ScienceDaily: Disability News

Obesity associated with hearing loss in adolescents

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:07:07 EDT

Obese adolescents are more likely than their normal-weight counterparts to have hearing loss, according to results of a new study. Findings showed that obese adolescents had increased hearing loss across all frequencies and were almost twice as likely to have unilateral (one-sided) low-frequency hearing loss.

Testing method promising for spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:28:28 EDT

A medical test previously developed to measure a toxin found in tobacco smokers has been adapted to measure the same toxin in people suffering from spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis, offering a potential tool to reduce symptoms.

Greater convenience and safety for wheelchair users

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:20:20 EDT

With modern communication aids, users of electric powered wheelchairs can operate a PC and cellphone without human assistance. A new module is set to transform electric powered wheelchairs into communication hubs.

New molecular-level understanding of the brain's recovery after stroke

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:44:44 EDT

A specific MicroRNA, a short set of RNA (ribonuclease) sequences, naturally packaged into minute (50 nanometers) lipid containers called exosomes, are released by stem cells after a stroke and contribute to better neurological recovery according to a new animal study. The research provides fundamental new insight into how stem cells affect injured tissue and also offers hope for developing novel treatments for stroke and neurological diseases, the leading cause of long-term disability in adult humans.

Helping to restore balance after inner ear disorder

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:41:41 EDT

A new study makes the first attempts to design and test a vestibular prosthesis to help restore balance for those with Meniere's disease. Many disorders of the inner hear which affect both hearing and balance can be hugely debilitating and are currently largely incurable. Cochlear implants have been used for many years to replace lost hearing resulting from inner ear damage. However, to date, there has not been an analogous treatment for balance disorders resulting from inner ear disease.

Fingernails reveal clues to limb regeneration

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:25:25 EDT

Mammals possess the remarkable ability to regenerate a lost fingertip, including the nail, nerves and even bone. In humans, an amputated fingertip can sprout back in as little as two months, a phenomenon that has remained poorly understood until now. Biologists now shed light on this rare regenerative power in mammals, using genetically engineered mice to document for the first time the biochemical chain of events that unfolds in the wake of a fingertip amputation.

Hearing loss clue uncovered

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:38:38 EDT

Researchers have discovered how hearing loss in humans is caused by a certain genetic mutation.

Traumatic brain injury patients treated with anti-spasm agent partially recover from disorders of consciousness

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:29:29 EDT

Two traumatic brain-injury patients steadily emerged from minimally conscious state after receiving intrathecal baclofen therapy.

Two-step mechanism of inner ear tip link regrowth

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:46:46 EDT

A team of researchers is the first to show, in mice, an unexpected two-step process that happens during the growth and regeneration of inner ear tip links. Tip links are extracellular tethers that link stereocilia, the tiny sensory projections on inner ear hair cells that convert sound into electrical signals, and play a key role in hearing. The discovery offers a possible mechanism for potential interventions that could preserve hearing in people whose hearing loss is caused by genetic disorders related to tip link dysfunction.

Hearing loss in older adults tied to more hospitalizations and poorer physical and mental health

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:18:18 EDT

Older adults with hearing loss are more likely than peers with normal hearing to require hospitalization and suffer from periods of inactivity and depression, according to new results.

Exercise for stroke patients' brains

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:09:09 EDT

Researchers found that while the typical brain responded to the visual stimulus with activity in cortical motor regions that are generally activated when we watch others perform actions, in the stroke-affected brain, activity was strongest in these regions of the damaged hemisphere, and strongest when stroke patients viewed actions they would have the most difficulty performing.

Neurostimulation lowers need for opioids in chronic pain

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:40:40 EDT

Scientists have created the first consensus guidelines for the use of neurostimulation, an established and growing therapy for chronic pain and other conditions.

Diminished balance found in those with poor vision

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:08:08 EDT

Researchers have found that visually impaired individuals and those with uncorrected refractive error -- those who could benefit from glasses to achieve normal vision but don't wear glasses -- have a significantly greater risk of diminished balance with their eyes closed on a compliant, foam surface than individuals with normal vision.

How brain circuits can become miswired during development

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:51:51 EDT

Researchers have uncovered a mechanism that guides the exquisite wiring of neural circuits in a developing brain -- gaining unprecedented insight into the faulty circuits that may lead to brain disorders ranging from autism to mental retardation.

