News
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?”Canada’s most powerful MRI system arrives at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
November 23, 2023
The Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM) at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is now home to Canada’s first 15.2 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The $6-million pre-clinical scanner – only the second of its kind in North America and sixth in the world – is a boost for neuroimaging research at Western, enabling researchers to study the brain with unprecedented resolution. The new MRI system arrived in November and will support interdisciplinary research focused on neurological disorders – including pioneering research in neuroimmunology led by newly announced Canada Excellence Research Chair Dr. Robyn Klein and a multi-centre project focused on drug development for neurological conditions led by Ravi Menon, PhD.Western recruits top neuroimmunologist as Canada Excellence Research Chair
November 16, 2023
As the devastating impacts of long COVID are becoming more evident and widespread, Western University has recruited a powerhouse talent to build and lead Canada’s first-ever research program focused on understanding the impact of infectious diseases on cognition and the human brain. Renowned worldwide for her groundbreaking work on the effects of viral infections and neuroinflammation on memory, Dr. Robyn Klein will join Western as the new Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Neurovirology and Neuroimmunology.Researchers reveal link between Alzheimer’s disease and sex hormones
October 17, 2023
In a new study in mice and humans, Western researchers have shown female sex hormones play a significant role in how Alzheimer’s manifests in the brain. The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, also highlights the importance of developing therapeutic strategies focused on these hormonal connections. The research indicates a need to better understand the role of estradiol – a form of the female sex hormone estrogen, used therapeutically to mitigate menopause symptoms – in Alzheimer’s disease.Researchers use AI to predict recovery after serious brain injury
September 11, 2023
Two graduate students from Western University have developed a ground-breaking method for predicting which intensive care unit (ICU) patients will survive a severe brain injury. Matthew Kolisnyk and Karnig Kazazian combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with state-of-the art machine learning techniques to tackle one of the most complex issues in critical care. Whether it is the result of a stroke, cardiac arrest or traumatic brain injury, lives can forever be changed by a serious brain injury. When patients are admitted to the ICU, families are faced with tremendous uncertainty. Will my loved one recover? Are they aware of what is going on? Will they ever be the same again? Despite these essential questions, health-care professionals are equally uncertain about the potential of a good recovery.UK researchers 1st to show multiple sclerosis drug can be used as Alzheimer’s therapy
September 01, 2023
A team of researchers at the University of Kentucky has found that a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) is potentially effective as a therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive and irreversible neurological disorder. It’s estimated 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with the disease that affects cognitive function, memory and behavioAI brings researchers one step closer to restoring speech in people with paralysis
August 24, 2023
The research published in the journal Nature Wednesday, shows how phrases that Ann is thinking can then be spoken, in her own voice, by an online avatar. While years away from commercial application, the researchers and others consider it a significant development in forming words quickly — and out loud — by interpreting brain signals.Medical device first used at London hospital reverses stroke symptoms in minutes
August 16, 2023
In what is a medical first for London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), a procedure using a new medical device to help stroke patients has been successfully performed. The device is called a balloon distal access catheter (BDAC) and was developed to rapidly remove a blood clot in 10 minutes, reversing stroke symptoms and preventing brain damage. Wilene Leyen, 59, of Clifford, Ont., was the first patient to successfully undergo the procedure at the University Hospital on June 24, after having her first-ever stroke. Leyen was treated by LHSC's interventional neuroradiologist, Dr. Michael Mayich, and his team, who perform more than 200 emergency stroke surgeries every year. Identifying strokes and acting quickly is imperative, he said.Study finds improved survival for incurable brain tumor, providing ‘a crack in the armor’
August 16, 2023
For the first time, researchers have found a potential drug candidate that improved outcomes for patients with a type of childhood brain tumor for which there are no effective treatments. The compound, called ONC201, nearly doubled survival for patients with diffuse midline glioma or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, compared to previous patients. The findings are reported by an international team of researcher led by the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center and the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center. In addition to reporting on the results of two early stage clinical trials, the paper reveals the underlying mechanisms behind the compound’s success in these tumors. The paper is published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.Meet the innovators creating affordable tech for low-resource communities
August 15, 2023
At Western, researchers have been working on innovations in health care intended for communities in resource-constrained environments. The Frugal Biomedical Innovations Program has launched 15 catalyst grants to support these innovations, which will help in diagnosis of diseases and in therapy, while costing less to operate or maintain. Ana Luisa Trejos, professor with the department of electrical and computer engineering is leading a project to create a low-cost wearable system to monitor Parkinson’s disease.$5.1 million donation boosts open hardware approach to motor neuroscience
August 15, 2023
A $5.1 million donation made by the Azrieli Foundation ($3.48 million to Western and $1.62 million to Emory University) is taking an open-science concept to the next level, by enabling researchers across Canada to access and utilize electrodes developed and tested by Andrew Pruszynski at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and Sam Sober at Emory.New study finds exercise, cognitive training combo boosts mental sharpness in seniors
August 14, 2023
In a ground-breaking discovery that could reshape the approach to elderly cognitive care, researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Lawson Health Research Institute have found that a combination of computerized cognitive training and aerobic-resistance exercises (such as walking and cycling along with weight training) can significantly improve cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, recognition and orientation, in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The researchers found the effect of the combined intervention was larger than the individual effects of exercise or cognitive training alone, suggesting a synergism in the sequential combination. They also found vitamin D supplements, on the other hand, did not appear to contribute to improvement.Parkinson’s disease: Essential role in neuroinflammation found for a subset of brain macrophages
August 09, 2023
In a study published in Nature Communications, Ashley Harms, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, used a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease to show that border-associated macrophages — not microglia — mediate the neuroinflammatory response in the brain. Neuroinflammation has previously been shown to exacerbate neurodegradation in the mouse model of Parkinson’s.Brain Stimulation Improves Walking in Patients with Parkinson's Disease
August 08, 2023
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor function decline, particularly in relation to gait disorders. These gait disorders manifest as decreased step length, reduced arm swing, slow movements, rigidity, and postural instability, which are prevalent among patients with PD. While non-pharmacological approaches like transcranial direct current stimulation show promise in improving motor function, recent research focuses on gait-combined closed-loop stimulation, which synchronizes brain stimulation with the individual's gait rhythm. A recent study published on 9 June 2023 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry proposes a novel intervention for gait improvement, thus creating new hope for patients with PD.Possible biomarker of MS-like autoimmune disease discovered
August 08, 2023
“There’s a huge amount of diversity in how inflammatory autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system like multiple sclerosis present,” explains Professor Anne-Katrin Pröbstel of the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel. Researchers have been gradually discovering the key distinctive features of “atypical” cases of MS for the past ten years. A few of these autoimmune diseases have been given different names to better distinguish them from MS even though they also destroy the myelin sheath. Victims of these diseases often have inflammation in their spinal cords or optic nerves. In a study of roughly 1,300 patients, Pröbstel’s team has now discovered a biomarker that may make it possible to differentiate another MS-like illness from the others. The researchers have reported their findings in the journal JAMA NeurologyResearcher Identifies Key Mechanism in Parkinson’s Disease Research
August 01, 2023
With Parkinson’s disease, mutation to LRRK2 does not cause the protein it codes for, daradarin, to become deformed. Instead, the body begins producing too much of the protein. Until now, scientists did not know how to control this protein expression because they didn’t understand the mechanisms underlying it. The Xiong lab has solved this mystery with their novel study identifying an LRRK2 regulator, an enzyme called ATIC, and a potential pharmaceutical treatment. Xiong recently published these findings in The EMBO Journal.This Protein May Predict Mild Cognitive Impairment Years Before Symptoms, Study Suggests
July 31, 2023
Results of a long-term, federally funded study of cognitively healthy adults — most with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease — have added to evidence that low spinal fluid levels of a protein linked to learning and memory in mice may serve as an early predictor of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) years before symptoms appear. The findings, which may potentially offer new targets for treating or preventing Alzheimer’s and other dementias, showed that a relatively low level of the protein known as NPTX2 is not only a likely standalone risk factor for MCI and Alzheimer’s dementia, but also improves prediction of cognitive impairment after accounting for levels of traditional biomarkers and well-established genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s.Multiple sclerosis: fateful immune cell activation in gut made visible
