Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehabilitation.
Research news
Nerve fibres in human skin help communicate external stimuli
Dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain, is mostly known for its role in how we experience pleasure and reward. However, new research from the Champalimaud Foundationhas shifted the spotlight towards dopamine’s critical involvement in movement, with implications for our understanding and treatment of symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease. The findings show that dopamine signals directly affect the length of movement sequences, taking us a step closer to unlocking new therapeutic targets for enhancing motor function in the condition.
Drug-free depression treatment for NHS clinicians
An NHS trial is being expanded to offer a drug-free treatment for depression for NHS clinicians with the condition. The trial will see front-line NHS clinicians gain access to transcranial direct current stimulation treatment from Flow Neuroscience.
Memory strongly influenced by brain waves
In a new study a team of researchers have deepened understanding of the neuronal basis of spatial memory, demonstrating that during spatial memory tasks, different types of nerve cells activate in unison, coordinated by brain waves known as “ripples.” This findings show the process of how our brains link locations to objects, a fundamental aspect of associative memory that can deteriorate in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. The findings pave the way for potential new treatments for memory impairments.
Company and financial neuro-rehab news
Cancer and Neuroscience Led 2023 VC, M&A Investment in Biopharma
BioSpace reports that 2023 saw significant investment for the oncology and neurosciences spaces—a trend experts expect to continue into 2024 and beyond, thanks to a fourth-quarter push lifting the neuroscience space to the second spot in terms of revenue generated from M&A activity in 2023, according to an IQVIA report.
Technology
Neogap is granted patent for MS treatment and diagnosis
Swedish biotechnology company Neogap Therapeutics, which develops personalised immunotherapy, has been granted a patent in Australia for an innovative method that opens new possibilities in the treatment and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The patent strengthens Neogap’s strategic intellectual property portfolio and marks an important step in the company’s efforts to develop groundbreaking treatments for autoimmune diseases such as MS.
Neural prosthetic device can help humans restore memory
A team of scientists from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the University of Southern California have demonstrated the first successful use of a neural prosthetic device to recall specific memories. The researchers hope the technology can be refined to help people live independently by helping them recall critical information such as whether medication has been taken or whether a door is locked.
