Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehab.
Research
Better nutrition can lead to better brain health
A new paper explores nutritional choices that have been shown to improve cognition and decrease the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults.
Consumption of a healthful diet is a behavioural strategy that can help to prevent the development of dementia as people age, the publication says. It also reports on the roles of vitamins and minerals in nutrition and brain function and focuses on how to implement person-centred conversations about the impact of diet and nutrition on overall wellness, including brain health.
Immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease shows promise
The new generation of Alzheimer’s drugs — the first proven to change the course of the disease — work by tagging amyloid for clearance by the brain’s immune cells. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have found a different way to remove the noxious plaques: by directly mobilising immune cells to consume them.
In a study researchers showed that activating immune cells called microglia with an antibody reduces amyloid plaques in the brain and mitigates behavioural abnormalities in mice with Alzheimer’s-like disease.
Scientists reveal overlooked protein’s role in traumatic brain injury
In a new study, scientists found a protein, TDP-43, that appears to drive nerve damage right after injury. Moreover, blocking a certain cell surface protein can correct faulty TDP-43 and curb nerve death in mouse and human cells.
New insight into the future understanding of MS
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have developed a unique blood test to measure the immune response to the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) which is the leading risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Their findings have implications for future basic research in further understanding the biology of EBV in MS, but also have the potential to be applied in clinical trials that target the virus.
Organoids reveal how to protect the brain following TBI
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can quadruple your risk for developing dementia and increase your chances of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. In a new study published in Cell Stem Cell, USC scientists use lab-grown human brain structures known as organoids to offer insights into why this is the case and how to mitigate the risk.
Scientists receive $850,000 for novel research on spinal cord injury
Scientists from Kessler Foundation have received two significant research grants from Craig H. Neilsen Foundation aimed at studying challenges faced by individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Totaling $850,000, these grants will fuel groundbreaking investigations into understanding the social determinants of health experienced by racial/ethnic groups during wheelchair breakdowns and using real-time data to identify the impact of transportation insecurity in the lives of people with chronic SCI.
Company updates
RapidPulse™ ‘safe and effective’ for ischemic stroke large vessel occlusions
Results from a multi-centre trial give promise to the use of precise cyclic aspiration in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Researchers compared their ability to restore blood flow in AIS patients using standard (also known as static) aspiration to an innovative, patented, new technology from RapidPulse which precisely cycles aspiration to increase the removal rate of blood clots in the brain.
BrainsWay highlights potential of Deep TMS™ in Parkinson’s
BrainsWay has announced results from a review article exploring the potential efficacy of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS™) as a novel therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s. Clinical data from multiple trials showed improvements in both motor and non-motor symptoms.
myTomorrows x Brainstrust
Global health technology company, myTomorrows has announced a new partnership with brainstrust, a UK-based charity that helps people living with a brain tumour reach their potential and thrive. Under the new partnership, people with brain tumours will be equipped with the means to bolster their knowledge of relevant treatment options, potentially extending to participation in clinical trials and access to pre-approval drugs.