July 13, 2023
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. It is triggered by certain T cells, which infiltrate the brain and spinal cord and attack the insulating myelin sheath around axons. In recent years, researchers have found mounting indications that the gut microbiome plays a substantial role in the activation of these cells. However, the precise location and the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Using imaging techniques in a mouse model, a team led by Privatdozent Dr. Naoto Kawakami from University of Munich Hospital has now managed to track the microbiome-dependent activation of the cells live – the first time this has been achieved.The AHEAD Study is Testing Lecanemab at the Stage of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease
July 11, 2023
Alzheimer's disease (AD) researchers increasingly believe that treating at the earliest possible stage may be key to helping combat the disease. Ongoing studies are now testing whether lecanemab can effectively delay or prevent the symptoms of disease if started even before there is evidence of cognitive impairment. The AHEAD Study (AHEADstudy.org) is testing the effect of lecanemab in people who have no cognitive symptoms of AD but in whom biomarker tests indicate amyloid is present in the brain, known as the "preclinical" stage of AD. The AHEAD Study is the first AD trial to recruit people as young as 55 years old who are at risk of developing symptoms of AD as they get older.Novel genetic scoring system helps determine ALS disease risk
June 21, 2023
Among the tens of thousands of Americans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, most do not have a single genetic mutation shown to cause the fatal disease. And a study led by University of Michigan finds that a newly created polygenic scoring system — one that weighs the combined effects of common genetic variants — can improve the ability to predict an individual’s risk of developing ALS. The results are published in Neurology Genetics.Multiple Sclerosis Organisations Commit to a Shared Global Research Strategy to Accelerate Cures for MS
June 14, 2023
Multiple sclerosis organisations from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, MS International Federation, Spain, U.K., and U.S. have jointly declare their collective commitment to a global research strategy to cure MS. There are multiple paths to MS cures and this coordination will effectively address knowledge gaps and avoid duplication to speed progress together.Can this Medication Reverse MS? Brain Biomarker Shows It Can
June 12, 2023
A decade after UC San Francisco scientists identified an over-the-counter antihistamine as a treatment for multiple sclerosis, researchers have developed an approach to measure the drug’s effectiveness in repairing the brain, making it possible to also assess future therapies for the devastating disorder. The researchers, led by physician-scientist Ari Green, MD, who together with neuroscientist Jonah Chan, PhD, first identified clemastine as a potential MS therapy, used MRI scans to study the drug’s impact on the brains of 50 participants in a clinical study.Researcher’s new online hub charts route to chronic disease management
June 08, 2023
Gentle chair yoga for those with brain and spinal cord injuries, 17-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for wheelchair users and simple exercises for individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are just a few examples of the physical activity resources that a newly launched online platform, My Active Ingredient, has curated and made accessible for individuals living with chronic health conditions. Founded by Western researcher and former Olympic athlete Dr. Jane Thornton, the online platform aims to transform the perception and practice of exercise for those living with chronic health conditions. The platform offers a collaborative space where patients, health-care providers and the public can exchange their favourite ‘movement hacks’ and inspire each other with stories of success.Western researchers land nearly $2.8M in funding to boost brain health research
May 24, 2023
At Western University, a team at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry led by Lisa Saksida, Canada Research Chair in translational cognitive neuroscience, was awarded $1.46-million for the MouseTRAP project on fast-tracking drug development for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. A second project led by Emma Duerden, Canada Research Chair in neuroscience and learning disorders, was awarded $1.46 to advance brain monitoring in partnership with the Lawson Health Research Institute. Four grants were awarded in total to three-year research projects across the country at the announcement from the Canada Brain Research Fund supported by Health Canada and Brain Canada Foundation.Discovery Slows Down Muscular Dystrophy
May 24, 2023
A team of researchers at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy is reporting that by manipulating TAK1, a signaling protein that plays an important role in development of the immune system, they can slow down disease progression and improve muscle function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Life stressors may contribute to multiple sclerosis flares, disability
May 23, 2023
A Michigan Medicine-led study finds that stressors across the lifespan — including poverty, abuse and divorce — are associated with worsening health and functional outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis. Using survey data from more than 700 people with MS, researchers discovered that stressful events occurring both in childhood and adulthood contributed significantly to participants’ level of disability. The results are published in Brain and Behavior.Study using novel approach for glioblastoma treatment 'very promising'
May 15, 2023
A new international study published in Nature Medicine and presented as a late-breaking abstract at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) annual conference, shows great promise for patients with glioblastoma. Drs. Farshad Nassiri and Gelareh Zadeh, neurosurgeons at UHN, published the results of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of a novel therapy which combines the injection of an oncolytic virus – a virus that targets and kills cancer cells – directly into the tumour, using intravenous immunotherapy.Researchers pinpoint neurochemical marker linked with loss of motor function in ALS
May 04, 2023
University of Alberta researchers have identified a neurochemical marker related to the loss of motor function and communication breakdown between the primary motor cortex — the part of the brain that controls our muscles — and the rest of the brain in ALS patients. Knowing this, they’re now aiming to find out whether the marker might also offer a test to evaluate new treatments to improve brain function. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a terminal neurological disease. As motor neurons fail, the primary motor cortex loses the ability to communicate with muscles — and as it turns out, the rest of the brain — resulting in muscle stiffness and weakness. Eventually the brain loses the ability to communicate with muscles essential to our survival.Researcher leads first-ever study of Canadian ‘SuperAgers’
April 21, 2023
If you study Parkinson’s disease, you only see Parkinson’s disease, says Angela Roberts, assistant professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders who holds a joint appointment in the department of computer science. Study dementia and you only see dementia. Even studying ‘typically aging’ brains often yields information about brains on a course towards developing an age-related disease such as dementia. But what if you study ‘SuperAgers’ – individuals who, in their 80s, 90s and beyond, have experienced exceptional cognitive aging? Roberts thinks research in that area will help improve cognitive aging outcomes for future generations.New stroke treatment helps more Canadian patients return home to their normal lives
March 29, 2023
When Marleen Conacher was taken to a hospital for major stroke treatment for the second time in a week in 2021, she wasn't treated with a clot-busting drug like she was previously given at North Battleford Hospital in Saskatchewan. Instead, she was transported directly to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, where a stroke team performed an endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). The procedure involved passing small devices through one of the arteries in her groin, and then using suction, or tubes called stents to pull the stroke-causing blood clot out.Renowned mathematician collaborates with Western team to map human brain
March 28, 2023
New advancements in neural imaging and recording technologies may provide the key to understanding Alzheimer’s Disease, epilepsy and other disorders. But as remarkable as these technologies are, they also produce vast and complex datasets that pose a challenge to researchers. New approaches are needed to make sense of this information. Renowned Princeton University mathematics professor Dr. Maria Chudnovsky is collaborating with scholars from the Western Academy for Advanced Research (WAFAR) to address this problem. Chudnovsky is associated with Western as a visiting fellow with the “mathematics of neural networks,” an interdisciplinary research theme supported by WAFAR. Leading the project is Lyle Muller of the department of mathematics, with Ján Mináč from the same department and Marieke Mur, assistant professor of psychology and computer science.Western researchers develop new open-source app for precise brain mapping
January 12, 2023
The hippocampus is a small, complex, folded brain structure that holds clues to several brain disorders. It is also one of the most difficult-to-map regions of the brain. After developing a successful technique to digitally unfold the hippocampus, researchers at the Western Institute for Neuroscience have now built a new app using artificial intelligence (AI) to precisely map the structure. As part of a team led by Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor Ali Khan, former PhD student Jordan DeKraker has developed an open-source app, HippUnfold, which uses state-of-the-art AI to digitally unfold the hard-to-reach areas of the hippocampus.Code Blue
January 01, 2023
In May 2023, the World Health Organization declared “with great hope” the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency. Yet physicians, nurses, and other health professionals are still suffering the effects of three years on the frontlines, including drug abuse, suicides, and mental health issues. And while fictional, the above account captures some of the pressures faced by health-care workers as a result of the pandemic. Schulich Medicine & Dentistry researchers have uncovered some alarming details about how widespread the problem is. Dr. Don Richardson’s work highlights the problem. Richardson is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and scientific director of the MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre at St. Joseph’s Health Care London.The Top 10 Neuroscience Stories of 2022
