America's research enterprise. These twin pressures have created a "hostile working environment" that erodes time to conduct research, "discourages innovative high-risk science" and threatens to drive scientists out of the field. And this in turn undermines patient care.
DNA: Expanding code of life with new 'letters' The DNA encoding all life on Earth is made of four building blocks called nucleotides, commonly known as 'letters,' that line up in pairs and twist into a double helix. Now, two groups of scientists are reporting for the first time that two new nucleotides can do the same thing -- raising the possibility that entirely new proteins could be created for medical uses.
