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Showing posts from February, 2020

Wine glass size may influence how much you drink in restaurants

Restaurants serving wine in 370ml glasses, rather than 300ml glasses, sold more wine. However, they tended to sell less when 250ml glasses were used. The same effect was not seen in bars. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/384OYAE

When should you eat to manage your weight? Breakfast, not late-night snacks

Losing weight isn't just a case of restricting the foods or calories you eat, it also comes down to when you eat. Skipping breakfast and snacking late at night delays the body's fat-burning mechanisms. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/397vCfs

Omega-3 fats do not protect against cancer

Studies reveal there is no demonstrable value in people taking omega 3 oil supplements for the prevention or treatment of cancer. Findings reveal there may be a slightly increased risk of men developing prostate cancer following long-term omega 3 consumption. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3cjl2nv

How to Prepare for a Coronavirus Outbreak in the U.S.

Researchers explain how the general public can help protect themselves and those around them from coronavirus. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2VzHXFe

Trouble sleeping? A dose of saffron may help

14mg of saffron extract taken twice a day for twenty-eight days improved quality of sleep in adults who reported sleep disruptions. Patients reported improvement in sleep following just seven days of taking saffron extract. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2wTNAUs

A big coronavirus mystery: What about the children?

Infectious disease experts report between 40% and 70% of adults could become infected with coronavirus during the outbreak. In a new interview, Dr. Lipsitch, head of Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, discusses the risks and spread potential of COVID-19, and addresses how the infection could impact children's' health. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32DvAJL

Spiral T1 Spin-Echo for Routine Postcontrast Brain MRI Exams: A Multicenter Multireader Clinical Evaluation

Editor’s Choice The authors report a multicenter multireader study that was designed to compare spiral with standard-of-care Cartesian postcontrast structural brain MR imaging on the basis of relative performance in 10 metrics of image quality, artifact prevalence, and diagnostic benefit. Seven clinical sites acquired 88 total subjects. For each subject, sites acquired 2 postcontrast MR imaging scans: a spiral 2D T1 spin-echo, and 1 of 4 routine Cartesian 2D T1 spin-echo/TSE scans. Nine neuroradiologists independently reviewed each subject, with the matching pair of spiral and Cartesian scans compared side-by-side, and scored the subject on 10 image-quality metrics. Spiral was superior to Cartesian in 7 of 10 metrics (flow artifact mitigation, SNR, GM/WM contrast, image sharpness, lesion conspicuity, preference for diagnosing abnormal enhancement, and overall intracranial image quality), comparable in 1 of 10 metrics (motion artifacts), and inferior in 2 of 10 metrics (susceptibility...

What is the state of gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease?

First, some basic science to lay the groundwork for this blog post. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is all about dopamine , the chemical neurotransmitter that makes our movements smooth . It is produced by cells in the substantia nigra , a structure in the midbrain . The substantia nigra nerves project to the putamen , one of the structures that make up the basal ganglia , somewhere deep in the brain. The substantia nigra nerves are also called the nigrostriatal nerves because the putamen, along with the caudate nucleus and the nucleus accumbens, form a body called the corpus striatum . The work of these so-called nigrostriatal nerves is to produce and deliver dopamine to the putamen. In summary, the putamen is the playpen of dopamine; it is here that it does its work of smoothening our movements. By BruceBlaus – Own work , CC BY-SA 4.0 , Link In Parkinson’s disease, the nogrostriatal system slowly degenerates, therefore becoming unable to supply enough dopamine to the putamen. Th...

Overdosing on psychedelics improved mental and physical health: Case studies

A recent case study report highlights the effects of LSD overdoses on three women, revealing the subjects experienced improvements in physical and mental health following their overdoses. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32A2s6g

Our own immune cells damage the integrity of the blood-brain barrier

Microglia initially protects the blood-brain barrier from damage due to systemic inflammation. However, microglia can alter their behavior and increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, thus damaging it. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32AoLsx

Why images may appear closer, or farther, than they actually are

Boundary contraction may be as common as boundary extension, and whether something appears zoomed in or out depends on the properties of the image. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2uFBLRd

Newly identified cellular trash removal program helps create new neurons

Vimentin, a cellular filament, helps neural stem cells to clear damaged and clumped proteins, assisting in neurogenesis. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/38d2LF7