December 08, 2022
From discoveries about the origins of multiple sclerosis to a potential new drug for Alzheimer’s disease – it has been a busy 2022 for the brain. After another huge year in neuroscience, we review 10 of the most important developments in the field.Ontario Brain Institute and EpLink pilot innovative interventions for people with epilepsy
November 29, 2022
One in three adults with epilepsy experience depressive symptoms. Medications and therapy have been shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms but people with epilepsy do not always have timely access to these treatment options. To respond to this challenge, EpLink, the epilepsy research program of the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI), has released a clinical dataset containing assessments of adults with epilepsy and self-reported depressive symptoms. Gathered through EpLink's foundational EpUp Study: A Pilot Intervention for People with Epilepsy & Depression, these data are now available on Brain-CODE, OBI's state-of-the-art neuroinformatics platform.Breaking new ground on ‘untapped’, alternative brain imaging technique
October 03, 2022
A new research group is paving Western’s way into a domain with potentially life-changing implications for our access to brain scanning technology. In 2006, Western neuroscientist Adrian Owen found landmark evidence for the consciousness of a patient in a vegetative state when a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan revealed her brain activity after his team told her to imagine herself playing tennis.Western scientists attract $1.7M to tackle global challenges
September 21, 2022
For Sue Peters, a neuroscientist at the Western Institute for Neuroscience, physiotherapy professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity scientist, the JELF support will allow her to purchase mobile neuroimaging equipment and a compatible electromyography system that will significantly impact her work to help improve mobility recovery in stroke survivors.Western researchers selected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
September 14, 2022
Four Western researchers have been elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS). Frank Beier, Dr. Ruth Lanius, Kathy Nixon Speechley and Nadine Wathen were among 71 individuals in the Canadian health sciences community to receive the honour.McGill researchers receive Stem Cell Network funding
May 16, 2022
The funding is part of a $19.5 million investment by SCN in 32 projects across Canada, announced on May 12. The investment is the largest in SCN’s history, made possible through increased funding by the Government of Canada in 2021. “Stem cell research is a critical research axis that has significant potential to improve human health through the understanding of mechanisms of disease and the development of regenerative medicine therapies,” said Chang. “Stem cell research touches all aspects of health and provides us with the tools to combat aging, cancer, infectious as well as degenerative diseases.”Western researcher leads study examining caregiver challenges
May 12, 2022
When planning ongoing care for a stroke patient, the focus tends to rest on the patient with sometimes little consideration for the family member or friend who will be their caregiver. Now, a new study is shining a spotlight on the challenges faced by stroke survivor caregivers when accessing health and social services for themselves.Western, McGill team up in new neuroscience initiative
May 10, 2022
Two of the world’s most accomplished neuroscience research initiatives at McGill and Western University have combined their expertise to take on two large-scale brain research projects. Focusing on biotherapeutics and Parkinson’s disease, the new McGill-Western Initiative for Translational Neuroscience (ITN) will translate groundbreaking scientific research to benefit patients in the real-world.Inaugural neuroscience fellows ‘looking to make a difference’
April 22, 2022
Uma Venkatasubramanian, Roberto Budzinski and Kathleen Lyons are three inaugural research fellows of the Western Institute of NeuroscienceNew computational model proposed for Alzheimer’s disease
March 28, 2022
Mayo Clinic researchers have proposed a new model for mapping the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease to brain anatomy. This model was developed by applying machine learning to patient brain imaging data. It uses the entire function of the brain rather than specific brain regions or networks to explain the relationship between brain anatomy and mental processing. The findings are reported in Nature Communications.Mayo Clinic researchers develop new antibody test to diagnose MS
March 24, 2022
Mayo Clinic researchers have validated a new antibody test to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS), a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. are affected by MS, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.UCalgary researchers use computer modelling to simulate impact of Alzheimer’s on the brain
March 09, 2022
A deep neural network is a computerized brain-inspired machine learning model, which uses many layers of simulated neurons to mimic the function of the cerebral cortex. Each layer in the network creates more complex activity, which simulates the way information is processed in the human brain. These networks can be designed to replicate structures in the brain, allowing researchers and scientists to model specific brain functions more easily. University of Calgary researchers have taken a new approach to using these networks for modelling of the human brain. Most studies, to date, have used deep neural networks to look at healthy brain function. These investigators wanted to know if these models could be applied to better understand brain function in a diseased brain. In this case, looking at posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), an atypical form of Alzheimer’s disease affecting the visual cortex.Tailoring wearable technology and telehealth in treating Parkinson’s disease
August 18, 2021
Wearable health technologies are vastly popular with people wanting to improve their physical and mental health. Everything from exercise, sleep patterns, calories consumed and heart rhythms can be tracked by a wearable device. But timely and accurate data is also especially valuable for doctors treating patients with complicated health conditions using virtual care. A new study from the Southern Medical Program (SMP), based at UBC Okanagan, has examined the use of wearable health technology and telehealth to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease.Walking patterns could predict type of cognitive decline
February 16, 2021
A new study by a Canadian research team, led by London researchers from Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute evaluated the walking patterns and brain function of 500 participants currently enrolled in clinical trials. Their findings are published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.Medical software licence underlines WORLDiscoveries success
February 01, 2021
Ting-Yim Lee, imaging professor at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, has developed software used in CT scanners, to measure blood flow. His cutting-edge CT Perfusion technology measures blood flow in bodily tissues, helping computerized tomography scans guide treatment for patients who have had a stroke. The software is also used to get a handle on the spread of cancer in patients and to assess how well tumours have responded to treatment. Lee is also working to adapt it for patients with heart attack, pulmonary embolism or arthritis.Hormone-Mimicking Compound Shows Promise in Myelin Repair
January 14, 2021
A compound developed at Oregon Health & Science University appears to protect nerve fibers and the fatty sheath, called myelin, that covers nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The discovery, published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology, could be important in treating or preventing the progression of multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system disorders. The new research in a mouse model advances earlier work to develop the compound - known as sobetirome - that has already showed promise in stimulating the repair of myelin.Western students help stroke patients feeling the absence of in-person care
December 16, 2020
Among COVID-19’s collateral damage is the loss of in-person rehabilitation for recovering stroke patients. Two third-year science students at Western have taken action to mitigate that damage. Ganathyashan Chelliahpillai and Varunaavee Sivashanmugathas took the initiative to launch a stroke rehabilitation kit dubbed StrokeSMaRT (Stroke Self-Management and Rehabilitation Tools) after listening to a webinar about the issue.U of M researchers study possible MS treatment
December 14, 2020
Researchers at the University of Manitoba have uncovered a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) that could also help predict if someone might develop the disease. The new study, led by Hardeep Kataria (PhD) and published this week in the peer-reviewed neurology journal Brain, focuses on cell protein Neuregulin-1 beta 1. Researchers found a link between a decline in Neuregulin-1 beta 1 levels and the onset — and progression — of MS.Common diabetes drugs may help prevent Parkinson’s
October 27, 2020
The research team, funded by The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, examined patient records from 100,288 people with type 2 diabetes, from The Health Improvement Network database. The findings confirmed that people with type 2 diabetes face an elevated risk of Parkinson’s, when compared to another cohort of people without diabetes, but commonly prescribed drugs, GLP-1 agonists and DPP4 inhibitors, appeared to reverse that relationship.Re-engineered enzyme could help reverse damage from stroke, spinal cord injury: U of T study
August 24, 2020
A team of researchers from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and the University of Michigan has redesigned and enhanced a natural enzyme that shows promise in promoting the regrowth of nerve tissue following injury. The new version of the enzyme is more stable and could lead to treatments for reversing nerve damage caused by traumatic injury or stroke.Switching off ‘master regulator’ may shield the brain from Parkinson’s-related damage
August 17, 2020
Switching off a molecular “master regulator” may protect the brain from inflammatory damage and neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease, reports a study published today in Nature Neuroscience.Discovery shows promise for treating Huntington's Disease
August 05, 2020
