Researchers generate a brain cell type crucial to support neural activity
The loss of oligodendrocytes (OLs) - highly specialised cells of the brain that produce myelin, an essential structure enabling an efficient transmission of electrical signals and the support of neural activity - is a frequent condition in patients suffering neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers of the Department of Cellular Biology, Genetics and Physiology of the University of Malaga (UMA) have succeeded in generating human OLs from pluripotent stem cells derived from patients with nervous system diseases, specifically multiple sclerosis or ALS.
Drivers warned about speed in effort to tackle leading cause of TBI
Drivers are being urged to reduce their speed on the roads to avoid the potential for crashes - the estimated cause of up to 50 per cent of traumatic brain injuries.
New research has revealed the extent of the problem of speeding on the UK’s roads, with a third of all drivers admitting having been in a vehicle which has exceeded 100mph. More than a quarter of men - 28 per cent - said they had driven at such a speed on a public road, compared to 9 per cent of women, with those in the 25 to 34 year old bracket being the most prolific offenders, research from road safety charity Brake has revealed.
The stroke survivor turned rehab provider
When Mark Fricker suffered a stroke aged just 32, the lack of access to dedicated rehabilitation inspired him to retrain as a stroke rehab specialist. Here, he shares his inspirational story
Mark Fricker is very matter-of-fact about the impact of his stroke.
“I view it as a positive moment in my life,” he says.
Brain injury and stroke course developed to help nurses
A first-of-its-kind course for nurses to enhance their capability in supporting patients recovering from brain injuries and strokes has been developed.
The online course, which is open to applications from around the world, enables registered nurses to study part-time while continuing their clinical roles, and will enable them to develop integrated brain, body and mind specialist skills, which are urgently needed in neurological rehabilitation.
COVID effects on the brain study searching for participants
Neuroscientists exploring the lasting impacts of COVID-19 on the brain are recruiting participants for a study which has been created to provide answers for healthcare professionals and improved care for millions of patients across the world.
The COVID-19 Brain Study is looking to find 50,000 people globally who received a confirmed positive diagnosis of the virus, in order to answer some of the main questions about the disease’s direct and indirect effects on the brain.
The study, which has been translated into three languages, hopes to break new ground in understanding the neurological impact of COVID-19, which so far remains largely unknown.
