NEURO

On average, cannabis users weight 2 pounds less, and have a lower BMI, than those who do not consume marijuana. The findings contradict the popular belief that those who get the munchies after using the substance gain more weight. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2Dpn6uv

The metabolite cotinine may be amplifying, or contributing to, the addictive properties of nicotine, researchers report. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2IuG2vY

Study identifies 104 high-risk genes for schizophrenia. One gene considered high-risk is also suspected in the development of autism. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2UpnmPX

Skin cells may hold the key to explaining why women are more prone to developing autoimmune diseases, such as lupus than men. Researchers found women have more VGLL3 in their skin cells than men. VGLL3 pushes the immune system into overdrive, resulting in the 'self-attacking' autoimmune response, the mouse study revealed. Findings strongly implicate VGLL3 as a pivotal catalyst in sex-based autoimmunity. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2GvY8LN

Phase 2 trial results suggest the possibility of a treatment that may regenerate brain cells following TBI. from Front page feed http://bit.ly/2Xtilb0

Neurons in the motor cortex of rats fall into two categories, those that are externally focused and relay information to other parts of the body, and those that are internally focused. When inhibition is increased, the externally focused neurons switch to internally focused cells. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2IHXIDK

Light physical activity has positive benefits for brain health as we age. Spending an hour participating in light intensity physical activity was associated with the equivalent of 1.1 years less brain aging. Every additional hour spent exercising was linked to higher brain volume. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2GxsA8t

Reduced connectivity between the amygdala and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex has been identified in children on the autism spectrum who exhibit disruptive behaviors, compared to those on the spectrum who do not. Findings suggest this distinct brain network could be independent of core autism symptoms. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2VTLT12

Primum Non Nocere. In practice, “First do no harm” might be more accurately stated “First do no relative harm.” Medications have side effects and surgeries have complications, but an ethical physician counsels a patient on a course of treatment in which the benefits outweigh the risks. Neurologists who prescribe disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) know this all too well. While DMT can slow disease progression, these medications can produce significant and sometimes dangerous side effects. Here balancing risks and benefits to “do no harm” is not a simple or straightforward task. For this reason, the American Academy of Neurology released guidelines for the use of DMT in MS in 2002, with updates to the guidelines released in April of 2018. They offer significant guidance on starting, switching, and stopping patients, with a heavy emphasis on counseling patients. The guidelines recommend stopping DMT in patients who do not have ongoing relapses (or gado...

It has been estimated that between 40% and 60% of patients with PD use at least one form of complementary medicine. In this podcast, neurologist Sarah Mulukutla, MD, MPH talks about CAM options for neurologists to discuss with their patients. from Front page feed http://bit.ly/2ULfFs6

Antidepressants, such as the SSRI amitriptyline, antibiotics associated with developmental problems and sun cream components are contaminating water, and are being accumulated in fish. Exposure to the medications has effects on the molecular level to the fish. Researchers say this poses a problem as consumption of gilt-head bream is on the rise, and there could be a risk of the contaminants reaching humans via diet. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2Xolfh6

Perception is founded on Bayesian principles, even though the brain's execution of strategies appears to be imperfect. Researchers say the view perception is an imperfect Bayesian inference can provide a middle ground between traditional and anti-Bayesian models. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2GpzyuQ

Felodipine, a common hypertension medication, induces autophagy and clears aggregate-prone proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The study reveals the drug clears mutant alpha-synuclein in the brains of mice at plasma concentrations to those seen in humans taking the medication. Felodipine appears to have some neuroprotective properties in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2KY9dJM

Study reveals anesthesia activated neurons have been discovered in the hypothalamus. Activation of AANs promotes slow-wave sleep, extending the effects of anesthesia, while inhibition of AANs shortens the duration of general anesthetics and disrupts natural sleep. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2Xn4faT

Children as young as five use facial appearance to determine meaningful judgements and expectations of the behavior of others. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2KKxUJB

A new game theory model demonstrates how superstitious beliefs become established in a society's social norms. The model shows how distinct belief systems can evolve as a coordinated set of behaviors which are enforced by a consistent set of social norms. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2UKJjho

Two new studies report the time of day is a major modifier of exercise capacity, amplifying the impact exercise has on metabolic pathways and energy homeostasis. Evening exercise, researchers report, has the most productive effect. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2GppL7Y

Studies in fish and mice found genome-wide changes in the gene expression of patterns in the skin, brains and liver following exposure to white fluorescent light. Both the skin and brains exhibited increased inflammation and immune response following exposure. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2V1SxoT

Researchers improved the performance of natural language processing technology to increase recognization of names associated with characters in Game of Thrones, and other literature, from 7% to 90%. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2GuahRB

A study in mouse models of multiple sclerosis demonstrates a compound called sobetirome promotes remyelination, and a derivative of the compound can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to enable a tenfold increase in infiltration to the CNS. Researchers are confident their research will translate from mice into humans, providing a new avenue of treatment for MS. from Neuroscience News Updates http://bit.ly/2ZjunW6