Now, scientists at the lab of Professor Hilal Lashuel at EPFL have identified a new enzyme that does both. The enzyme, called "TBK1", plays a central role in regulating the degradation and clearance of the huntingtin protein and introduces chemical modifications that block its aggregation. “We believe that this represents a viable target for the development of possible treatment of Huntington's disease,” says Lashuel.Blood test could diagnose baby brain damage just hours after birth
August 04, 2020
The prototype test looks for certain genes being switched on and off that are linked to long-term neurological issues. Further investigations of these genes may provide new targets for treating the brain damage before it becomes permanent.New study on development of parkinson’s disease is ‘on the nose’
August 03, 2020
Results of the study, published in the journal Brain Pathology , showed that application of an irritating component of a bacterium’s cell wall induces inflammation in the areas exactly where the olfactory neurons project, called the olfactory bulb. Moreover, these areas show the hallmark signs of PD, depositions of alpha-synuclein, the core components of Lewy bodies. PD is characterized by progressive motor and non-motor symptoms linked to alpha-synuclein pathology and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal system. Toxic aggregates of alpha-synuclein can arise from either overexpression of the protein, changes in protein modifications, and from hereditary mutations.Experimental drug shows early promise against inherited form of ALS, trial indicates
July 08, 2020
An experimental drug for a rare, inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has shown promise in a phase 1/phase 2 clinical trial conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and other sites around the world and sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Biogen Inc. The trial indicated that the experimental drug, known as tofersen, shows evidence of safety that warrants further investigation and lowers levels of a disease-causing protein in people with a type of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, caused by mutations in the gene SOD1.Halifax neurosurgeons perform first robot-assisted brain biopsy in Canada
July 06, 2020
Halifax neurosurgeons are the first in Canada to use cutting-edge robotic technology to perform a brain biopsy. The robot can be programmed to pinpoint the precise location where tissue samples can be extracted from a tumour, said Dr. David Clarke, head of neurosurgery at Dalhousie University and the Nova Scotia Health Authority.New vitamin K-based drug shows promise against medication-resistant epilepsy
July 03, 2020
In the cover article of the June 11 issue of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, a team of researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina, led by Sherine Chan, Ph.D., and James Chou, Ph.D., reports that a new vitamin K-based drug has proved effective in mouse models of medication-resistant seizures.Novel pathology could improve diagnosis and treatment of Huntington’s and other diseases
June 30, 2020
The article, published in Brain Pathology, describes how SAFB1 expression occurs in both spinocerebellar ataxias and Huntington's disease and may be a common marker of these conditions, which have a similar genetic background.Plasticity May Make Neurons Vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Disease
June 29, 2020
Neurons that regularly remodel are more prone to Alzheimer’s disease and die when that remodeling goes awry, a new study suggests. The work is the first to track the progression of Alzheimer’s at the genetic and molecular levels within neurons vulnerable to the disease.Could Gold Nanoparticles Save Neurons From Cell Death?
June 26, 2020
Gold nanoparticles have been developed in the laboratory in order to reduce the cell death of neurons exposed to overexcitement. The study is the result of an international collaboration coordinated by Roberto Fiammengo, researcher at the Center of Biomolecular Nanotechnologies of the IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology) in Lecce (Italy). The international team also involves colleagues at the University of Genoa, Imperial College London, King's College London, the Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Genoa and the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg.One-Time Treatment Generates New Neurons, Eliminates Parkinson’s Disease in Mice
June 24, 2020
More recently, Fu and Hao Qian, PhD, another postdoctoral researcher in his lab, took the finding a big step forward, applying it in what could one day be a new therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Just a single treatment to inhibit PTB in mice converted native astrocytes, star-shaped support cells of the brain, into neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. As a result, the mice’s Parkinson’s disease symptoms disappeared.Study ties stroke-related brain blood vessel abnormality to gut bacteria
June 03, 2020
In a nationwide study, NIH funded researchers found that the presence of abnormal bundles of brittle blood vessels in the brain or spinal cord, called cavernous angiomas (CA), are linked to the composition of a person’s gut bacteria. Also known as cerebral cavernous malformations, these lesions which contain slow moving or stagnant blood, can often cause hemorrhagic strokes, seizures, or headaches. Current treatment involves surgical removal of lesions when it is safe to do so. Previous studies in mice and a small number of patients suggested a link between CA and gut bacteria. This study is the first to examine the role the gut microbiome may play in a larger population of CA patients.Huntington's Brain Changes Identified Over Two Decades Before Symptom Onset
May 28, 2020
A potential blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases seems even more promising thanks to new research from a Massachusetts General Hospital-led study. According to this team’s work, neurofilament light chain (NfL) has great potential as a biomarker for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and could be also useful for monitoring treatment response for that condition.Researchers Find New Evidence for a Blood-Based Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease
May 27, 2020
A potential blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases seems even more promising thanks to new research from a Massachusetts General Hospital-led study. According to this team’s work, neurofilament light chain (NfL) has great potential as a biomarker for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and could be also useful for monitoring treatment response for that condition.Blood Test Could Predict Progression of Multiple Sclerosis Disability Symptoms
May 21, 2020
A blood test may help predict which people with multiple sclerosis (MS) will get worse during the following year, according to a study published in the May 20, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of NeurologyGame-changing blood test accurately detects Alzheimer’s disease
May 09, 2020
A simple blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been discovered and validated in a joint effort by a McGill University team and researchers in Sweden. Their results are published in the May issue of The Lancet Neurology. An accompanying commentary calls the discovery “transformative.”3D brain-like tissue model links Alzheimer’s disease with herpes
May 06, 2020
Engineers and scientists led by Tufts University used a three-dimensional (3D) human tissue culture model mimicking the components and conditions in the brain to demonstrate a possible causal relationship between sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and herpes simplex virus I infection (HSV-1). Reported today in Science Advances, the model will allow for further studies into the causes and possible treatments of this devastating neurodegenerative condition.Resilience to ALS Due to Synaptic Safety Mechanism
May 06, 2020
In a new study published May 6, 2020, in Neuron, UC San Francisco neuroscientist Graeme Davis, PhD, and his team have identified a powerful self-corrective mechanism within synapses that is activated by neurodegeneration and acts to slow down disease progression in animal models of ALS. Selectively eliminating this self-corrective mechanism dramatically accelerated progression of ALS in mice, shortening their lifespan by 50 percent.Genetic doppelgängers: Emory research provides insight into two neurological puzzles
May 05, 2020
An international team led by Emory scientists has gained insight into the pathological mechanisms behind two devastating neurodegenerative diseases. The scientists compared the most common inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) with a rarer disease called spinocerebellar ataxia type 36 (SCA 36).AI Algorithm Can Accurately Predict Risk, Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease
May 04, 2020
Researchers have developed a computer algorithm based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can accurately predict the risk for and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease using a combination of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), testing to measure cognitive impairment, along with data on age and gender.Nanodevices Aim To Halt Alzheimer's Plaque Formation
May 01, 2020
In a multidisciplinary study, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, along with collaborators from the Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), have developed an approach to prevent plaque formation by engineering a nano-sized device that captures the dangerous peptides before they can self-assemble.Light-Based Deep Brain Stimulation Relieves Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
April 27, 2020
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have used deep brain stimulation based on light to treat motor dysfunction in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease. Succeeding where earlier attempts have failed, the method promises to provide new insights into why deep brain stimulation works and ways in which it can be improved on a patient-by-patient basis.Parkinson’s disease may start in the gut
April 27, 2020
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the University of North Carolina have mapped out the cell types behind various brain disorders. The findings are published in Nature Genetics and offer a roadmap for the development of new therapies to target neurological and psychiatric disorders. One interesting finding was that cells from the gut's nervous system are involved in Parkinson's disease, indicating that the disease may start there.HudsonAlpha scientists collaborate to uncover a gene that doubles the risk of developing several neurodegenerative diseases
April 27, 2020
Scientists at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), have identified a new risk factor for multiple neurodegenerative diseases.Dynamic source imaging the brain
April 23, 2020
New functional imaging technology dynamically maps a signal’s source and underlying networks within the brain.New therapeutic options for multiple sclerosis in sight
April 20, 2020