Mapping the brain: Researchers use signals from natural movements to identify brain regions

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:05:05 EDT

Whether we run to catch a bus or reach for a pen: Activities that involve the use of muscles are related to very specific areas in the brain. Traditionally, their exact location has only been determined through electrical stimulation or unnatural, experimental tasks. A team of scientists has now succeeded for the first time in mapping the brain's surface using measurements of everyday movements.

Neuronal regeneration and the two-part design of nerves

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:07:07 EDT

Researchers have evidence that a single gene controls both halves of nerve cells, and their research demonstrates the need to consider that design in the development of new treatments for regeneration of nerve cells.

Sensitive new microphone modeled on fly ear

Thu, 30 May 2013 15:28:28 EDT

Using the sensitive ears of a parasitic fly for inspiration, a group of researchers has created a new type of microphone that achieves better acoustical performance than what is currently available in hearing aids.

New treatment for stroke set to increase chances of recovery

Wed, 29 May 2013 11:12:12 EDT

Researchers have completed a landmark study which has revealed a new way to treat strokes caused by bleeding inside the brain.

Stem cell injections improve spinal injuries in rats

Mon, 27 May 2013 23:18:18 EDT

Scientists report that a single injection of human neural stem cells produced neuronal regeneration and improvement of function and mobility in rats impaired by an acute spinal cord injury.

Molecule that triggers sensation of itch discovered

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:33:33 EDT

Scientists report they have discovered in mouse studies that a small molecule released in the spinal cord triggers a process that is later experienced in the brain as the sensation of itch.

First successful treatment of pediatric cerebral palsy with autologous cord blood: Awoken from a persistent vegetative state

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:18:18 EDT

Medics have succeeded in treating cerebral palsy with autologous cord blood. Following a cardiac arrest with severe brain damage, a two-and-a-half year old boy had been in a persistent vegetative state -- with minimal chances of survival. Just two months after treatment with the cord blood containing stem cells, the symptoms improved significantly; over the following months, the child learned to speak simple sentences and to move.

Regenerating spinal cord fibers may be treatment for stroke-related disabilities

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:18:18 EDT

A new study finds "substantial evidence" that a regenerative process involving damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord could hold the key to better functional recovery by most stroke victims. The findings may offer new hope to those who suffer stroke, the leading cause of long-term disability in adults.

Costs to treat stroke in America may double by 2030

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

Stroke costs are predicted to more than double in the next 20 years. Americans 45-64 years old are expected to have the highest increase in stroke incidence.

Do salamanders' immune systems hold the key to regeneration?

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:37:37 EDT

Salamanders' immune systems are key to their remarkable ability to regrow limbs, and could also underpin their ability to regenerate spinal cords, brain tissue and even parts of their hearts, scientists have found. In new research, scientists have found that when immune cells known as macrophages were systemically removed, salamanders lost their ability to regenerate a limb and instead formed scar tissue.

Echolocation: Blind people have the potential to use their 'inner bat' to locate objects, study finds

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

New research shows that blind and visually impaired people have the potential to use echolocation, similar to that used by bats and dolphins, to determine the location of an object. The study examined how hearing, and particularly the hearing of echoes, could help blind people with spatial awareness and navigation.

New approach to improving treatment for MS and other conditions

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS.

Brain makes call on which ear is used for cell phone

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:16:16 EDT

If you're a left-brain thinker, chances are you use your right hand to hold your cell phone up to your right ear, according to a newly published study. The study shows a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used to listen to a cell phone.

Study brings greater understanding of tumor growth mechanism

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:55:55 EDT

A new study has for the first time revealed how the loss of a particular tumor suppressing protein leads to the abnormal growth of tumors of the brain and nervous system.

Novel brain training device to reconnect brain and paralyzed limb after stroke

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:48:48 EDT

The world’s first Brain Training Device has given a ray of new hope to the recovery of survivors after stroke. This novel device can detect brainwave and control the movement of paralyzed limbs.

Reversing paralysis with a restorative gel

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

Scientists have invented a method for repairing damaged peripheral nerves using a biodegradable implant along with a newly-developed gel that increases nerve growth and healing, ultimately restoring function to a torn or damaged nerve. The therapy is only a few years away from clinical use, say the researchers.

