Category: Stroke

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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This illustration depicts a single cell RNA-sequencing study of PTSD, major depression and normal controls. In this plot, more than 363,000 nuclei are represented and categorized into eight broad cell types, allowing researchers to visualize the cellular and molecular changes associated with these conditions. Credit: Dell Medical School

In a new study, investigators have uncovered both shared and distinct molecular changes across brain regions, genomic layers, cell types, and blood in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD).

New research has revealed that areas of age-related damage in the brain relate to motor outcomes after a stroke—a phenomenon that may be under-recognized in stroke research.

A large study using pre-pandemic brain scans of adolescents reveals that brain wiring before COVID-19 predicted mental health outcomes during the pandemic. Adolescents with stronger connections within the brain’s “salience network,” responsible for emotion and reward processing, demonstrated greater resilience to stress and negative emotions. Conversely, weaker connections in the prefrontal cortex and other areas linked to emotional processing were associated with higher levels of stress and sadness.These findings highlight the importance of understanding individual brain differences in predicting and addressing mental health vulnerabilities during challenging times.

A team of medical researchers at the National Children’s Medical Center, Children’s Hospital, Fudan University, China, has developed a technique to freeze and thaw brain tissue without causing damage.

Singing can improve language recovery in stroke patients by repairing the brain’s language network. This positive effect is attributed to increased grey matter volume in language regions and improved connectivity within the network.

A new AI tool to more quickly and accurately classify brain tumours has been developed by researchers at The Australian National University.

An international research collaboration investigated how highly organised patterns of neural activity emerge during development and found the cortex of the brain can transform unorganised inputs into highly organized patterns of activity.

Results from a new study suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution leads to increased risk in dementia in Denmark.

A recent study published in Health Data Science reveals the significant impact of high cumulative body mass index (BMI) on brain health. The research found that high BMI is associated with smaller brain volume, larger white matter lesions, and abnormal microstructural integrity.

A team of neurosurgeons and AI specialists has found some success in restoring speech to a patient who lost the ability after a stroke.

A study published in iScience from researchers from the Ivcher Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Technology at Reichman University offers a new perspective towards the plasticity of the brain, and integration of the senses, paving the way for the enhancement of prosthetics and assistive technologies, and even our interactions with virtual and augmented realities.

Finally this week, research addresses a gap in understanding how ketamine’s impact on individual neurons leads to pervasive and profound changes in brain network function.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: Nature Neuroscience(2024).

Researchers at University of Cambridge and other institutes worldwide recently carried out a study that linked gene expression in healthy brains to the imaging, transcriptomics and genetics of autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Their paper, published in Nature Neuroscience, unveiled three distinct spatial patterns of cortical gene expression each with specific associations to autism and schizophrenia

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that physical activity may reduce cardiovascular disease risk by lowering stress-related brain activity.

A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Yale University incorporated generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create a foundational model for brain activity. The Brain Language Model (BrainLM) was developed to model the brain in silico and to determine how brain activities are related to human behavior and brain diseases.

Using MRI, engineers have found a way to detect light deep in the brain.

Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one or divorce, put a person at greater risk of developing dementia in later life, a recent study has found. But only if the stressful event happened in childhood or midlife.

Our brains process odours differently depending on the names assigned to them, according to new research. 

People with neurological disease have a greater chance of death after contracting COVID-19, according to a new study. The research also confirms a higher risk of developing new neurological disorders after COVID infection.

Children who experience chronic lack of sleep from infancy may be at increased risk of developing psychosis in early adulthood, new research shows. 

A team of brain specialists at the California Institute of Technology has developed a brain–computer interface approach to decode words “spoken” entirely in the brain by recording signals from individual neurons in real time.

A new study shows that the cerebellum is involved in processing emotions, with implications for ataxia care.

A research team has revealed the link between the frequency of sleep apnea events during the rapid-eye-movement stage and the severity of verbal memory impairment in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Verbal memory refers to the cognitive ability to retain and recall information presented through spoken words or written text and is particularly vulnerable to Alzheimer’s.

Results from a recent neuroplasticity study show how singing rehabilitates speech production in post-stroke aphasia.

For the first time, researchers have succeeded in explaining the propagation of traveling waves of activity in the human brain using a computer simulation. Previous studies indicate that these waves are important for various cognitive functions such as memory.

A new publication in Scientific Reports unveils a promising non-opioid pain treatment.

Repeated blows to the heads of football players can damage the small blood vessels of the brain, according to research by scientists who believe this damage may contribute to brain dysfunction in some athletes years after play has ended.