Strategies for treating multiple sclerosis have so far focused primarily on T and B cells. A group of MDC researchers has now unveiled a new approach in Nature Immunology – one that seeks to increase treatment effectiveness by selectively targeting another type of immune cell called monocytes.Researchers delay onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in laboratory models
April 20, 2020
A team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Toronto has delayed the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in mice. They are cautiously optimistic that the result, combined with other clinical advances, points to a potential treatment for ALS in humans.LJI scientists link immune cells to parkinson’s disease onset
April 17, 2020
A new study co-led by scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) adds increasing evidence that Parkinson’s disease is partly an autoimmune disease. In fact, the researchers report that signs of autoimmunity can appear in Parkinson’s disease patients years before their official diagnosis.Novel Risk Gene for Parkinson's Identified
April 15, 2020
Screening DNA of Parkinson’s patients in the Christine Van Broeckhoven laboratory (VIB-UAntwerpen Center for Molecular Neurology) identified a new risk gene for Parkinson’s disease. Mutations in ATP10B resulted in loss of ATP10B protein. The function of the ATP10B gene was revealed by the Peter Vangheluwe lab (KU Leuven, Laboratory of Cellular Transport Systems). They identified ATP10B as a transporter for glucosylceramide, a lipid that plays a central role in Parkinson’s disease. Disease mutations disturb this function. Also, a reduced expression of ATP10B leads to neuronal loss and sensitizes neurons to environmental risk factors of Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, ATP10B is emerging as an interesting therapeutic target for Parkinson’s disease.Proteins Involved in Glucose Metabolism Linked to Alzheimer's Disease
April 14, 2020
In the largest study to date of proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease, a team of researchers has identified disease-specific proteins and biological processes that could be developed into both new treatment targets and fluid biomarkers. The findings suggest that sets of proteins that regulate glucose metabolism, together with proteins related to a protective role of astrocytes and microglia — the brain’s support cells — are strongly associated with Alzheimer’s pathology and cognitive impairment.Symptoms in ALS Mouse Model Improve with CRISPR Base Editing
April 10, 2020
ABOVE: Astrocytes (blue) have infiltrated the interior of the spinal cord, affecting neurons (yellow) in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the study, the researchers developed an approach to deliver a CRISPR base editing system (green) to astrocytes in order to disable the expression of a mutant gene and reduce symptoms. COLIN LIM, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Base editors, which convert one nucleotide to another without a double-strand DNA break, have the potential to treat diseases caused by mutant genes. One drawback, though, is that the DNA that encodes CRISPR base editors is long—too long to fit in the adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) most commonly used for gene therapy. In a study published in Molecular Therapy on January 13, researchers split the DNA encoding a base editor into two AAV vectors and injected them into a mouse model of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).Researchers successfully repair stroke-damaged rat brains
April 08, 2020
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have succeeded in restoring mobility and sensation of touch in stroke-afflicted rats by reprogramming human skin cells to become nerve cells, which were then transplanted into the rats’ brains. The study has now been published in the research journal PNAS.Does long-term exposure to air pollution lead to a steeper rate of cognitive decline?
April 08, 2020
People who live in urban areas with higher levels of air pollution may score lower on thinking and memory tests and may also lose cognitive skills faster over time, or it is possible they also may not, according to a study published in the April 8, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers examined the association of air pollution levels and cognitive impairment and decline in participants in two large epidemiological studies. They found an association between the air pollution and cognitive decline in one study group but not in the other.Potential therapy for rare neurologic disease discovered
April 06, 2020
The study, being published online April 6 in the journal EBioMedicine, revealed that the effects of a therapy delivery system using microscopic components of a cell (nanovesicles) called SapC-DOPS may be able to provide targeted treatment without harming healthy cells. This method could even prove to be successful in treating other neurologic conditions, like Parkinson’s disease.Tracking the Spread of Tau Through the Brain
April 02, 2020
In the fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, the tau protein is a major culprit. Found abundantly in our brain cells, tau is normally a team player – it maintains structure and stability within neurons, and it helps with transport of nutrients from one part of the cell to another.Discovery of New Biomarker in Blood Could Lead to Early Test for Alzheimer’s Disease
March 31, 2020
Researchers at the University of California San Diego discovered that high blood levels of RNA produced by the PHGDH gene could serve as a biomarker for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. The work could lead to the development of a blood test to identify individuals who will develop the disease years before they show symptoms.Artificial Intelligence Can Speed up the Detection of Stroke
March 30, 2020
Human emotion system laboratory team at the University of Turku and Turku PET Centre introduces a fully automated method for acute ischemic lesion segmentation on brain MRIs and shows how artificial intelligence can reduce the work load of radiologists.Antibodies in the brain trigger epilepsy
March 24, 2020
Certain forms of epilepsy are accompanied by inflammation of important brain regions. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now identified a mechanism that explains this link. Their results may also pave the way to new therapeutic options in the medium term. They have now been published in the renowned scientific journal "Annals of Neurology".Study sheds light on fatty acid’s role in “chemobrain” and multiple sclerosis
March 23, 2020
Medical experts have always known myelin, the protective coating of nerve cells, to be metabolically inert. A study led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has found that myelin is surprisingly dynamic, a discovery that has implications for treatment of multiple sclerosis and a type of myelin damage caused by some chemotherapy drugs, often referred to as “chemobrain.” Chemobrain can occur in up to 70 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy, leaving them with temporary and even permanent thinking and memory impairment.Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations, seventh edition: acetylsalicylic acid for prevention of vascular events
March 23, 2020
In 2016, 270 204 people in Canada (excluding Quebec) were admitted to hospital for heart conditions, stroke and vascular cognitive impairment, including 107 391 women and 162 813 men, of whom 91 524 died.1 This equates to 1 out of every 3 deaths in Canada and outpaces other diseases; 13% more people die of heart conditions, stroke or vascular cognitive impairment than die from all cancers combined.1Stroke: When the system fails for the second time
March 20, 2020
After a stroke, there is an increased risk of suffering a second one. Until now, it was known that if areas in the left hemisphere were affected during the first attack, language is often particularly impaired. In order to maintain the language capabilities, the brain usually drives up neighboring areas and briefly also the counterparts on the right side. However, it was unclear whether this would still happen after a second attack, and whether the activation of the right hemisphere areas is supportive for the regeneration at all. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) now found an answer by using virtual lesions. Indeed, it seems that the right hemisphere plays a constructive role in maintenance of function following big lesions as well as repeated strokes. These findings can help to improve therapy for those affected.“Hero” Proteins May Shield Other Proteins from Harm
March 19, 2020
Researchers at RIKEN and the University of Tokyo report the existence of a new class of proteins in Drosophila and human cell extracts that may serve as shields that protect other proteins from becoming damaged and causing disease. An excess of the proteins, known as Hero proteins, was associated with a 30 percent increase in the lifespan of Drosophila, according to the study, which was published last week (March 12) in PLOS Biology.Turning the Body's "Natural Killers" Against Parkinson's Disease
March 16, 2020
Researchers at the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center and their colleagues have found that “natural killer” white blood cells could guard against the cascade of cellular changes that lead to Parkinson’s disease and help stop its progression.Nasally-delivered Muscle Relaxant Could Have Therapeutic Benefits for Brain Diseases
March 13, 2020
Delivering the medication dantrolene through the nose rather than the mouth may help the medication penetrate the brain more effectively, potentially maximizing its therapeutic benefits in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's disease. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania showed that administering dantrolene through the nose increased its brain concentration and duration in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease without causing obvious adverse side effects. The results were published today in PLOS ONE.VR Allows Early Detection of MS Balance Problems
March 12, 2020
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often have a greatly increased risk of falling and injuring themselves even when they feel they're able to walk normally. Now a team led by scientists from the UNC School of Medicine has demonstrated what could be a relatively easy method for the early detection of such problems.The inactivated human receptor will help to create effective drugs
March 11, 2020
Scientists from China and Russia found a new way of searching for new drug candidates by inactivating the molecular structure of the human muscarinic receptor and applying screening to find drugs that it responds to. The results of their study were published in IUCrJ.Scientists identify new target for Parkinson’s therapies
March 10, 2020
The finding, made by scientists from the University of Leeds’ Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, provides a new target for the development of therapies to try and slow down or even prevent the disease.Gene Behavior a New Way To Diagnose Alzheimer's?