Sense of touch reproduced through prosthetic hand

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:38:38 EDT

Neurobiologists have shown how an organism can sense a tactile stimulus, in real time, through an artificial sensor for the first time.

Dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain discovered

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:21:21 EDT

By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists have discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.

Discovery may help prevent chemotherapy-induced anemia

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:58:58 EDT

Researchers have discovered that chemo induces a type of nerve damage inside bone marrow that can cause delays in recovery after bone marrow transplantation. The findings suggest that combining chemotherapy with nerve-protecting agents may prevent long-term bone marrow injury.

Childhood disability rate jumps 16 percent over past decade

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

More children today have a disability than a decade ago, and the greatest increase is among kids in higher-income families, according to a new study.

Human brain cells developed in lab, grow in mice

Fri, 03 May 2013 23:03:03 EDT

A key type of human brain cell developed in the laboratory grows seamlessly when transplanted into the brains of mice, researchers have discovered, raising hope that these cells might one day be used to treat people with Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease, as well as and complications of spinal cord injury such as chronic pain and spasticity.

Adult cells transformed into early-stage nerve cells, bypassing the pluripotent stem cell stage

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:17:17 EDT

Scientists have converted skin cells from people and monkeys into a cell that can form a wide variety of nervous-system cells — without passing through the do-it-all stage called the induced pluripotent stem cell, or iPSC.

Five 'sudden symptoms' of stroke: Recognizing these could save a life – even a young life

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:35:35 EDT

Quickly recognizing the signs of stroke and seeking immediate medical care from stroke specialists can minimize the effects of the disease or even save a life. Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and the No. 1 cause of adult disability. Nearly 20 percent of strokes occur in people younger than age 55.

Gentle touch and the bionic eye: Using haptics to improve outcomes for people given visual prosthetics

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:51:51 EDT

Normal vision is essentially a spatial sense that often relies upon touch and movement during and after development. Training with haptic, touch, technology could improve outcomes for the blind children and older people fitted with visual prosthetic devices.

Neon exposes hidden ALS cells

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:43:43 EDT

A small group of neurons in the cortex play a big role in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal disease. But the neurons have been difficult to study because they look so similar to others in the cortex. New research has isolated the brain's motor neurons that die in ALS and dressed them in a green fluorescent jacket. Now scientists can easily find them to study why they die and how to save them.

Bone marrow stromal cell treatment improves functional outcome, helps repair biostructural damage from traumatic brain injury

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:11:11 EDT

Results show positive impact that bone marrow stromal cell therapy can have for those suffering from certain types of traumatic brain injuries.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes for children born extremely preterm

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:57:57 EDT

Scientists conducted a study to assess neurological and developmental outcome in extremely preterm (less than 27 gestational weeks) children at 2.5 years.

Microglia can be derived from patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells and may help modulate the course of central nervous system diseases

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:59:59 EDT

Overall importance of microglia in various brain and spinal cord diseases surprises researchers, who find patient-specific stem cells can be turned into microglia, which could be very useful in future treatment options.

Promising results from first U.S. clinical trial for stem cell-based treatment of ALS

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:55:55 EDT

Researchers who completed the first American clinical trial involving stem cell-based treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) were encouraged by the trial study's results, noting that this delivery approach could be a helpful therapeutic approach for other traumatic spine-related problems.

Computer game could improve sight of visually impaired children

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:13:13 EDT

Visually impaired children could benefit from a revolutionary new computer game being developed by a team of neuroscientists and game designers.

Slow walking speed linked with premature death in kidney disease patients

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:39:39 EDT

Kidney disease patients who have slower walking speed on physical performance tests seem to be more burdened by their disease than patients who perform well on lower extremity physical performance tests, according to a new study. The findings indicate that measuring lower extremity physical performance may capture a complex set of skeletal muscle and neurologic impairments that develop in CKD patients and substantially affect their survival.

Concert cacophony: Short-term hearing loss can be protective, not damaging, researchers find

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:23:23 EDT

Contrary to conventional wisdom, short-term hearing loss after sustained exposure to loud noise does not reflect damage to our hearing: Instead, it is the body's way to cope. The landmark finding could lead to improved protection against noise-induced hearing loss in future.