New research has shed light in the complex interplay between cell proteins, and how they impact on neurons in neurodevelopmental disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.

Artificial intelligence (AI) computer programs that process MRI results show differences in how the brains of men and women are organized at a cellular level, a new study shows. These variations were spotted in white matter, tissue primarily located in the human brain’s innermost layer, which fosters communication between regions.

Finally, this week, climate change, and its effects on weather patterns and adverse weather events is likely to negatively affect the health of people with brain conditions.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Variant definition, splitting and classification as border or ectopic. Credit: Nature Neuroscience (2024)

A new study has revealed brain differences that may explain why humans demonstrate a variety of cognitive abilities and behaviors. The research shows that two forms of individual differences may predict cognitive abilities, explain behavioral differences and even pinpoint biomarkers of brain disease.

A team of neuroscientists has found that so-called superagers maintain memory as they grow older because they do not experience a decline in the integrity of their white brain matter.

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence technique that can effectively estimate an individual’s brain age based on electroencephalogram (EEG) brain scans. The technology could help to make early, regular screening for degenerative brain diseases more accessible.

A simple blood test could allow doctors to determine whether a person may be at higher risk for stroke or cognitive decline during their lifetime, according to a new study.

A brief episode of anger triggered by remembering past experiences may negatively impact the blood vessels’ ability to relax, which is essential for proper blood flow, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Using neuroimaging, researchers have identified a brain network crucial to human consciousness. 

An individual’s experience of pain from medical treatment can be heightened by witnessing other people’s responses to the same treatment, with this negative experience subsequently spreading to others, scientists have discovered.

Listening to music benefits older adults’ cognitive health, even if it’s music they haven’t heard before or don’t enjoy very much, according to a new study.

Researchers have found a way to better control the preclinical generation of key neurons depleted in Parkinson’s disease, pointing toward a new approach for a disease with no cure and few effective treatments.

An international research team led by Karolinska Institutet has mapped the early genetic development of the brain and can now present an atlas of embryonic development between weeks 6 and 13.

Researchers have identified a key mechanism in brain stem cells that prevents identity conflicts during gene expression. This mechanism allows the cells to retain stemness while being primed for neuronal differentiation. The discovery includes finding that keeping neuronal gene messengers within the nucleus, while allowing stem cell gene messengers to be translated, avoids premature differentiation.

A new study demonstrates the potential of virtual reality in treating major depressive disorder.

Exercise prompts muscles to release molecular cargo that boosts brain cell function and connection, but the process is not well understood. Now new research has found that the nerves that tell muscles to move also prompt them to release more of the brain-boosting factors.

A pattern of brain activity that helps prevent us from getting lost has been identified in a new study, published in Nature Human Behaviour.

A new study highlights a novel mechanism of brain plasticity involving chondroitin sulfate clusters outside nerve cells. Researchers identified these cartilage-like structures as crucial for the brain’s ability to adapt and store information.

Finally this week, a new computer model may have cracked the code on helpful memory cues.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Vertex-wise comparisons between ADHD (N = 60) and controls (N = 23), and between ADHD responders (N = 42) and non-responders (N = 18). Credit: Nature Mental Health (2024).

New research has found that the effectiveness of ADHD medication may be associated with an individual’s neuroanatomy.

Although there are still some aspects pending confirmation for its use in the clinical setting, and its resolution needs to be improved slightly, a new study has shown that a method routinely used to carry out ophthalmological tests can also be used to monitor the neurodegeneration that occurs in Parkinson’s patients.

Scientists have uncovered a mechanism in the brain that allows cocaine and morphine to take over natural reward processing systems.

New research has identified a specific pattern of autoantibodies in the blood that precedes the clinical onset of multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially paving the way for early diagnosis and treatment. Their study found that 10% of MS patients displayed a unique set of autoantibodies against both human proteins and common pathogens like the Epstein-Barr Virus years before showing symptoms.

Researchers have identified a promising new approach to treating persistent neurological symptoms associated with Lyme disease.

A new study investigates why everyday actions like locking a door are often forgotten. The study revealed that while emotionally charged or unique events are initially memorable, even these can fade within 24 hours, particularly positive experiences. This research provides insight into the selective nature of memory and suggests that our brains prioritize and even forget information to manage cognitive load.

Managing a stroke patient’s blood sugar levels after they receive powerful clot-busting drugs might help them survive their health crisis, a new trial finds.

