ScienceDaily: Brain Injury News

Cause of infantile amnesia revealed: New neuron formation could increase capacity for new learning, at expense of old memories

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:46:46 EDT

New research presented today shows that formation of new neurons in the hippocampus -- a brain region known for its importance in learning and remembering -- could cause forgetting of old memories by causing a reorganization of existing brain circuits. Researchers argue this reorganization could have the positive effect of clearing old memories, reducing interference and thereby increasing capacity for new learning.

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.

Breakthrough on Huntington's disease

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:29:29 EDT

Researchers have succeeded in preventing very early symptoms of Huntington’s disease, depression and anxiety, by deactivating the mutated huntingtin protein in the brains of mice.

Neuroscientists explain how the sensation of brain freeze works

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:53:53 EDT

Brain freeze is practically a rite of summer. It happens when you eat ice cream or gulp something ice cold too quickly. The scientific term is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, but that's a mouthful. Brain freeze is your body's way of putting on the brakes, telling you to slow down and take it easy.

Premature birth interrupts vital brain development processes leading to reduced cognitive abilities in infants

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have for the first time used a novel form of MRI to identify crucial developmental processes in the brain that are vulnerable to the effects of premature birth. This new study shows that disruption of these specific processes can have an impact on cognitive function.

Far-reaching, microvascular damage found in uninjured side of brain after stroke

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:37 EDT

An animal-model study finds far-reaching microvascular damage in the uninjured side of the brain after a stroke. The findings suggest repair of the protective blood-brain barrier may help prevent this breach in the days following the acute injury.

For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 'fear circuitry' in the brain never rests

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:32:32 EDT

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks.

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.

Physicist's tool has potential for brain mapping

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:17:17 EDT

Physicists are developing a new tool that uses low-energy near-infrared light and fiber optics for optogenetic stimulation of cells. He believes it will be a useful tool for mapping physical and functional connections in the brain.

Researchers shocked by new statistics on head injuries among people who are homeless

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:26:26 EDT

Men who are heavy drinkers and homeless for long periods of time have 400 times the number of head injuries as the general population, according to a new study by researchers who said they were shocked by their findings.

Fishing for memories: How long-term memories are processed to guide behavior

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

In our interaction with our environment we constantly refer to past experiences stored as memories to guide behavioral decisions. But how memories are formed, stored and then retrieved to assist decision-making remains a mystery. By observing whole-brain activity in live zebrafish, researchers have visualized for the first time how information stored as long-term memory in the cerebral cortex is processed to guide behavioral choices.

Brain rewires itself after damage or injury, life scientists discover

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:50:50 EDT

The brain forms complex new circuits after damage to compensate for lost function, often far from the damaged region, life scientists report. The new study identified the exact regions of the brain that take over when the brain's hippocampus is damaged, and is the first demonstration of such neural circuit plasticity.

Repeat brain injury raises soldiers' suicide risk

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:39 EDT

Suicide risk is higher among military personnel with more lifetime TBIs, even after controlling for clinical symptom severity. Results of the study show that multiple TBIs, which are common among military personnel, may contribute to increased risk for suicide.

Brain frontal lobes not sole center of human intelligence, comparative research suggests

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:28:28 EDT

Human intelligence cannot be explained by the size of the brain's frontal lobes, say researchers. Research into the comparative size of the frontal lobes in humans and other species has determined that they are not -- as previously thought -- disproportionately enlarged relative to other areas of the brain, according to the most accurate and conclusive study of this area of the brain. It concludes that the size of our frontal lobes cannot solely account for humans' superior cognitive abilities.

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.

Missing link in signals contributes to neurodegeneration

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:13:13 EDT

In many neurodegenerative diseases the neurons of the brain are over-stimulated and this leads to their destruction. After many failed attempts and much scepticism this process was finally shown last year to be a possible basis for treatment in some patients with stroke. But very few targets for drugs to block this process are known.

Weeks after stroke, some patients develop chronic, debilitating pain

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:28:28 EDT

Nearly 1 in 10 stroke patients suffer chronic and debilitating pain, typically described as sharp, stabbing or burning. It is treatable with medications and magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain. But physicians often fail to correctly diagnose the condition.

High school athletes say concussions won't sideline them

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Many high school football players say it's OK to play with a concussion even though they know they are at risk of serious injury, according to a new study.

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.

Gene networks in brains of deceased patients reveal potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Most information about the cause of Alzheimer's is based on studies from animal models. Now, a study examines the brain tissue of deceased human patients and sheds light on dysfunctions in molecular networks in the brain that are at the root of Alzheimer's. By showing that the TYROBP gene plays a key role in disrupting immune system pathways in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, the study reveals a potential therapeutic target for preventing brain damage.

More severe concussion symptoms lead to longer recovery time

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Most children who suffer from sports-related concussions recover within a few days. However, in a small number of children, symptoms can last for a month or more. Although there have been numerous theories as to what might predict a longer recovery time, there is no definitive answer as to why it takes some children longer to recover. Researchers have attempted to identify risk factors that might predispose some children with concussions to longer recovery times.

