Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehabilitation.
Research news
Climbing the social ladder slows dementia
Upward social mobility may ward off dementia, according to a new study. Dementia, a collective term for conditions marked by memory loss and diminished cognitive functioning, strains healthcare systems and devastates quality of life for patients and their families. Research thus far has found correlations between socioeconomic status (SES) – Parent’s asset, education level, income, and work status – and susceptibility to dementia, and SES changes throughout a person’s life, known as social mobility, seem to influence this risk; however, scientific evidences are lacking.
Certain nutrients may slow brain aging
A new study from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign further signals how specific nutrients may play a pivotal role in the healthy aging of the brain. The team of scientists, led by Aron Barbey, director of the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, with Jisheng Wu, a doctoral student at Nebraska, and Christopher Zwilling, research scientist at UIUC, performed the multimodal study — combining state-of-the-art innovations in neuroscience and nutritional science — and identified a specific nutrient profile similar to the Mediterranean diet in participants who performed better cognitively.
Research unlocks the potential of touch for 3D spatial perception
A new study published in iScience from researchers from the Ivcher Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Technology at Reichman University offer a new perspective towards the plasticity of the brain, and integration of the senses, paving the way for the enhancement of prosthetics and assistive technologies, and even our interactions with virtual and augmented realities. The team developed a novel Touch-Motion Algorithm (TMA) to explore how tactile sensation with a spatial component might allow participants to perceive externalized 3D information. Four experiments were performed in a higher-order ambisonic facility, containing 97 speakers facilitating a 360-degree auditory scene which enabled the researchers to compare auditory capabilities to when using TMA. The results demonstrated that individuals can rapidly learn and localize the trajectories of various sounds moving around them on a 360-degree plane using vibrotactile input to the fingertips, and successfully integrate audio and tactile information in challenging environmental conditions.
Warm climates could lower MS risk
A new discovery has revealed that living in a warmer climate from a young age could lower the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). While it is not yet fully understood what causes MS, the condition has been found to be more common in the northern hemisphere. However, the research has also led to further theories about its origin, making links between contraction of Epstein Barr Virus and the development of MS.
Diet could delay onset of Huntington’s
Diet could be a fundamental factor in delaying the onset of Huntington’s Disease according to a ground breaking new study. The research suggests that a diet high in fibre could have “profound” effects for delaying disease symptoms, finding this type of diet enhanced gastrointestinal function and improved cognition and behaviour.
Company and financial neuro-rehab news
SamaCare secures $17M Series B investment
SamaCare, a cloud-based patient access platform for specialty medications which works with retina, oncology, neurology, and rheumatology practices, today announced that it has closed an oversubscribed $17 million Series B investment round led by new investor Questa Capital. Questa is joined in the round by existing investors Vive Collective and South Park Commons. With this new round, SamaCare will accelerate product development of its one-stop patient access platform that saves healthcare organisations time and resources while ensuring patients receive therapy sooner.
Human Glial Progenitor Cell Transplantation for Huntington’s Disease
Sana Biotechnology has published a paper showing that when healthy wild-type (WT), pluripotent stem cell-derived glial progenitor cells (hGPCs) – the cells that give rise to the glial support cells of the brain – were transplanted into adult mice that had been neonatally transplanted with mutant Huntingtin (mHTT)-expressing hGPCs, the healthy cells outcompeted and eliminated the diseased glia, ultimately repopulating the brain with the healthy transplanted cells. These data establish an additional proof-of-concept for the development of SC379, Sana’s pluripotent stem cell-derived GPC product candidate, as a potential therapy to deliver healthy allogeneic GPCs to patients with certain central nervous system disorders.
Technology news
CIONIC unveils new offerings to address full spectrum of mobility challenges
CIONIC, the neurotech inventor of FDA-cleared bionic clothing to improve walking, strength, and overall mobility, announced significant updates to the Cionic Neural Sleeve experience in its latest software release. The durable leg sleeve is transforming how device-based therapeutics are assisting patients with multiple sclerosis, strokes, spinal cord injuries, and other upper motor neuron diagnoses. The updates include comprehensive progress tracking, as well as a suite of new functional exercises tailored for activities of daily living, designed to help individuals independently perform essential activities like climbing stairs, walking, and getting out of chairs.