February 28, 2020
Scientists have detected that a previously overlooked gene behavior could potentially lead to a new way to diagnose Alzheimer's earlier. Published in the journal Epigenetics, an international research team's findings – discovered in mice and confirmed in human samples – suggest that the gene Presenilin1 (PSEN1) should be monitored as a 'biomarker': to see what environmental triggers, such as lifestyle and nutrition, can influence brain function and neurodegeneration or/and to see how well the body responds to a treatment for the disease.Iron in brain shows cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’s
February 21, 2020
A cutting-edge MRI technique to detect iron deposits in different brain regions can track declines in thinking, memory and movement in people with Parkinson’s disease, finds a new UCL-led study.New insights into the processes that cause Parkinson's disease
February 20, 2020
In a breakthrough for Parkinson’s disease, scientists at EPFL have reconstructed the process by which Lewy bodies form in the brain of patients. The study offers new insights into how Parkinson’s disease begins and evolves, and opens up a set of potential new treatment targets.Research shows new drug helps to preserve brain cells for a time after stroke
February 20, 2020
The multi-centre, double-blinded, randomized trial, led by a team at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and Alberta Health Services investigates the use of the neuroprotective drug nerinetide, developed by NoNO Inc, in two scenarios in the same trial. In one scenario, nerinetide is given to patients in addition to the clot-busting drug alteplase. In the second scenario, patients who were not suitable for alteplase received only nerinetide. Both groups of patients had concurrent endovascular treatment (EVT) to remove the clot.Multiple Sclerosis Drugs Might Not Need To Reach the Brain To Have Clinical Efficacy
February 05, 2020
Scientists from Trinity College Dublin have made an important discovery that could lead to more effective treatments for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Their work highlights the significant potential of drugs targeting a specific immune molecule (IL-17) implicated in MS.Living near major roads linked to increased risk of dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and MS
January 23, 2020
Living near major roads or highways is linked to higher incidence of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests new research published this week in the journal Environmental Health. Researchers from the UBC faculty of medicine analyzed data for 678,000 adults in Metro Vancouver. They found that living less than 50 metres from a major road or less than 150 metres from a highway is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and MS—likely due to increased exposure to air pollution.Gene Therapy Protects Eyesight in Models of Multiple Sclerosis
January 22, 2020
New research by Dorothy P. Schafer, PhD, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, reveals the molecular process in which synaptic connections in the brain are damaged in multiple sclerosis and how this contributes to neurodegenerative symptoms. The paper, published in Immunity, also shows how gene therapy may be used to preserve neural circuits and protect against vision loss in the diseaseProtein "Bridge" Could Link Complex ALS Genetics
January 20, 2020
A study in fruit flies has identified a protein which authors say acts as a connection between multiple genes that cause the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when mutated. The research, conducted at the University of Malta, could point the way towards therapies that address the complex genetics of ALS. The study was published in Scientific Reports.Could Essential Tremor Be Caused by Overactive Brain Waves?
January 16, 2020
Now a new study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian suggests the tremors are caused by overactive brain waves at the base of the brain, raising the possibility of treating the disorder with neuromodulation to calm the oscillations.Functional Ultrasound Advance Could Improve Brain Tumor Removal
January 15, 2020
Researchers of CUBE (Center for Ultrasound Brain imaging @ Erasmus Medical Center) have managed to image live cerebral blood flow during awake brain surgery using functional Ultrasound (fUS). This cutting-edge technique could aid neurosurgeons in their effort to remove brain tumors without damaging surrounding functional brain tissue. Additionally, the researchers demonstrate that the technique can also pinpoint the healthy, functional areas in the brain during surgery. Their work was recently published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.Brain Connectivity Differences in Migraine Identified
January 15, 2020
A neuroimaging study has analyzed brain imaging data to try and identify a signature of migraine. The study authors noted that certain measurements of structural brain connectivity varied between migraine patients and healthy volunteers. The study was published in the journal Cephalalgia, the official journal of the International Headache Society.What’s the gut got to do with Parkinson’s? Ask the expert
January 14, 2020
While Parkinson’s is fundamentally a condition that affects the brain, it has become increasingly clear that the gut plays a major role. Gut bacteria seem to be important in this process, and this opens up exciting new possibilities for research.Molecular Switch Repairs the Central Nervous System in Models of MS
January 13, 2020
A molecular switch has the ability to turn on a substance in animals that repairs neurological damage in disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Mayo Clinic researchers discovered. The early research in animal models could advance an already approved Food and Drug Administration therapy and also could lead to new strategies for treating diseases of the central nervous system.New Clinical Trial Compares Stem Cell Transplantation to Currently Available Drugs for MS
January 07, 2020
A clinical trial has begun testing an experimental stem cell treatment against the best available biologic therapies for severe forms of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). The trial, sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, will compare the safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the two therapeutic approaches.Gene Therapy a Feasible Treatment Option for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy?
