nerve cells
Feet first? Old mitochondria might be responsible for neuropathy in the extremities
The burning, tingling pain of neuropathy may affect feet and hands before other body parts because the powerhouses of nerve cells that supply the extremities age and become dysfunctional as they complete the long journey to these areas, Johns Hopkin…
Silk moth’s antenna inspires new nanotech tool with applications in Alzheimer’s research
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—By mimicking the structure of the silk moth’s antenna, University of Michigan researchers led the development of a better nanopore—a tiny tunnel-shaped tool that could advance understanding of a class of neurodegenerative di…
ISU research raises hope for solving Parkinson’s disease puzzle
AMES, Iowa – A protein pathway that may hold the secret to understanding Parkinson’s disease has been discovered and explained by Iowa State University researchers.
Anumantha Kanthasamy, a distinguished professor of biomedical sciences and t…
Immune molecule regulates brain connections
The number of connections between nerve cells in the brain can be regulated by an immune system molecule, according to a new study from UC Davis. The research, published Feb. 27 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, reveals a potential link between i…
2 drugs protect hearing better than 1
Whether on a battlefield, in a factory or at a rock concert, noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common hazards people face.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a low-dose, two-drug cockta…
A new clue to the genetics of bipolar disorder: Piccolo
Philadelphia, PA, 23 February 2011 – Understanding the genetics of bipolar disorder could lead to new treatments, but identifying specific genetic variations associated with this disorder has been challenging.
A new study in Biological Psychiatry…
Rewrite the textbooks
Neurons are complicated, but the basic functional concept is that synapses transmit electrical signals to the dendrites and cell body (input), and axons carry signals away (output). In one of many surprise findings, Northwestern University scientist…
Partnership of genes affects the brain’s development
The human brain consists of approximately one hundred billion nerve cells. Each of these cells needs to connect to specific other cells during the brain’s development in order to form a fully functional organism. Yet how does a nerve cell know w…
Living in the matrix: Sugar residues regulate growth and survival of nerve cells
Brain and spinal cord comprise more than just nerve cells. The extracellular matrix, a complex scaffold of proteins with sugar residues, surrounds the cells and influences their well-being. Prof. Wiese’s team is interested in the interaction of …
Malaria medication may help against 1 type of frontotemporal dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is caused by a breakdown of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal region of the brain (fronto-temporal lobe), which leads to, among other symptoms, a change in personality and behavior. The cause of some forms of frontotemp…
Cancer drug aids the regeneration of spinal cord injuries
After a spinal cord injury a number of factors impede the regeneration of nerve cells. Two of the most important of these factors are the destabilization of the cytoskeleton and the development of scar tissue. While the former prevents regrowt…