After brain injury, new astrocytes play unexpected role in healing

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:27:27 EDT

The production of a certain kind of brain cell that had been considered an impediment to healing may actually be needed to staunch bleeding and promote repair after a stroke or head trauma, researchers report.

Mild blast injury causes molecular changes in brain akin to Alzheimer

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:31:31 EDT

Scientists have shown that mild traumatic brain injury after blast exposure produces inflammation, oxidative stress and gene activation patterns akin to disorders of memory processing such as Alzheimer's disease.

Gone, but not forgotten: Scientists recall EP, perhaps the world’s second-most famous amnesiac

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

Neuroscientists have described for the first time, in exhaustive detail, the underlying neurobiology of an amnesiac who suffered from profound memory loss after damage to key portions of his brain.

A noninvasive avenue for Parkinson's disease gene therapy

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:38:38 EDT

Researchers have developed a gene therapy approach that may one day stop Parkinson's disease in it tracks, preventing disease progression and reversing its symptoms. The novelty of the approach lies in the nasal route of administration and nanoparticles containing a gene capable of rescuing dying neurons in the brain.

Stem cell transplant restores memory, learning in mice

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:16:16 EDT

For the first time, human embryonic stem cells have been transformed into nerve cells that helped mice regain the ability to learn and remember.

Hologram-like 3-D brain helps researchers decode migraine pain

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:46:46 EDT

Wielding a joystick and wearing special glasses, a pain researcher rotates and slices apart a large, colorful, 3-D brain floating in space before him.

Aerobic exercise may protect cognitive abilities of heavy drinkers

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:18:18 EDT

Aerobic exercise may help prevent and perhaps even reverse some of the brain damage associated with heavy alcohol consumption, according to a new study.

Doctors freeze nerves to knock chronic pain out cold

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

For the millions of Americans who rely on pain medications for neuralgia, a condition where nerves damaged by surgery, traumatic injury, or diseases such as diabetes cause chronic pain, an emerging non-pharmacological treatment may offer relief. By placing a tiny ball of ice on damaged nerves by way of a minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment called cryoneurolysis, doctors were able to safely short circuit chronic pain caused by nerve damage.

New light shed on traumatic brain injuries

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:14:14 EDT

A new article offers the latest information concerning a "switch" that turns "on" and "off" inflammation in the brain after trauma.

Freezing nerves knocks pain out cold

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:11:11 EDT

Using a tiny ball of ice, a minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment called cryoneurolysis safely short circuits chronic pain caused by nerve damage, according to new data.

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.

Anesthetic linked to brain cell death in newborn mice

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:27:27 EDT

Exposure to the anesthetic agent isoflurane increases "programmed cell death" of specific types of cells in the newborn mouse brain, a new study reports.

Shedding light on a gene mutation that causes signs of premature aging

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:34:34 EDT

Researchers found that mice developed without the ATRX gene had problems in in the forebrain, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory, and in the anterior pituitary which has a direct effect on body growth and metabolism. The mice, unexpectedly, also displayed many of the symptoms associated with aging.

Experts call for research on prevalence of delayed neurological dysfunction after head injury

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:14:14 EDT

One of the most controversial topics in neurology today is the prevalence of serious permanent brain damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Long-term studies and a search for genetic risk factors are required in order to predict an individual's risk for serious permanent brain damage, according to a new review article.

Shift of language function to right hemisphere impedes post-stroke aphasia recovery

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:19:19 EDT

In a study designed to differentiate why some stroke patients recover from aphasia and others do not, investigators have found that a compensatory reorganization of language function to right hemispheric brain regions bodes poorly for language recovery. Patients who recovered from aphasia showed a return to normal left-hemispheric language activation patterns.

New study aims to prevent sports-related brain injury in youngsters

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Ice hockey accounts for nearly half of all traumatic brain injuries among children and youth participating in organized sports who required a trip to an emergency department in Canada, according to a new study.

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.

Researchers scoring a win-win with novel set of concussion diagnostic tools

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

Scientists have developed a tablet-based testing system that captures the voice of an individual and analyzes the speech for signs of a potential concussion anytime, anywhere, in real-time.

DNA damage occurs as part of normal brain activity, scientists discover

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:22:22 EDT

Scientists have discovered that a certain type of DNA damage long thought to be particularly detrimental to brain cells can actually be part of a regular, non-harmful process. The team further found that disruptions to this process occur in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease -- and identified two therapeutic strategies that reduce these disruptions.

Gulf War illness linked to physical changes in brain fibers that process pain

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:28:28 EDT

Researchers have found what they say is evidence that veterans who suffer from "Gulf War Illness" have physical changes in their brains not seen in unaffected individuals. Brain scans of 31 veterans with the illness, compared to 20 control subjects, revealed anomalies in the bundles of nerve fibers that connect brain areas involved in the processing and perception of pain and fatigue.

Brain mapping reveals neurological basis of decision-making in rats

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

Scientists have discovered how memory recall is linked to decision-making in rats, showing that measurable activity in one part of the brain occurs when rats in a maze are playing out memories that help them decide which way to turn. The more they play out these memories, the more likely they are to find their way correctly to the end of the maze.