‘Surfing attack’ hacks Siri, Google with ultrasonic waves

Ultrasound can propagate through solid surfaces and activate voice recognition systems, allowing the person who initiates the attack to also hear the phone's response. Out of 17 different phone models tested, 15 were vulnerable to ultrasonic wave attacks. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2TbW6XP

How sound and visual effects on slot machines increase the allure of gambling

People prefer to play virtual slot machines that provide casino-related cues, such as the sound of coins dropping or symbols of dollar signs. Cues associated with money and winning makes virtual slot machines more attractive and bigger wins more memorable. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3adiEwP

Eating a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables, soy linked to lower stroke risk

Eating a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, soy, and vegetables may have a neuroprotective advantage when it comes to reducing stroke risk. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2I1emfY

Eating fruit during pregnancy boosts babies’ brain development

Eating a diet rich in fruits during pregnancy can help boost brain development in children. Infant rats born to mothers who had their diets supplemented with fruits performed significantly better on cognitive and memory tests than those whose mothers did not consume a diet enriched with fruits. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32H2pWj

Now open – Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment!

This brief video highlights yesterday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the  UF Health  Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment. “Parents who are raising children with autism realize that it takes a village to provide all of the care their children need,” said Dr. Richard E. D’Alli,  University of Florida  child & adolescent psychiatrist.   from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2wh1RtX

Green space can reduce violent crime

Well designed and maintained urban green spaces reduce instances of violent, community-based crimes, specifically gun violence. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2TsGBd0

Eat less, live longer

Calorie restricted diets reduce inflammation, delay the onset of age-related diseases, and extend lifespan, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2wa1QIo

How does the brain put decisions in context?

The anterior lateral motor cortex appears to play a significant role in context-based decision making. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2T5fDcb

Being uncertain about a choice makes a change-of-mind more likely

Changes of mind could be caused by heightened uncertainty about an initial decision. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3aeaUum

Distrust of past experience may underlie obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may place less trust in their previous experiences, increasing uncertainty, indecisiveness, and repetitive behaviors. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2PwNF75

Hearing aids may delay cognitive decline

93% of study participants showed improvement in cognitive and executive function after using a hearing aid. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/384MK4h

Using a cappella to explain speech and music specialization

Using Cappella recordings, researchers discover humans have developed complementary neural systems in each hemisphere for auditory stimuli. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2vdzkWn

The Brain and Climate Change

Increased heat stress as a result of global warming will have a detrimental effect on health and productivity, researchers warn. One major concern is the impact climate change will have on the health of multiple sclerosis patients, due to the clear link between heat and worsening symptoms of the disease. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2TkqOwF

How the brain forms habits

As the brain starts to develop new habits, activity in the dorsolateral striatum increases. As the activity bursts increase, the habit becomes stronger. Inhibiting neural activity with optogenetics reduces habit behaviors in mice. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2w9wdi8

Low fruit and vegetable intakes and higher body fat linked to anxiety disorders

People who consume less than three sources of fruits and vegetables a day have a 24% increased risk of anxiety disorder. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2I3GD5K

Learning difficulties due to poor connectivity, not specific brain regions

Combining neuroimaging data with machine learning technology, researchers discover children with well-connected brain hubs have either very specific cognitive problems, such as poor listening skills, or no cognitive difficulties at all. Children with poorly connected hubs have widespread and severe cognitive difficulties. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2PvRr0F

Printer toner linked to genetic changes and health risks

Rat model study reveals printer toner nanoparticles may change both genetic and metabolic profiles, making disease more likely. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2TmM6tn

Have Your Brain Recharge with Getaway Tiny Cabins

WFAA – Getaway opens tiny cabins outside Dallas, hoping people disconnect from city life   Start at 2:23 A company called Getaway just opened 44 tiny cabins in Larue, Texas, hoping to provide a break for busy people with hectic lives. North Texans can now escape to 44 tiny cabins in the middle of the woods about 90 minutes from Dallas. Getaway Piney Woods just opened a new location in Larue, Texas, to provide a break for busy people with hectic lives. “It’s all about getting off the internet, away from your job, away from the craziness of city life,” said Jon Staff, founder and chief executive officer of Getaway. The company tells guests that cellphone service could be spotty, which is intentional in the secluded locations. There are landlines in case of emergency. Staff said his business started in 2015 as “three cabins in the woods” outside Boston and has expanded to locations outside nine U.S. cities. His goal was to get out of the city but remain close enough to go r...

