2024
New study expands understanding of brain blood flow and neurological disorders
March 07, 2024
The hippocampus – a seahorse-shaped region of the brain which plays a particularly important role in cognitive aging and memory function – has been studied as a singular region for several years. However, there remains a gap in understanding the factors underlying age- or disease-related changes between the different regions of the hippocampus, or subfields, until now. To get a clearer picture of the structure and function of this crucial region in our brain, the team, involving Ali Khan, PhD, associate professor in the department of Medical Biophysics, and co-led by BrainsCAN postdoctoral associate Roy Haast, developed a process called high-resolution 7 tesla (7T) arterial spin labeling (ASL), a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method that facilitates measurements of blood flow in the hippocampus.Oxygenation in the placenta predicts childhood brain growth
February 27, 2024
The connection between placental health and childhood cognition was demonstrated in previous research using ultrasound, but for this study, Duerden, research scientist Emily Nichols and an interdisciplinary team of Western and Lawson researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a far superior and more holistic imaging technique. This novel approach to imaging placental growth allows researchers to study neurodevelopmental disorders very early on in life, which could lead to the development of therapies and treatments.Neuroscience student, football player tackles early stages of Alzheimer’s
January 31, 2024
Hayley Shanks may be a wide receiver for Western’s women’s football team, but when the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry student is off the field, she’s tackling Alzheimer’s disease. As a third-year PhD student in neuroscience, Hayley Shanks’ research focuses on analyzing clinical trial results of a drug that aims to help Alzheimer's patients by targeting the disease in its early-to-mild stages. These stages are critical since substantial damage to the brain has already occurred before Alzheimer’s symptoms begin to show.New online study explores link between healthy brains and bodies
January 15, 2024
So little is understood about the dialogue between the body and the brain. It might seem obvious that our physical state can affect our ability to think, but there are many fundamental questions neuroscientists would still like to answer—with your help. “What we hope to do is to establish definitively whether exercise is beneficial for cognition function, and if so, which cognitive functions benefit most,” said Owen, professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging in the Departments of Physiology & Pharmacology and Psychology at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. “We will also look at how this may vary across the lifespan. If exercise is good for your brain, does it confer the same benefits in the old and the young?”Wildlife tracking project receives new Canada Foundation for Innovation funding
March 14, 2024
Western researchers Lisa Saksida and Ravi Menon and their team received $3 million in CFI funding for the Mouse Translational Research Accelerator Platform. The platform supports researchers in better understanding brain function in health and disease, as well as advances in diagnosis and treatment for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.
