Between the ages of 2-4, the human brain has an estimated one quadrillion synapses – the electrical connections between neurons. Pruning out extraneous synapses to enable existing ones to run more efficiently is just as important as forming new cellular connections. An imbalance between synapse formation and removal has been linked to psychiatric disorders, including autism
A study published online Thursday in Brain, a journal of neurology, presents that repetitive hits to the head, separate from or in addition to known concussions, can cause CTE, just as concussions are believed to potentially lead to CTE. The researchers analyzed human brains — from four teenagers and young adults who had been exposed to mild head impact
The damage done to the brain by physical trauma doesn’t end with the initial impact. It triggers a series of harmful molecular and cellular events that lead to a damaging secondary injury. But scientists are learning that the brain’s cannabinoid system is a powerful tool for handling TBIs, which means cannabis could become a promising
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β and tau hyperphosphorylation as well as neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Current AD treatments do not stop or reverse the disease progression. It is unlikely that any drug acting on a single pathway or target will mitigate the complex pathoetiological cascade leading to AD. Therefore,
Published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, a King’s College London clinical trial involving the cannabis compound CBD has shown it may be beneficial in treating psychosis in schizophrenia. While cannabis can pose a risk to people with schizophrenia, this is primarily due to the effects THC, the psychoactive component that can induce paranoia, anxiety and trigger psychosis.
A good night’s sleep and a higher IQ could be achieved by eating fish at least once per week — for children, at least. UPenn researchers analyzed the IQs, fish-eating habits and sleeping patterns of 541 Chinese children aged 9–11 years. They found children who ate fish weekly scored 4.8 points higher on IQ tests
New, unpublished research, presented in November at the annual Society for Neuroscience conference suggests female soccer players experience greater brain damage from heading the ball than men do. The injury occurs in white matter tracts — the long, branch-like nerve fibers, or axons, that extend from neurons, crisscross the brain and connect different regions. The research
Living with TBI is full of challenges for daily living. Here are some problems experienced by an engineer and what he did about them: Physically—I dropped tools and parts out of my left hand because it got weak easily. Mentally—my working memory had completely malfunctioned and I had a short attention span. Visually—I saw everything in double
The link between concussions and brain injury might be a hot topic in the NFL, but at the high school level? Apparently not so much. Overall, only about a third of high school athletes, their coaches and parents know that a concussion is a brain injury, according to a new study by Mayo Clinic researchers.
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers have found a two-way link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and intestinal changes. These interactions may contribute to increased infections in these patients, and may also worsen chronic brain damage. This is the first study to find that TBI in mice can trigger delayed, long-term changes in the
The US DEA continues to stand by a decades-old assertion that cannabisand certain of its derivatives are as dangerous as heroin, in spite of a wealth of increasing evidence revealing that the opposite is true. In a preliminary report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) last month, a non-psychoactive substance in cannabis, cannabidiol, which the US Drug
A new review of existing studies published in the journal JAMA Cardiology, examines the evidence behind the idea that an acute bout of exercise is able to offer immediate protection for the heart against cardiovascular disease through a mechanism called “cardiovascular preconditioning.” It is a widely accepted fact that exercise protects the heart over time. However, it is less
A constituent of cannabis known as cannabidiol (CBD) could hold promise as a new class of treatment for psychosis, according to King’s College London research showing significant benefits in a clinical trial. This new research – published in the American Journal of Psychiatry – is the first placebo-controlled trial of CBD in patients with psychosis. Antipsychotic drugs have been
Military service exposes soldiers to a unique set of physical challenges, including toxic chemicals and traumatic brain injury, which can have profound effects on their health and well-being. New research examines the effects of military-related brain disorders and possible paths toward treatment, as well as a potential way to harness our brain’s learning capabilities to
Omega fatty acids are an ‘effective and safe treatment’ for children with ADHD, a major review of clinical trials has concluded. Omegas, found in oily fish, are important for brain health and learning – and low intakes have been linked with poor social behavior and communication. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty maintaining attention, impulsive
People with lupus may fare better if they have enough vitamin D and omega-3 fats in their diet, preliminary research suggests. At least 1.5 million Americans have the disease, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. It mostly strikes women, usually starting in their 20s or 30s. In separate studies, researchers linked the two nutrients —
“The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates functions throughout human physiology, including neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular, autonomic, metabolic, and inflammatory states”, begins the study’s abstract, which was published in-print by the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. “The complex cellular interactions regulated by the ECS suggest a potential for vascular disease and stroke prevention by augmenting central nervous and immune cell
A new Canadian study suggests teenage athletes who sustain concussions may still be experiencing brain changes even after they have been cleared to return to play. Researchers at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine examined 17 bantam hockey players aged 11 to 14 who suffered concussions while playing. They studied MRIs the players received 24 to 72
Ex-professional sportsmen who suffer concussion are more likely to report mental health problems than those who do not, according to new research. It says those who had four or five concussions during their career were 1.5 times more likely to have anxiety, depression or sleep disturbance. The Fifpro study questioned 576 former top-flight footballers, ice hockey and
A new era in sports injury treatment, performance supplements and sports nutrition has arrived. Starting January 1, 2018, athletes around the world will be able to use CBD, for the first time in the history of competitive sports. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) just removed hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) from its 2018 List of Prohibited Substances, freeing
