Glia affected by Huntington’s disease respond by tuning down synapse genes, which has a protective effect. This process of adjustment, a result of the brain’s plasticity, or its ability to change or reorganize neural networks, occurs in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease (HD). As the conditions progress, many genes change the…

Researchers have found that a key antibiotic widely used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis does not work as expected — a finding which could be used to develop new drugs. The research, published in Nature Chemical Biology, found that contrary to current understanding, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis is unable to permanently prevent one of…

New research suggests how a newly developed gene therapy can treat Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy, and potentially prolong survival for people with the condition. The gene therapy, developed by Stoke Therapeutics, is now in clinical trials. Because most Dravet syndrome cases are caused by a mutation in the SCN1A gene, resulting in…

People who suffer from both insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from heart problems and are almost 50% more likely to die than those without either condition, say researchers, who advise people being tested for one of the disorders be tested for the other. «Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea are the…

Nearly 78 per cent of children with autism have at least one mental health condition and nearly half have more than that, according to a new study. Mental health conditions were present in 44.8 per cent of pre-school age children with autism — a group among which prevalence had not previously been established using a…

The neurotransmitter dopamine influences the activity of a wide variety of brain areas. A deficiency of this substance can have drastic consequences: The death of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the substantia nigra — a particularly sensitive part of the brain — is what causes the core symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. An international team has now…

Researchers showed that adding gamification with either competition or support increased physical activity for patients with Type 2 diabetes. «Gamification is commonly used in wellness programs and smartphone apps, but often is not designed to incorporate insights on how people behave and have not been well-tested over longer periods,» said the paper’s lead author, Mitesh…

An international team of scientists has completed the largest analysis of stroke-risk genes ever undertaken in people of African descent. A large international team of scientists has completed the largest analysis of stroke-risk genes ever undertaken in individuals of African descent. The new study examined the genomes of more than 22,000 people of African ancestry,…

A study has discovered how late-onset retinal degeneration can develop and a surprising potential therapeutic — metformin. Late-onset retinal degeneration is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by the substitution of a different amino acid in the protein made by the CTRP5 gene. Earlier discoveries by LSU Health Neuroscience researchers on retina lipids that protect sight…

New research reveals that pruritus, or itchy skin, affects a substantial percentage of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study also indicates which patients are more likely to experience pruritus, and demonstrates that pruritus may affect quality of life and sleep. In studies of patients on dialysis, pruritus is common and has various negative…