January 06, 2020
A new study shows the feasibility of using gene therapy to treat the progressive neurodegenerative disorder chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The study, which demonstrated the effectiveness of direct delivery of gene therapy into the brain of a mouse model of CTE, is published in Human Gene Therapy.Announcement: New Dean Chosen for Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
January 06, 2020
On behalf of Western University's Board of Governors, President Alan Shepard, and the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Decanal Selection Committee, I’m very pleased to announce that Dr. John Yoo has been appointed as the next Dean of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, beginning May 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025.Extra benefit from epilepsy neurostimulators — reducing comorbid neuropsychiatric symptoms
January 02, 2020
Sandipan Pati, M.D., and colleagues at the University of Alabama at Birmingham now report cases of five patients who found better treatments for those symptoms using data collected — while the patients were at home — from implanted neurostimulators placed in their brains to control their epileptic seizures. This is an extra benefit from the implanted Responsive Neurostimulator Systems, due to the system’s ability to record brain electrocorticography data initiated when a patient senses an anxiety or panic attack.Neuroscience controversy resolved: The hippocampus is not just a GPS
January 02, 2020
New research from Western University published in Nature Neuroscience uses virtual reality video games to test this question. Using animal subjects and specially designed virtual reality navigation tasks, researchers showed that the neurons in this area of the brain do fire during navigation tasks, but mainly on the ones that require forming associative memory, not during a task that requires navigation alone.Alive inside: How do we reach 'vegetative' patients when tests show they're aware of everything
December 23, 2019
The Western University scientist has used fMRI to help people once diagnosed “vegetative” follow commands, acknowledge where they are and with whom, and answer questions like, “are you in pain,” by decoding their brain activity.Behavioural research gets boost with first open-access database
December 18, 2019
Neuroscience researchers at Western University have developed the first open-access repository for raw data from mouse cognitive testing. Called MouseBytes, the database gives researchers a platform to share rodent cognition data using touchscreen cognitive testing with labs around the world. It is supported by Western’s BrainsCAN, and built on previous funding from the Weston Brain Institute.Scientists Sharpen Focus Into Genetic Link to Parkinson Inflammation
September 26, 2019
Canadian researchers think mutations in 1 gene are likely responsible for an increased risk of Parkinson disease (PD), as well as Crohn and leprosy, according to results of an animal study published this week in Science Translational Medicine. The leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2) gene has been linked with PD, leprosy, and Crohn, which all share inflammation as a common factor. LRRK2 is mutated in about 2% of patients with PD.Announcement: Dr. Christopher Watling appointed Director, Centre for Education Research & Innovation
September 10, 2019
Dr. Christopher Watling has been appointed Director for the Centre for Education Research & Innovation (CERI) at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University for a five-year term effective January 1, 2020.Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre performs first paediatric robot-assisted neurosurgery in Ontario
August 07, 2019
A London youth was the first paediatric patient in Ontario to receive a robot-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) procedure that was performed by the Paediatric Epilepsy Program at Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).Award: Dr. David Spence named to the Order of Canada
July 09, 2019
Please join us in congratulating Dr. David Spence on his appointment to the Order of Canada. This award is one of our country's highest honours and recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service.Funding received for brain research leading to peace of mind
April 25, 2019
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences receives $12,000 dollar donation in support of brain cancer research.Computer program could help track progress of brain-injured patients after release from ICU, study finds
April 12, 2019
Many patients experience mental fog or difficulty concentrating after they are treated in hospital intensive care units, even when their illnesses or injuries are not brain related. And according to the authors of a new study, these cognitive problems are more common than previously thought.Celebrating Faculty Acheivements
April 10, 2019
Congratulations to faculty from the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences on their recent achievements.London hospitals to help design future of medical imaging
March 12, 2019
London hospitals and research teams have come together with Canon Medical in an effort to advance medical imaging technology and improve patient care. Seven of Canon Medical's newest and most advanced Computed Tomography (CT) scanners are coming to London. CT is used to provide critical diagnostic information, incorporating thousands of ultra low-dose, high-resolution x-ray images to create complete images of the body and its organs. Dr. Narinder Paul is chief of the Department of Medical Imaging at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine, LHSC and St. Joseph’s and says, “We will help them design the imaging equipment of the future that our patients need, driven by our understanding of what our patients need. And they will invest in London to help us do that process."Reconnecting with alumni for International Women's Day
March 08, 2019
CNS alumni, Dr. Navjot Chaudhary and Dr. Amparo Wolf have gone from neurosurgery residents to international role models.Spinal Cord is 'smarter' than previously thought
February 11, 2019
New research has shown that the spinal cord is able to process and control complex functions, like the positioning of your hand in external space. 'This research has shown that a least one important function is being done at the level of the spinal cord and it opens up a whole new area of investigation.Let's Talk: Resident mental health and wellness
January 30, 2019
A recent Canadian Medical Association survey with more than 2,500 physicians and 400 resident doctors across the country found that residents are the most vulnerable to develop depression and burnout. Dr. Caroline Just shares her take as a neurology resident in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences.Announcement: Dr. David A. Steven appointed as Chair/Chief, Clinical Neurological Sciences
December 03, 2018
Dr. David A. Steven has been appointed as Chair/Chief, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University and its teaching hospitals, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care London, effective January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2023.Against all odds: The road to patient advocacy
November 25, 2018
“My life changed the day Dr. Angelica Hahn (now retired) brought me and my parents into the decision making process. She heard what I wanted, and from that day forward she was one of my biggest advocates in helping me live the life I wanted to live,” says Preston. “Dr. Hahn, along with my nurse practitioner, Wilma Koopman, and my parents advocated for me to attend regular classes at school when the school board insisted I go into a special ed. class because I was in a wheelchair.Waking up to a health-care crisis: When life and art froze
November 11, 2018
As the pain worsened, Easden returned to the Emergency Department at LHSC’s University Hospital. She received a CT scan, then an MRI, and was eventually referred to neurosurgeon and orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Fawaz Siddiqi.CNS Neurology Residents Visit Former Faculty Member Dr. George Ebers
September 13, 2018
Dr. George C. Ebers is a world-renowned neurologist and researcher in multiple sclerosis. Neurology Residents Dr. David Kim and Dr. Adrian Budhram visited Dr. Ebers at his home to discuss his experiences at the University of Western Ontario and his neurological career.Faculty Members Receive Certificates of Promotion
July 31, 2018
Five faculty members received their certificates of promotion at CNS Grand Rounds.Western to host 2019/2020 Neurosurgery Rookie Camp
July 17, 2018
As a beginning neurosurgery resident, taking part in this camp will give PGY1s the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel as they embark on residency training. They will learn from Canada’s top neurosurgeons, in realistic scenarios that will simultaneously test and develop their abilities.Gut microbiome plays a role in atherosclerosis
July 11, 2018
Researchers at Western University's Robarts Research Institute along with scientists from Lawson Health Research Institute have shown a novel relationship between the intestinal microbiome and atherosclerosis, one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke. This was measured as the burden of plaque in the carotid arteries.CNS Faculty Support Summer Medical Student Research
June 27, 2018
The Summer Research Training Program (SRTP) and Schulich Research Opportunities Program (SROP) provide support for undergraduate medical students to engage in research under the supervision of Schulich faculty members.CNS Celebrates One-Year Twitter-versary!
June 26, 2018
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences launched its official Twitter account on June 16th, 2017 as a part of an overall communications strategy with the goal of elevating the Department’s status in the world of neuroscience research, at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, and the international research and educational community.The Legacy of Dr Earl Russell
June 13, 2018
Dr. Dwight Moulin, Dr. Earl Russell Chair in Pain Management, is featured in this article in the UWOMJ looking at the legacy of Dr. Russell's work.Dr. Dwight Moulin Recognized in UWOMJ Article
June 12, 2018
Dr. Moulin was interviewed for this article on Dr. Earl Russel due to his current role as the Dr. Earl Russell Chair in Pain Management.Dr. Jennifer Mandzia Featured in CTV News Interview
June 06, 2018
Dr. Mandzia was interviewed as a part of a segment on the Heart and Stroke Foundation's report on how women are disproportionately affected by stroke.Congratulations to two new Collaborative Research Seed Grants teams
April 24, 2018
Dr. Matthew Hebb is a member of one of the two new interdisciplinary research teams have received funding from the Collaborative Research Seed Grants (CRSG) program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.Recognizing Research: 2018 Research Day Award Winners
April 18, 2018
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences hosted its 2018 Departmental Research Day on April 17th, 2018. This annual event features platform and poster presentations by residents, graduate students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral fellows.Alumnus and Former Faculty Member Dr. Alastair Buchan to Receive Honourary Degree
April 11, 2018
Dr. Buchan will receive an honorary degree this spring as Western celebrates its 311th Convocation.CNS Faculty and Staff to be Recognized at Awards of Excellence Dinner
April 10, 2018
Dr. Mel Boulton, Neurosurgeon, and Ms. Nicole Farrell, Manager of Administration and Finance, are the recipients of 2018 Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Awards of Excellence.Invisible impact: cognitive effects of Multiple Sclerosis
