Brain Research: New insights into molecular basis of memory ♦ Neurodegenerative diseases: The case of the sticky protein ♦ 'Homing' treatment could aid recovery for brain damaged patients

Brain imaging technology offers new approach for studying Parkinsonian syndromes Using a portable device, researchers have identified differences in brain activation patterns associated with postural stability in people with Parkinsonian syndromes and healthy adults. The findings describe the critical role of the prefrontal cortex in balance control and may have implications with respect to detecting and treating Parkinsonian symptoms in the elderly.

New insights into molecular basis of memory Scientists have shed new light on the molecular basis of memory. Their study confirms that the formation of memories is accompanied by an altered activity of specific genes. In addition, they found an unprecedented amount of evidence that supports the hypothesis that chemical labels on the backbone of the DNA (so-called DNA methylation) may be the molecular basis of long-term memory

'Homing' treatment could aid recovery for brain damaged patients Scientists believe they may have found a way to aid recovery and minimize the risk of life-threatening infections in patients with traumatic brain injuries.

Neurodegenerative diseases: The case of the sticky protein As interdisciplinary sleuths, medical researchers recently put together clues to solve the case of the sticky protein. This new tool opens more possibilities for studying neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Brain Research: Team links two human brains for question-and-answer experiment ♦ Old drug offers new hope to treat Alzheimer's disease

Old drug offers new hope to treat Alzheimer's disease Salsalate, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, effectively reversed tau-related dysfunction in an animal model of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), scientists have discovered. Salsalate prevented the accumulation of tau in the brain and protected against cognitive impairments resembling impairments seen in Alzheimer's disease and FTD.

Increased chances for early detection of Alzheimer's disease A method for detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s disease using amyloid PET imaging works as well as the previously used cerebrospinal fluid sample method conclude researchers at the conclusion of what they say is the most thorough and extensive undertaken in the field so far

Liquid crystals show potential for detection of neurodegenerative disease Liquid crystals are familiar to most of us as the somewhat humdrum stuff used to make computer displays and TVs. Even for scientists, it has not been easy to find other ways of using them. Now a group of researchers is putting liquid crystals to work in a completely unexpected realm: as detectors for the protein fibers implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's

Team links two human brains for question-and-answer experiment Researchers used a brain-to-brain interface they developed to allow pairs of participants to play a '20 question' style game by transmitting signals from one brain to another over the Internet. Their experiment is thought to be the first to demonstrate that two brains can be directly linked to allow someone to accurately guess what is on another person's mind.