Explaining how extra virgin olive oil protects against Alzheimer's disease

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:54:54 EDT

The mystery of exactly how consumption of extra virgin olive oil helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may lie in one component of olive oil that helps shuttle the abnormal AD proteins out of the brain, scientists are reporting in a new study.

Test to gauge severity of concussions

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:20:20 EDT

Neurologists have taken a promising step toward identifying a test that helps support the diagnosis of concussion. Their research has shown that autonomic reflex testing, which measures involuntary changes in heart rate and blood pressure, consistently appear to demonstrate significant changes in those with concussion.

Brain tumor cells killed by anti-nausea drug

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:42:42 EDT

New research has shown for the first time that the growth of brain tumors can be halted by a drug currently being used to help patients recover from the side effects of chemotherapy.

Astrocyte signaling sheds light on stroke research

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:47:47 EDT

New research suggests that modifying signals sent by astrocytes, our star-shaped brain cells, may help to limit the spread of damage after an ischemic brain stroke. The study in mice determined that astrocytes play a critical role in the spread of damage following stroke.

Low cognitive score and risk of brain injury linked

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:46:46 EDT

Young men with low cognitive function and low socioeconomic status are significantly more likely to suffer from mild traumatic brain injury than those without, a new study suggests. Current literature suggests that mild traumatic brain injuries cause changes in brain tissues and have important long-term consequences on cognitive function, but new findings suggest that low cognitive function may come first.

Using fat to fight brain cancer: Stem cells from human adipose tissue used to chase migrating cancer cells

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:16:16 EDT

In laboratory studies, researchers say they have found that stem cells from a patient's own fat may have the potential to deliver new treatments directly into the brain after the surgical removal of a glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor.

Brain imaging after mild head injury/concussion can show lesions

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:11:11 EDT

Brain imaging soon after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or mild concussion can detect tiny lesions that may eventually provide a target for treating people with mTBI.

Single concussion may cause lasting brain damage

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:26:26 EDT

A single concussion may cause lasting structural damage to the brain, according to a new study.

No good evidence that mouthguards and helmets ward off concussion

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:11:11 EDT

Mouthguards and helmets can help ward off other serious head and facial injuries, but there is no good evidence that they can help prevent concussion, and paradoxically, they may even encourage players to take greater risks.

Risk of brain damage in college football players, even among those without concussions

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:57:57 EST

Researchers have found that football players may suffer long-term brain changes even in the absence of concussion. In a study of 67 college football players, researchers found that the more hits to the head a player absorbed, the higher the levels of a particular brain protein that's known to leak into the bloodstream after a head injury.

Star-shaped glial cells act as the brain's 'motherboard'

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:47:47 EST

Researchers have found that the star-shape glial cells that act as the brain's "motherboard" also connect different neuronal circuits in various regions of the brain. The research introduces a new framework for making sense of brain communications, aiding our understanding of the diseases and disorders that impact the brain.

Even mild traumatic brain injuries can kill brain tissue

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:05:05 EST

Scientists have watched a mild traumatic brain injury play out in the living brain, prompting swelling that reduces blood flow and connections between neurons to die.

Brain injury may be autoimmune phenomenon, like multiple sclerosis

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:11:11 EST

A new study suggests that brain injury from repeat blows to the head -- observed among football players and soldiers -- might not be a traumatic phenomenon, but an autoimmune phenomenon. It indicates that brain injury may be the result of an out-of-control immune response, much like multiple sclerosis. This is an entirely new way of thinking about how trauma could cause long term degeneration and opens the door to investigating a vaccine/drug to prevent head trauma.

New clues to causes of peripheral nerve damage

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:08:08 EST

Although peripheral neuropathies afflict some 20 million Americans, their underlying causes are not completely understood. Now, scientists have shown that damage to energy factories in Schwann cells, which grow alongside neurons and enable nerve signals to travel from the spinal cord to the tips of the fingers and toes, may play a central role.

People with MS-related memory and attention problems have signs of extensive brain damage

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:22:22 EST

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have cognitive problems, or problems with memory, attention, and concentration, have more damage to areas of the brain involved in cognitive processes than people with MS who do not have cognitive problems, according to a new study.

Flip of a single molecular switch makes an old mouse brain young

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:42:42 EST

The flip of a single molecular switch helps create the mature neuronal connections that allow the brain to bridge the gap between adolescent impressionability and adult stability. Now researchers have reversed the process, recreating a youthful brain that facilitated both learning and healing in the adult mouse.

Computer model may help athletes and soldiers avoid brain damage and concussions

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:57:57 EST

Concussions can occur in sports and in combat, but health experts do not know precisely which jolts, collisions and awkward head movements during these activities pose the greatest risks to the brain. To find out, engineers have developed a powerful new computer-based process that helps identify the dangerous conditions that lead to concussion-related brain injuries. This approach could lead to new medical treatment options and some sports rule changes to reduce brain trauma among players.