Clinicians & therapists

When a neuron in our body gets damaged, segments of RNA produce proteins that can help repair the injury. But in neurological disorders such as ALS and spinal muscular atrophy, or following spinal cord injuries, the mechanisms for moving life-essential RNA to injured sites within the cell fail.  As a result, RNA molecules can’t get [...]

New research has highlighted the experiences of UK ex-Service personnel with dementia who are living in their own homes, and the barriers they have faced in accessing support. The research, funded by Forces in Mind Trust and carried out by the University of Manchester and McMaster University, was the first qualitative study with ex-Service personnel living [...]

After more than half a century, assessment of traumatic brain injuries is getting an overhaul. A new framework has been proposed that clinicians say will lead to more accurate diagnoses and treatment, providing more rigorous care for some patients and preventing premature discussions about halting life support in others. Trauma centres in the US will begin [...]

Symptomatic infection with the virus responsible for cold sores around the mouth–herpes simplex 1, or HSV-1 for short - may have a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, suggests a new study. But treatment with antiviral therapy seems to be linked to a lower risk of this type of dementia, suggesting that treatment to [...]

A groundbreaking collection of four papers has synthesised mounting evidence that microplastics from ultra-processed foods may be accumulating in human brains - and it may potentially be contributing to the rising global rates of depression, dementia, and other mental health disorders. The papers provide the most comprehensive analysis to date of how these tiny plastic [...]

By combining information from many large datasets, researchers have identified several new potential targets for treating or preventing Alzheimer’s disease. The study revealed genes and cellular pathways that haven’t been linked to Alzheimer’s before, including one involved in DNA repair. Identifying new drug targets is critical because many of the Alzheimer’s drugs that have been [...]

A charity which works with young people with disabilities and their families is increasing the support available to them after securing funding to finance a new specialist role in its team. Grace House now has a dedicated Family Support Officer, who will work closely with families to understand their specific needs and look to identify [...]

Researchers have developed a blood test that can identify early signs of Alzheimer’s disease by measuring proteins linked to the condition. The new test, known as Penta-Plex Alzheimer’s Disease Capture Sandwich Immunoassay (5ADCSI), detects five biomarkers simultaneously, which is more than existing blood tests and runs on equipment commonly used in many laboratories. Scientists have [...]

Patients and staff at a charity which looks after people with complex mental health needs have taken the ‘Co-production Pledge’ to ensure patients have an equal say in their care. The pledge – which everyone at St Andrew’s Healthcare is being urged to take - has been created as part of the hospital’s Co-production Framework [...]

A new study has compared inflammation and brain stress responses in Long-Covid patients for the first time, with individuals who have fully recovered. The results show that those with continued brain fog and other cognitive issues have a lower ability to adapt to stress and higher levels of inflammation in their brains.  While previous Long-Covid studies have [...]