Researchers have created a thin film that combines an electrode grid and LEDs that can both track and produce a visual representation of the brain’s activity in real time during surgery. The device is designed to provide neurosurgeons with visual information about a patient’s brain to monitor brain states during surgical interventions to remove brain lesions including tumors and epileptic tissue.

A new study identifies a new metric for diagnosing autism.

New research has found a significant association between participating in low to moderate intensity exercise and reduced rates of depression.  However, this was not strongly observed for high-intensity exercise. Physical activity was also significantly associated with reduced risk of severe mental health conditions, including a reduction in psychosis/schizophrenia by 27%.

An international collaborative research team has discovered a novel mechanism underlying memory involving rapid changes in a specific DNA structure.

People who take acid-reducing drugs may have a higher risk of migraine and other severe headache than people who do not take these medications, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology Clinical Practice. 

Finally this week, new research has highlighted the profound link between dietary choices and brain health.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Graphical representation of the analysis procedure to relate word-by-word predictors of linguistic complexity to BOLD activity. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). 

How does the brain respond to sentence structure as we speak and listen? In a neuroimaging study published in PNAS, researchers investigated sentence processing during spontaneous speech for the first time.

A research team has achieved a breakthrough in stem cell research, offering tools that can be used for patients who require highly personalized care.

Researchers demonstrated promising results for PTSD treatment in military veterans by combining brain stimulation with virtual reality exposure therapy. The clinical trial showed significant reductions in PTSD symptoms among participants who received low electrical current brain stimulation during virtual reality sessions designed to simulate warzone experiences.

A new study involving participants from 15 countries, shed light on the universal preference for simple integer ratios in rhythms, revealing significant cultural variations in musical perception.

Researchers have uncovered a strikingly similar suite of changes in gene activity in brain tissue from people with schizophrenia and from older adults. These changes suggest a common biological basis for the cognitive impairment often seen in people with schizophrenia and in the elderly.

A new study reveals a direct correlation between adversities faced in childhood and adulthood with later psychiatric and cognitive decline.

A new study reveals a strong link between daytime physical activity and improved sleep quality among both children and adults. Analyzing the daily routines of over 2500 participants, the research highlights how higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity correlate with fewer sleep disturbances, less daytime tiredness, and overall better sleep quality.

In an innovative study published in Science Advances, researchers have unveiled new insights into the intricate relationship between emotion and perception.

Even people whose physical activity levels fall short of recommended guidelines, but who manage to do some during their leisure time, are likely to have a lower risk of stroke than their sedentary peers, suggests a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

A recent study showcases a significant leap in the study of brain oscillations, particularly ripples, which are crucial for memory organization and are affected in disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s. 

People who have headaches after experiencing concussions may also be more likely to have higher levels of iron in areas of the brain, which is a sign of injury to brain cells, according to a preliminary study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting taking place April 13–18, 2024.

The COVID-19 virus can persist in the blood and tissue of patients for more than a year after the acute phase of the illness has ended, according to new research.

Researchers identified sildenafil, known commercially as Viagra, as a promising candidate for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Leveraging artificial intelligence the team analyzed vast amounts of data, including insurance claims and brain cell observations, to highlight sildenafil’s potential benefits in reducing Alzheimer’s prevalence and neurotoxic proteins.

A new study provides some of the most detailed insights yet into the brain mechanisms that help people pay attention amid such distraction, as well as what’s happening when they can’t focus.

A new AI language model identifies clinical symptoms in medical summaries and links them to brain tissue from donors of the Netherlands Brain Bank. This yields new insights into the development of individual disease progression and contributes to a better understanding of common misdiagnoses of brain diseases. The model may, in the future, assist in making more accurate diagnoses.

Researchers have discovered a brain circuit that drives vocalization and ensures that you talk only when you breathe out, and stop talking when you breathe in.

For the first time, neuroscientists have established a link between shifts in our visual perception and the cadence of our steps while walking.

A new study examines the potential of artificial intelligence to shift chronic pain treatment from opioids to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Utilizing machine learning to analyze extensive patient data, the study aims to predict which patients will benefit most from MBSR, a critical step toward personalized medicine.

Finally this week, new research reveals how the human brain processes vital signals from the heart and lungs, offering new insights into the complex brain-body integration essential for health and cognition.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Illustration of the triple-wise correlation network model. Credit: Science Advances (2024). 

By mapping brain activity in three dimensions, researchers have achieved a more detailed picture of how the brain changes with age.

