Central Nervous System News and Research

RSS

Novel platform identifies genes that control biologic processes

Inflammatory neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), can arise when cell-to-cell communication between cells in the central nervous system (CNS) goes awry. But exactly how this cellular crosstalk leads to the molecular changes that drive disease remain unknown.

13 Mar 2023

Researchers find methods to awaken and revive neural stem cells

Some areas of the adult brain contain quiescent, or dormant, neural stem cells that can potentially be reactivated to form new neurons. However, the transition from quiescence to proliferation is still poorly understood. A team led by scientists from the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Lausanne (UNIL) has discovered the importance of cell metabolism in this process and identified how to wake up these neural stem cells and reactivate them. Biologists succeeded in increasing the number of new neurons in the brain of adult and even elderly mice. These results, promising for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, are to be discovered in the journal Science Advances.

2 Mar 2023

Insilico Medicine: IND application for first generative AI-designed drug for COVID-19 approved

Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage biotech company powered by generative AI, today announces that China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ISM3312, an orally available 3CLpro inhibitor generated and designed with the support of Insilico's proprietary generative chemistry platform Chemistry42 for the treatment of COVID-19.

24 Feb 2023

Realistic model explores new treatments for brain tumors

Until now, the use of models to study the barrier that differentiates the circulatory and nervous systems has been either limited or extremely complex. ETH Zurich researchers have created a more accurate model that can also be used to effectively investigate new treatments for brain tumors.

21 Feb 2023

Study reveals important role of Secretin receptor in regulating drinking behavior under thirst

Animals instinctively find and consume water when feeling thirsty in order to restore body fluid osmolality and plasma volume to their set points.

15 Feb 2023

Study charts seasonal and circadian genetic variation across the human body

The daily rotation of Earth and its yearly voyage around the Sun marks the natural rhythm of life on the planet.

14 Feb 2023

Promotional spending share allocated to consumer advertising higher for drugs with low added benefit

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the share of promotional spending allocated to consumer advertising was on average 14.3 percentage points higher for drugs with low added benefit compared to drugs with high added benefit.

8 Feb 2023

UNC research describes another layer to the challenge of HIV latency

When people living with HIV take antiviral therapy (ART), their viral loads are driven so low that a standard blood test cannot detect the virus.

1 Feb 2023

Flexible copper sensor detects heavy metals in sweat

Heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are present in batteries, cosmetics, food and other things that are part of everyday life.

24 Jan 2023

FSU study shows the transgenerational transmission of aspartame-induced anxiety in mice

Florida State University College of Medicine researchers have linked aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in nearly 5,000 diet foods and drinks, to anxiety-like behavior in mice.

9 Dec 2022

Microglial cells trigger inflammatory protective mechanisms in the immune system

Microglia, the brain’s own immune cells, are present in the central nervous system.

1 Dec 2022

Acute infection disrupts the healthy balance between the good and bad gut microbes

Rutgers researchers examined the impact of COVID-19 on patients’ microbiomes, the group of microbes that live in and on the human body.

From Rutgers University 30 Nov 2022

A more efficient way to deliver gene therapies to the CNS

For gene therapy, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a formidable obstacle. The BBB, which is made up of cells that are closely packed together, prevents poisons and pathogens from accessing brain tissue while also blocking potential treatments for diseases that impact the CNS.

12 Oct 2022

New role for huntingtin protein—neuronal regeneration

A recent study led by the University at Buffalo proposes a novel role for the huntingtin protein (HTT), which leads to Huntington’s disease when mutated.

28 Sep 2022

Common genetic variants associated with beat synchronization identified

The first large-scale genomic study of musicality revealed 69 genetic variations linked with beat synchronization, which denotes the ability to move in time with the beat of the music.

From Vanderbilt University 20 Sep 2022

Interactions between plasma miRNAs and cognitive performance in males

Cognitive decline brought on by aging is a precursor to dementias like Alzheimer’s and can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to carry out essential daily tasks.

16 Sep 2022

Characterizing the transcription profile of microglia in a mouse model

Researchers from Tohoku University have now shown that the consolidation and extinction of contextual fear conditioning alter the microglial genes connected to the synapse—structures that permit neurons to communicate with one another.

13 Sep 2022

Spatial transcriptomic data highlights the features of the axolotl brain

The first spatiotemporal cellular atlas of axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) brain growth and regeneration, created by a multi-institute research team under the direction of BGI-Research, reveals how brain damage may recover itself.

8 Sep 2022

Scientists discover latent stem cells that respond to injury in the central nervous system of mice

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute have identified a group of latent stem cells that respond to injury in the central nervous system of mice. If a similar type of cell exists in humans, they could offer a new therapeutic approach to treat brain and spinal cord injuries.

23 Aug 2022

Researchers capture images of antibodies attacking neuron receptors using Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility

Scientists have for the first time photographed an autoantibody coupled to a receptor on the surface of a nerve cell using the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility at UT Southwestern.

14 Jul 2022