Skin cells turned directly into the cells that insulate neurons

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

Researchers have succeeded in transforming skin cells directly into oligodendrocyte precursor cells, the cells that wrap nerve cells in the insulating myelin sheaths that help nerve signals propagate. The current research was done in mice and rats. If the approach also works with human cells, it could eventually lead to cell therapies for diseases like inherited leukodystrophies -- disorders of the brain's white matter -- and multiple sclerosis, as well as spinal cord injuries.

Scientists create phantom sensations in non-amputees

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:56:56 EDT

The sensation of having a physical body is not as self-evident as one might think. Almost everyone who has had an arm or leg amputated experiences a phantom limb: a vivid sensation that the missing limb is still present. A new study by neuroscientists in Sweden shows that it is possible to evoke the illusion of having a phantom hand in non-amputated individuals.

Restoring paretic hand function via an artificial neural connection bridging spinal cord injury

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:56:56 EDT

Scientists have investigated the effects of introducing a novel artificial neural connection which bridged a spinal cord lesion in a paretic monkey. This allowed the monkey to electrically stimulate the spinal cord through controlled brain activity and thereby to restore volitional control of the paretic hand.

New method restores grip function more quickly to patients with tetraplegia

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:24:24 EDT

A new method in which a number of operations are performed simultaneously can provide people with tetraplegia with a better grip function and the ability to open their hand. This method also shortens the patient’s rehabilitation period by at least three months, reveals a new research.

Posture provides clue for future disability

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:47:47 EDT

The shape of an individual's spinal column may predict his or her risk for nursing home admission or need of home assistance in old age, according to a new article.

Hot and cold senses interact: Cold perception is enhanced when nerve circuitry for heat is inactivated

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:22:22 EDT

A new study offers new insights into how the nervous system processes hot and cold temperatures. The research found an interaction between the neural circuits that detect hot and cold stimuli: cold perception is enhanced when nerve circuitry for heat is inactivated.

Stem cells fill gaps in bones

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:29:29 EDT

For many patients the removal of several centimeters of bone from the lower leg following a serious injury or a tumor extraction is only the beginning of a long-lasting ordeal. Autologous stem cells have now been found to accelerate and boost the healing process. Surgeons have achieved promising results: without stem cells, it takes on average 49 days for one centimeter of bone to regrow; with stem cells, that period has been reduced to 37 days.

Scientists build material that mimics squid beak: Promising step toward safer, more comfortable implants

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:42:42 EDT

Researchers have turned to an unlikely model to make medical devices safer and more comfortable -- a squid's beak. Many medical implants require hard materials that have to connect to or pass through soft body tissue. This mechanical mismatch leads to problems. But the beak, which boasts a mechanical gradient that can act as a shock absorber, may provide a solution.

Regaining proper hearing at last

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:12:12 EDT

Around 17 million people in Germany suffer from impaired hearing. For many of them, their hearing is so damaged that a standard hearing aid is no longer enough. A new device will improve patients’ hearing and can be implanted during outpatient surgery.

New clues about how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) develops

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:50:50 EDT

Scientists say they have evidence from animal studies that a type of central nervous system cell other than motor neurons plays a fundamental role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal degenerative disease. The discovery holds promise, they say, for identifying new targets for interrupting the disease’s progress.

Pinning down the pain: Schwann cell protein plays major role in neuropathic pain

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:33:33 EDT

Scientists say a key protein in Schwann cells performs a critical, perhaps overarching, role in regulating the recovery of peripheral nerves after injury. The discovery has implications for improving the treatment of neuropathic pain, a complex and largely mysterious form of chronic pain that afflicts over 100 million Americans.

Protecting ears from hearing loss: Primary role of olivocochlear efferent system discovered

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:35:35 EDT

New research may have discovered a key piece in the puzzle of how hearing works by identifying the role of the olivocochlear efferent system in protecting ears from hearing loss.

Major advance in understanding risky but effective multiple sclerosis treatment

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:17:17 EDT

A new study by multiple sclerosis researchers addresses why bone marrow transplantation has positive results in patients with particularly aggressive forms of MS.

Developing our sense of smell

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:06:06 EDT

Biologists have found that neural-crest stem cells--multipotent, migratory cells unique to vertebrates that give rise to facial bones, smooth muscle, and other structures -- also play a key role in building the nose's olfactory sensory neurons, the only neurons that regenerate throughout adult life. Learning how they form may offer insights into how neurons in general can be induced to differentiate or regenerate and new avenues for the treatment of neurological disorders or injury.