Medical scientists have developed an advanced method for perfectly detecting low-level somatic mutation in patients with intractable epilepsy. Their study showed that deep sequencing replicates of major focal epilepsy genes accurately and efficiently identified low-level somatic mutations in intractable epilepsy. According to the study, their diagnostic method could increase the accuracy up to 100%, unlike…

People with the genetic condition neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are prone to developing tumors on nervous system tissue. A new study has found that the development and growth of such tumors are driven by nearby noncancerous neurons and immune cells. The findings point to potential new therapeutic targets for people with NF1. Children with the…

Researchers who study how the brain processes sound have discovered the common practice of using artificial tones in perception experiments could mean scientists are overlooking important and interesting discoveries in the field of brain research. The research, published recently in the journal Scientific Reports, is the culmination of a decade of rigorous analysis, in which…

While many of the scientific studies to date have focused on repetitive head trauma leading to the development of abnormal tau, a new study provides insights into white matter changes that may offer new targets for therapies. While many of the scientific studies to date have focused on repetitive head trauma leading to the development…

A preclinical study offers molecular insight into how activated protein C (APC) may improve the tolerance of aging hearts to reperfusion injury — a potentially adverse effect of treatment for ischemic heart disease The research, published online Dec. 21 in Circulation Research, suggests that drugs derived from APC may limit ischemia and reperfusion-induced heart damage…

New work shows that an enzyme inhibitor reduced inflammation in the brains of mice born to mothers with maternal immune activation. Inflammation triggered by the enzyme, soluble epoxide hydrolase, is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in these mice. «Inhibiting that enzyme stops the inflammation and the development of autism-like and schizophrenia-like symptoms in animal models,» said…

A person with drug resistant epilepsy who gets an early surgical intervention has a better chance of becoming seizure free. This is shown in a systematic review and meta-analysis in which researchers analyzed results from a range of previous studies. They concluded that people with drug resistant epilepsy should, as early as possible, be referred…

In clinical trials of adults with Huntington’s disease (HD) the Q-Suite Motor Assessment Tool (Q-Motor) has proven to be helpful to detect and quantitate subtle motor abnormalities. With the anticipated arrival of preventive gene therapies that will most likely be administered to young children known to be carriers of the HD mutation, it is crucial…

While effective drugs against chronic pain are not just around the corner, researchers have succeeded in identifying a protein as a future potential target for medicinal drugs. Basic research shows that blocking a protein named sortilin prevents pain — initially in laboratory mice. The results are based on a decade of basic research, and even…

For the first time, researchers have measured the physical evidence of diminished neural processing within the brain after a stroke. So at her next visit with her doctor, she mentioned her symptoms — and found out she was not alone. Julia is experiencing poststroke acute dysexecutive syndrome (PSADES), a cognitive dysfunction that people commonly experience…