Surprising new link between inflammation and mental illness Up to 75 percent of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus — an incurable autoimmune disease commonly known as lupus — experience neuropsychiatric symptoms. But so far, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying lupus’ effects on the brain has remained murky. Surprising new link between inflammation and mental…
People who go to bed late have less control over OCD symptoms A late bedtime is associated with lower perceived control of obsessive thoughts, according to new research. People who go to bed late have less control over OCD symptoms Source: Science Daily Mind & Brain
Genetic modifier for Huntington’s disease progression identified Researchers have developed a novel measure of disease progression for Huntington’s disease, which enabled them to identify a genetic modifier associated with how rapidly the disease progresses. Genetic modifier for Huntington’s disease progression identified Source: Science Daily Mind & Brain
Gene variant protecting against Alzheimer’s disease decreases plasma beta-amyloid levels The APP gene variant protecting against Alzheimer’s disease significantly decreases plasma beta-amyloid levels in a population cohort. This is a very significant discovery, as many on-going drug trials in the field of Alzheimer’s disease focus on decreasing beta-amyloid levels in the brain tissue. According to…
Predicting cognitive deficits in people with Parkinson’s disease Parkinson’s disease is commonly thought of as a movement disorder, but after years of living with the disease, approximately 25 percent of patients also experience deficits in cognition that impair function. A newly developed research tool may help predict a patient’s risk for developing dementia and could…
African plant extract offers new hope for Alzheimer’s A plant extract used for centuries in traditional medicine in Nigeria could form the basis of a new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease, researchers have found. African plant extract offers new hope for Alzheimer’s Source: Science Daily Healthy Aging
What percentage of ALS is genetic? Up to 90 percent of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) report that they have no family history of the disease. Now, new research has found approximately 17 percent of such ALS cases may be caused by a gene mutation, according to a study. What percentage of ALS is…
Serotonin improves sociability in mouse model of autism Scientists have linked early serotonin deficiency to several symptoms that occur in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study examined serotonin levels, brain circuitry, and behavior in a mouse model of ASD. Experiments showed that increasing serotonergic activity in the brain during early development led to more balanced…
Elevated rate of autism symptoms found in children with Tourette syndrome Around one in five children with Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations, met criteria for autism, a study shows. But this prevalence may be more a reflection of similarity in symptoms than actual autism, according to the study’s researchers. …
Genes, ozone, and autism Exposure to ozone in the environment puts individuals with high levels of genetic variation at an even higher risk for developing autism than would be expected just by adding the two risk factors together, a new analysis shows. The study is the first to look at the combined effects of genome-wide…