April 02, 2018
MS is an inflammatory disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. With MS, the immune system destroys myelin, which is the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.Dr. Tim Doherty honoured by CAPM&R
March 28, 2018
Congratulations to Dr. Tim Doherty, for being named the 2018 Award of Merit Recipient from the Canadian Association of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Dr. Doherty is being honoured for his contribution to the field of Physiatry.Epilepsy Program Co-Founders Honored with Plaque
March 27, 2018
On March 27th, 2018, 36 years after the Western University Epilepsy Program was originally founded, the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences honored its co-founders, Dr. Warren T. Blume and Dr. John P. Girvin, with a plaque to be placed outside of what has become Canada’s largest Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU).LHSC's Epilepsy Monitoring Unit improves patient experience with addition of an Epilepsy Navigator
March 26, 2018
March 26th is Purple Day for epilepsy – a seizure disorder that affects 50 million people worldwide. It is an important awareness day that LHSC is pleased to support.In search of meaningful feedback conversations
March 20, 2018
Article by Dr. Chris Watling and Kori LaDonna arguing for the value of embracing vulnerability and inspiring honest conversation to enhance the meaningfulness of feedback.Tom Mikkelsen Announced as Guest Speaker at 2018 CNS Research Day
March 13, 2018
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences will host its annual Research Day on April 17th, 2018 at the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre. The full day event will feature research presentations from faculty, residents, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as well as a guest presentation from Dr. Tom Mikkelsen.National Neurology Grand Rounds Spring 2018 Date Announced
March 01, 2018
Dr. Gerald Pfeffer, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, will be the speaker at National Neurology Grand Rounds this May.The 2018 Charles G. Drake Professorship: A History of Collaboration
February 01, 2018
On January 31st, 2018, the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University celebrated the Charles G. Drake Distinguished Visiting Professorship.Research uncovers new link between head trauma, CTE and ALS
January 15, 2018
Researchers at Western University have uncovered a unique neurobiological pathway triggered by head trauma which underlies both Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease).CNS Alumnus Appointed to Order of Canada
January 09, 2018
CNS Alumnus and former faculty member Dr. Thomas E. Feasby has been appointed to the Order of Canada.Remembering Della Reese
November 21, 2017
Thanks to two successful surgeries performed by Dr. Drake she was able to make a full recovery. She continued her singing and acting career and starred in the inspirational drama series Touched By An Angel, still in syndication.WORLDiscoveries® Vanguard Awards celebrate commercial potential of health research
November 09, 2017
Dr. Matthew O. Hebb, a Lawson scientist, neurosurgeon at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and assistant professor of neurosurgery at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, was recognized for the development of two innovations that offer hope in treating two deadly diseases – Parkinson’s disease and glioblastoma.CNS Faculty Assist in Administering Kuwaiti Resident Examinations
November 02, 2017
In October 2017, two Clinical Neurological Sciences (CNS) Department members, Dr. Michael Nicolle, Chief of Neurology and Dr. David Steven, Co-Chair of the Epilepsy Program, traveled to Kuwait with a delegation from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) to assist the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS) administer specialty training exams to their neurology and neurosurgery residents, the first time that this type of examination has been administered in Kuwait.Endovascular treatment of stroke leads to positive patient outcome
October 29, 2017
“EVT is a remarkable treatment option for stroke patients who won’t see a lot of benefit from tPA because of the size or placement of the clot,” says Dr. Mel Boulton, neurosurgeon at LHSC. “It’s not only a procedure that saves lives, it has also been demonstrated to lead to better patient outcomes; so that someone who would be destined to have deficits without EVT can be returned to normal or near normal quality of life.”2018 Inductees into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
October 03, 2017
Dr. Vladimir Hachinski is among a group of exceptional healthcare leaders who will be inducted into The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF). Dr. Hachinski, a Distinguished University Professor in Clinical Neurological Sciences, is a world-renowned neurologist and has transformed the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the two greatest threats to the brain, stroke and dementia.Resident Spotlight: Dr. Faizal Haji, PGY6, Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurological Sciences
September 28, 2017
In his last year of the Neurosurgical Residency program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Dr. Faizal Haji says the great mentors he has encountered over the years, and at all levels of education, have helped him to realize his potential and accomplish new feats.Awards Day at the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences
September 26, 2017
Tuesday, September 26th was “Awards Day” in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences. Every fall, the Department honours residents and faculty members for their accomplishments over the previous year.A Multi-angled Approach to Research
September 22, 2017
“Cognition is often described as an invisible symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS),” explained Dr. Sarah Morrow. “It’s easy to write off because there isn’t a predictable decline like we see in dementia; it’s more episodic. It also presents differently from dementia – the first signs people notice are usually difficulty processing information or not remembering things unless they are written down.”Providing care for adults with muscular dystrophy
September 21, 2017
Dr. Shannon Venance, neurologist at LHSC, along with Dr. Anita Florendo-Cumbermack and nurse practitioner, Wilma Koopman, lead the adult care team for muscular dystrophy within the neuromuscular clinic.Rare case of stroke recovery after 23 years, noted by researchers at Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute
September 21, 2017
Functional MRI showed widespread recovery in both hemispheres of Humphrey’s brain, said Spence, who is also a scientist at Western’s Robarts Research Institute. Swimming had apparently triggered a rewiring within parts of the brain.New treatment available for people with early multiple sclerosis
July 03, 2017
Researchers from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry are part of a groundbreaking study showing that a common acne medication called minocycline can be used to help treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in its earliest stages.LHSC epilepsy patients first in Ontario to benefit from robot-assisted neurosurgery
June 14, 2017
London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) Epilepsy Program is the first in Ontario to perform a robotic-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) procedure, in which electrodes are placed into the brain to map epileptic seizure activity.Stroke prevention among older Ontarians may also reduce risk of some dementias
May 01, 2017
Ontario’s stroke prevention strategy appears to be having an unexpected, beneficial side effect: a reduction also in the incidence of dementia among older seniors.Deep Brain Stimulation
April 01, 2017
In June 2016, LHSC University Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Keith MacDougall and his team performed an eight-hour surgery to implant two electrodes deep into DJ’s brain. The electrodes are connected to a battery-powered neurostimulator which is embedded under the skin just below her collarbone.Neurology resident sleuths self into Times fame
November 22, 2016
Adrian Budhram has a knack for the quick diagnosis. The third-year Neurology resident is a three-time winner of the Think Like a Doctor monthly feature in the New York Times. He has won back-to-back months, prompting long-time columnist Dr. Lisa Sanders to joke she may have to initiate a ‘let others play’ rule when it comes to Budhram.The Power of Imagination
August 01, 2016
“Pilocytic astrocytoma is a benign tumour located at the back of the head in the cerebellum, occurring commonly in children under 20 years of age,” says Dr. Ranger. “They are often curable with surgery if located in an accessible part of the brain.”A Stroke of Luck
August 01, 2016
“Fast action is vital in patients presenting with stroke symptoms to determine whether they have a clot obstructing blood flow or a hemorrhage in the brain,” says Dr. Mandzia. “This allows us to determine which treatment options are available to potentially limit the amount of damage that could have a severe impact on quality of life.”2016 Innovation Award: Dr. Stephen Lownie
June 10, 2016
Dr. Steve Lownie is a neurosurgeon and neurointerventionalist, with a primary interest in vascular diseases of the brain. He was honoured with the 2016 Lawson Innovation Award for his recent publication titled, “Catheter Based Selective Hypothermia Reduces Stroke Volume during Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Swine,” published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery.On April 1, 2015 the Acute Stroke Unit opened on the 7th floor at University Hospital.
October 08, 2015
Building on the hyper-acute stroke work implemented last year, the Acute Stroke Unit opened at UH.Lawson Impact Awards celebrates research excellence
October 06, 2015
Lawson Health Research Institute hosted the second annual Lawson Impact Awards on May 21, 2015 celebrating hospital-based scientists, staff, trainees and partners who are making an impact in London, and around the world. 300 guests attended the event, including Howard Rundle, Lawson Board Chair, Matt Brown, Mayor of London, and senior leaders from LHSC, St. Joseph’s, and Western UniversityLHSC celebrates Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
October 04, 2015
If you happened to be around LHSC’s University Hospital on March 26, you might have seen a lot of people wearing purple, and it was no coincidence. It was Purple Day for epilepsy awarenessThe movement towards better treatment of Parkinson's
October 01, 2015
Intrigued by the potential of this technology to measure and assess movement, LHSC’s Dr. Mandar Jog, neurologist, and engineer Dr. Rajni Patel – both also researchers with Lawson Health Research Institute – are testing how the suits can be used to improve the lives of patients with Parkinson’s by helping physicians understand how well a medical intervention is working to ease symptoms.Living with ALS
October 01, 2015
“There is unfortunately no specific test for ALS. As a consequence, when symptoms begin they can be quite mild and may be initially dismissed by the patient, or even the family doctor. When the symptoms evolve to be more noticeable, the initial symptoms may not be specific for ALS and several potential diagnoses need to be considered,” says neurologist Dr. Christen Shoesmith, Medical Director of the MND clinic.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.One Year Twitterversary!
March 14, 2024
The Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences has been on Twitter for a full calendar year! Here's to the next one!
