NIH Researchers Uncover Drain Pipes in Our Brains
By scanning the brains of healthy volunteers, researchers at NIH saw the first, long-sought evidence that our brains may drain some waste out through lymphatic vessels, the body’s sewer system.
Disease Resistance Spread Successfully from Modified to Wild Mosquitoes
Investigators at Johns Hopkins University have engineered GM mosquitoes to have an altered microbiota that suppresses human malaria-causing parasites.
Study Identifies Brain Patterns Underlying Moms’ Responses to Infant Cries
Infant cries activate specific brain regions related to movement and speech, according to an NIH study of mothers in 11 countries. The findings, led by researchers at NICHD, identify behaviors and underlying brain activities that are consistent among mothers from different cultures.
New Targets Revealed for Anti-Malaria Drugs
The deadliest malaria parasite needs two proteins to infect red blood cells and exit the cells after it multiplies, a finding that may provide researchers with potential new targets for drug development, according to researchers funded by NIH.
Study Shows How Memories Ripple Through the Brain
Using an innovative “NeuroGrid” technology, scientists showed that sleep boosts communication between two brain regions whose connection is critical for the formation of memories. The work was partially funded by the BRAIN Initiative.
NIAID Scientists Link Unexplained Anaphylaxis to Red Meat Allergy
Recently, researchers at NIAID found that some patients’ seemingly inexplicable anaphylaxis was actually caused by an uncommon allergy to a molecule found naturally in red meat.
Study of WWII Evacuees Suggests Mental Illness May Pass to Offspring
Mental illness associated with early childhood adversity may be passed from generation to generation, according to a study of adults whose parents evacuated Finland as children during World War II.
Allergens Widespread in Largest Study of U.S. Homes
Allergens are widespread, but highly variable in U.S. homes, according to the nation’s largest indoor allergen study to date.
Researchers Identify Genetic Variations Linked to Oxygen Drops During Sleep
Researchers have identified 57 genetic variations of a gene strongly associated with declines in blood oxygen levels during sleep. Low oxygen levels during sleep are a clinical indicator of the severity of sleep apnea, a disorder that increases the risk of heart disease, dementia and death.
Pathogenic Tau and Cognitive Impairment Are Precipitated by a High-Salt Diet
High levels of dietary salt can activate a pathway in the brain to cause cognitive impairment, according to a new study. The paper, which was published in Nature, shows that this effect is not due to a loss in blood flow to the brain as originally thought, but rather to clumps of a protein linked to several forms of dementia in humans.