A new study reveals epigenetic alterations in the immune system of Alzheimer’s patients’ blood, suggesting environmental or behavioral factors could influence Alzheimer’s risk. The study indicates these epigenetic changes affect genes associated with Alzheimer’s susceptibility, potentially due to factors like viral infections or pollutants.

Almost half of people who suffer a sports-related traumatic brain injury are still experiencing physical symptoms after six months according to new research findings.

A new study suggests a novel link between depression and higher body temperatures, analyzing data from over 20,000 participants worldwide. While the causal relationship remains unclear, findings indicate that body temperature increases with the severity of depression symptoms, offering a potential new avenue for treatment.

Acupuncture may improve language function in patients with poststroke motor aphasia, according to a new study.

Researchers have found that adolescents being bullied by their peers are at greater risk of the early stages of psychotic episodes and in turn experience lower levels of a key neurotransmitter in a part of the brain involved in regulating emotions.

The contraceptive pill also affects the brain and the regulation of emotions, say researchers.

An international research team has developed a computational biology tool, based on multi-level network analysis, to achieve an integrated vision of multiple sclerosis. This tool could be used to study other complex diseases such as types of dementia.

A new scanning study of 390 babies has shown distinct patterns between term and pre-term babies in the moment-to-moment activity and connectivity of brain networks.

Researchers have developed a machine-learning tool that accurately identifies individuals at high risk of psychosis through MRI brain scans. This innovative approach, which achieved an 85% accuracy rate in training and 73% using new data, offers a promising avenue for early intervention in psychosis, potentially improving treatment outcomes.

A new study highlights music’s crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for people aged 50 to 80, with 98% reporting at least one health benefit from engaging with music.

Researchers have unveiled the “MiniTouch,” a revolutionary device that equips prosthetic limbs with the ability to convey thermal sensations to amputees, bridging a significant gap in sensory feedback technology. This breakthrough allows a transradial amputee to differentiate between objects of varying temperatures and experience more human-like touch, enhancing both functional use and emotional connection with the prosthesis.

Scientists have found a new treatment target for CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), one of the most common types of genetic epilepsy.

A new study presents a compelling case for the integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT into neuroscience, highlighting their potential to transform research by analyzing vast datasets beyond human capability. The authors suggest that LLMs can bridge diverse neuroscience fields by communicating with each other, thus accelerating discoveries in areas such as neurodegeneration drug development.

Finally this week, researchers have developed a robotic sensor that incorporates artificial intelligence techniques to read braille at speeds roughly double that of most human readers.

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Credit: Cell Stem Cell (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.12.009

Researchers have developed the world’s first 3D-printed brain tissue that grows and behaves similarly to natural brain tissue, marking a significant leap forward for neurological and neurodevelopmental disorder research.

For patients with Parkinson disease differences in quality of life outcomes are seen with deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS), according to a recent study.

New findings published in the journal Nature Neuroscience have shed light on a mysterious pathway between the reward center of the brain that is key to how we form habits, known as the basal ganglia, and another anatomically distinct region where nearly three-quarters of the brain’s neurons reside and assist in motor learning, known as the cerebellum.

Researchers have shown that a blood test can pinpoint the underlying cause of brain injury in newborns.

A new study suggests that high-intensity training (HIT), compared to conventional training, may improve walking ability in patients with chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). Possible secondary benefits may include improved aerobic capacity/efficiency and cognition.

A team of scientists has unveiled a potential game-changer in the fight against glioblastoma, the most common and currently incurable form of brain cancer.

Combining brain stimulation with intense physical rehabilitation helped stroke survivors recover movement in their arms and hands and maintain these improvements for one year, according to a study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2024.

Psychologists have investigated the extent to which neuromodulation of the brain with ultrasound waves influences people’s behavior. The results can also be used as a basis for therapeutic purposes.

A preliminary study reveals that intravenous injections of ginkgo biloba components could significantly improve early cognitive recovery in ischemic stroke patients. Conducted across multiple centers in China, the research tested the effects of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine (GDLM) on 3,163 stroke survivors, showing notable improvements in cognitive scores compared to a placebo group.

The brains and blood of people with a history of excessive drinking show cellular evidence of premature aging.

A new study gives insights into the underlying mechanisms of the formation of protein clumps in Alzheimer’s disease. The study could pave the way for new treatments for this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.

Finally, this week, engaging in music throughout your life is associated with better brain health in older age, according to a new study.

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Single-trial dynamics in LIP and SC are different. (Neuron, 2023)

A new paper, published in Neuron, highlights the role of the superior colliculus (SC), a structure in the midbrain, in terminating decisions.

Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons is widely accepted as the first event that leads to Parkinson’s, but a new study suggests that a dysfunction in the neuron’s synapses—the tiny gap across which a neuron can send an impulse to another neuron—leads to deficits in dopamine and precedes the neurodegeneration.

Depression, a challenging condition to diagnose early, may now be detected more promptly using a simple 1-minute Electroencephalogram (EEG) test at home.

Scientists have confirmed that human brains are naturally wired to perform advanced calculations, much like a high-powered computer, to make sense of the world through a process known as Bayesian inference.

New research shows how repeated traumatic brain injury contributes to Alzheimer’s disease.

Racial disparities can be seen in dementia severity, functional impairment, and neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), according to a study recently published in JAMA Neurology.

A new study identifies a potential new approach to PTSD treatment.

Any head injury—even a mild one—raises a person’s risk of later having an ischemic stroke. Having multiple injuries increases that risk, even more so than the severity of a single traumatic brain injury, researchers have found.

New research finds that cerebrospinal fluid net flow is markedly decreased in Huntington’s disease, with the decrease being greater in the later stages of the disease.

The targeted use of ultrasound technology can bring about significant changes in brain function that could pave the way towards treatment of conditions such as depression, addiction, or anxiety, a new study suggests.

Finally this week, new research finds that antidepressants may actually reduce negative memories in individuals suffering from depression while improving overall memory function.

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Scientists have shown that the hypothalamus, a key region of the brain involved in controlling appetite, is different in the brains of people who are overweight and people with obesity when compared to people who are a healthy weight.

Researchers have shown in lab-based experiments that variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can affect the blood-brain barrier and damage brain cells in different ways.

Unlike previously thought, speech production and singing are supported by the same circuitry in the brain. Observations in a new study can help develop increasingly effective rehabilitation methods for patients with aphasia.

Scientists have discovered an additional potential cause of the genetic mutations that result in rare conditions such as Huntington’s disease (HD).

Neuroscientists report the first results from experimental tests designed to explore the idea that “forgetting” might not be a bad thing, and that it may represent a form of learning—and outline results that support their core idea.

The largest-ever study of the genetics of the brain—encompassing some 36,000 brain scans—has identified more than 4,000 genetic variants linked to brain structure.

A first-in-human trial of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for post-stroke rehabilitation patients has shown that using DBS to target the dentate nucleus—which regulates fine-control of voluntary movements, cognition, language, and sensory functions in the brain—is safe and feasible.

New research finds that genetic risk for higher blood pressure even in those in their 40s and 50s may contribute to poorer cognitive function.

An obscure class of molecules, part of the vast system that helps the human body distinguish “self” from “non-self,” may also hold the key to stopping SARS-CoV-2 from commandeering healthy cells, scientists have found in a series of experiments.

Scientists have discovered how HIV hijacks intracellular processes to proliferate and contribute to neurodegeneration, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Researchers have discovered a potential breakthrough for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), marked by extreme exhaustion, post-exertional malaise and cognitive issues.

Finally this week, in a small, exploratory study, levels of certain types of microbes in babies’ guts have been shown to be associated with performance in tests of early cognitive development.

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In a new study, researchers identified the most common characteristics of 85 COVID-19 patients who died in Wuhan, China in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. The study reports on commonalities of the largest group of coronavirus patient deaths to be studied to date.

Abnormal blood clotting contributes to death in some patients with severe COVID-19 infections.

A newly developed blood test for Alzheimer’s disease measures a specific variant of the tau protein. Early results show the test has a good capacity to distinguish Alzheimer’s disease from other tauopathies.

New findings support the theory that impaired prefrontal control of the dopamine system is a key mechanism for the development of schizophrenia.

Researchers report that in depressed individuals there are increased amounts of an unmodified structural protein, called tubulin, in lipid rafts — fatty sections of a cell membrane — compared with non-depressed individuals.

A new genetics test for COVID-19 has been developed by an international team of researchers. 

Genetic variability in the human immune system may affect susceptibility to, and severity of infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Researchers have developed a new approach to prevent amyloid plaque formation by engineering a nanodevice that captures the peptides before they can assemble.

A new study puts into question conventional belief that the eyes communicate with the brain exclusively via one signaling pathway. Researchers have identified a subset of retinal neurons that sends inhibitory signals to the brain. This subset of neurons is also involved in the synchronization of circadian rhythms to light/dark cycles and pupil constriction to bright light intensity.

Finally, this week, a new study sheds light on the role brain insulin plays in weight and visceral fat accumulation.