Diagnosis and Treatment of Parkinson Disease: A Review

Congratulations Drs. Armstrong and Okun on the publication of “ Diagnosis and Treatment of Parkinson Disease: A Review ,” in this month’s issue of JAMA. Abstract Importance   Parkinson disease is the most common form of parkinsonism, a group of neurological disorders with Parkinson disease–like movement problems such as rigidity, slowness, and tremor. More than 6 million individuals worldwide have Parkinson disease. Observations   Diagnosis of Parkinson disease is based on history and examination. History can include prodromal features (eg, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, hyposmia, constipation), characteristic movement difficulty (eg, tremor, stiffness, slowness), and psychological or cognitive problems (eg, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety). Examination typically demonstrates bradykinesia with tremor, rigidity, or both. Dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography can improve the accuracy of diagnosis when the presence of p...

Link between genes and ability to exercise found

Study identifies a genetic mutation that reduces the ability to efficiently exercise. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2uuLREe

Intensive blood pressure control can extend life up to 3 years

Having a blood pressure of less than 120 MM HG can extend a person's lifespan from between six months to three years, depending on how old they were when they began intensive blood pressure control. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2T1x7WO

Vaping alters oral bacteria, increasing infection risk

Vaping e-cigarettes modulates the oral microbiome and increases the abundance of pathobionts. The aerosols in vaping products alter the host response, prompting gum inflammation and making epithelial cells in the mouth susceptible to infection. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32tIfis

Connectedness to nature makes children happier

Connectedness to nature makes children happier due to their tendency to perform sustainable and pro-ecological behaviors. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2wLnxyI

Antioxidant precursor molecule could improve brain function in patients with MS

Multiple sclerosis patients who received N-acetylcysteine treatments had improvements in metabolism in brain areas associated with cognition and attention. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32t6ZaJ

Wildness in urban parks important for human well-being

Experiencing wilderness and natural wildlife in urban parks improves both physical and mental wellbeing. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2PqLimn

Spending time in nature reduces stress

Spending as little as ten minutes in a natural setting can help people feel happier and decrease the effects of both physical and mental stress. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32sN5wg

New study allows brain and artificial neurons to link up over the web

Researchers have created a hybrid neural network where biological and artificial neurons in different parts of the world were able to communicate via the internet through a hub of memristive synapses. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2I0Heox

Anti-psychotic medication linked to adverse change in brain structure

Sustained use of the antipsychotic olanzapine resulted in potentially adverse alterations in brain structure, specifically cortical thinning. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2PHLXjx

Cannabis compound acts as an antibiotic

Cannabigerol (CBG), a non-psychoactive cannabis compound, has antibiotic potential. Treating mice with MRSA, CBG worked as well as vancomycin, a powerful antibiotic, for treating the infection. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/32ufKRG

Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology Seminar Series with Lorena de Mena Alvarez, Ph.D.

THIS WEEK’S  TOPIC “Non-Neural Optogenetics:  A Photon of Possiblities” PRESENTED BY Lorena de Mena Alvarez, PhD Assistant Scientist Department of Neurology Wednesday, February 26, 2020 10:45 am – 11:45 am Cancer & Genetics Research Complex CGRC 133 from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/32rR2Bo

Variables Associated With Brain Resilience and Cognitive Resilience to Pathological Tau in Alzheimer Disease

This cross-sectional, longitudinal study of amyloid-β–positive individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer disease dementia examines the factors associated with interindividual differences in brain and cognitive resilience to tau positron emission tomography load and to changes in global cognition over time. from journals https://ift.tt/38ZMjte

Neuroscience Seminar GMS 7794

This Week’s topic “In vivo magnetic resonance specroscopy: A window into altered neurochemistry and brain metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease” presented by Jamie Near, Ph.D. Thursday, February 27, 2020 9:00 am – 10:00 am McKnight Brain Institute, DeWeese Auditorium, LG 101 from Department of Neurology » College of Medicine » University of Florida https://ift.tt/2HYQzNE

Social anxiety could be an empathy imbalance

Taijin-kyofusho, a form of social anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of causing others discomfort as a result of the sufferer's behavioral reactions, is linked to hypersensitivity of the emotional states of others and an inability to identify emotional context. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/3a4MW4L