Researchers at Emory University and a group of international collaborators, using positron emission tomography (PET) brain imaging, have determined that a relatively new drug slows the loss of dopamine function in early stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared with an older, more commonly used drug. Investigators say the drug ropinirole (brand name ReQuip ®) slows the loss of dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced by neurons in the brain that is found in steadily decreasing amounts as the disease progresses, in a more effective manner than levodopa (brand name Sinemet ®). In this trial, the progression of the loss of dopamine function was slowed by over 30 percent in participants taking ropinirole as compared with participants in a comparable stage of the disease taking levodopa.

Keyword: Parkinsons
Link ID: 1893 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Researchers also find tobacco has negative effects on motor development CLEVELAND - Scientists know the effects of cocaine on the adult brain and cardiovascular systems. Now there is a growing body of research documenting the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on infants, which is raising public health concerns about the long-term cognitive and developmental outcomes for these children. A study published by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, and University Hospitals of Cleveland researchers in the April 17 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association," “Cognitive and Motor Outcomes of Cocaine-Exposed Infants,” looks at how prenatal cocaine exposure affects child developmental outcomes. CWRU researchers followed 415 cocaine-exposed infants born at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland to determine how prenatal cocaine exposure affects child developmental outcomes. They were compared to non-exposed infants on cognitive and motor development until age 2. What they found, according to Singer, was that prenatal cocaine exposure does affect a child’s cognitive development, but not motor development. However, tobacco exposure had negative effects on motor development.

Keyword: Drug Abuse; Development of the Brain
Link ID: 1891 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Major study suggests added benefit of blockbuster cholesterol drugs By Julia Sommerfeld MSNBC DENVER, — Taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins may be good for more than the heart — it may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers reported here Tuesday. IN THE LARGEST study of statins and Alzheimer’s to date, researchers found that people who took the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drugs were 79 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who did not. That means, said lead author Dr. Robert Green, that patients on statins may be as much as five times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, the dreaded degenerative brain disease that affects about 1 in 10 Americans over 65 and nearly half of those over 85. Green, an associate professor of neurology, genetics and epidemiology, and his colleagues at Boston University School of Medicine studied the link in more than 2,500 people at 15 medical centers over six years. The results were presented here Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Statins — sold under such brand names as Lipitor, Pravachol and Zocor — are taken by some 8 million Americans to lower levels of artery-clogging LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. About 4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. • MSNBC Terms, Conditions and Privacy © 2002

Keyword: Alzheimers
Link ID: 1889 - Posted: 06.24.2010

— Efforts to understand the most common cause of vision loss in millions of elderly people have led to the discovery of an entirely new family of chloride ion channels that are found in animals from worms to humans. In 1998, researchers showed that mutations in a gene that codes for the protein bestrophin were responsible for causing Best macular dystrophy, a hereditary disorder that strikes during childhood or early adolescence and causes impaired central vision. Until recently, the function of bestrophin has remained a mystery. Now, a collaborative team of Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigators at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has found that bestrophin is a chloride ion channel, a protein that forms a pore in cells through which charged ions can pass. In addition to showing that bestrophin is an ion channel, the scientists searched the human genome and the DNA sequences of other organisms and found at least three other members of this chloride ion channel family in humans, four in the fruit fly and 24 in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. None of the proteins they found had previously had a function assigned to it. ©2002 Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Keyword: Vision; Genes & Behavior
Link ID: 1888 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Violence in sleep is much more common than previously thought, an expert has warned. Dr Peter Fenwick told a sleep conference at the Royal Society of Medicine that kicking, hitting, and putting hands round a partner's neck were the most common types of violence. The violence can stem from conditions such as sleepwalking and confusion on awakening. REM sleep disorders, where the normal paralysis of people's muscles while they sleep is switched off so people can 'act out' their dreams, can also be a cause. Dr Fenwick said US studies estimated up to four in 10 men suffering sleep disorders were aggressive, and one in seven could be seriously violent. The phenomenon is not new. Dr Fenwick, from London's Institute of Psychiatry, told the conference the tale of a knight who stabbed his friend to death in the night, which dates back to 1600. (C) BBC

Keyword: Sleep
Link ID: 1887 - Posted: 04.16.2002

By GINA KOLATA The obesity warnings are everywhere. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that with 35 percent of Americans overweight and 27 percent obese, obesity "has risen at an epidemic rate during the past 20 years." In December, Dr. David Satcher, who was surgeon general, said obesity would soon succeed tobacco as the leading cause of preventable deaths in America. In California, there are calls for taxes on soft drinks. Across the country, there are demands that schools banish soda and candy machines. In Pennsylvania, one school district sent letters to parents telling them their children were too fat. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company

Keyword: Obesity
Link ID: 1886 - Posted: 04.16.2002

By CLAUDIA DREIFUS BEDFORD, Mass. — At the elegant housing development for the elderly where the biologist Ernst Mayr lives, there are a game room, a library and a shrine to commemorate residents who have recently died. Not long ago, in a misfired joke, one of Dr. Mayr's housemates passed the shrine and asked, "Are you next for this, Mayr?" Without a blink, Dr. Mayr, emeritus professor of zoology at Harvard and one of the greatest living experts on evolution, returned: "I may be the oldest man here, but I'm not going anywhere. I still have a few books to write." Dr. Mayr, who is 97, takes long hikes in the woods behind the housing development every day; he is still producing professional papers and books with respectable sales, including his latest and 16th, "What Evolution Is" (Basic Books), which was published in October. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company

Keyword: Evolution
Link ID: 1885 - Posted: 06.24.2010

* Children of alcoholics (COAs) tend to exhibit attention deficit disorder, hyperactive tendencies, rule breaking, and poor response to discipline. * Adult COAs tend to exhibit poor impulse control, antisocial tendencies and sensation seeking. * A new study has found that young adult COAs have a different emotional response to environmental cues than do individuals without a family history of alcoholism. * These findings may demonstrate underlying differences in brain chemistry and physiology. Research overwhelmingly indicates that children of alcoholics are more likely to develop significant alcohol problems, such as abuse or dependence, than will children of non-alcoholics. It is also well documented that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to this increased risk. Genetic or inherited factors include biologically rooted behavioral tendencies and self-regulation. For example, individuals with a family history of alcoholism tend to exhibit poor impulse control, antisocial tendencies and sensation seeking. A study in the April issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research has found that individuals with a positive history of alcoholism have a different emotional response to environmental cues than do individuals with a negative family history of alcoholism.

Keyword: Genes & Behavior; Drug Abuse
Link ID: 1884 - Posted: 04.16.2002

Brain opiate may explain why some people are less susceptible to addiction Some people's brains may harbor their own built-in defense system against the addictive powers of cocaine. According to new research at The Rockefeller University, a naturally occurring brain opiate called dynorphin may, in certain individuals, serve as an antidote to counter the pleasurable, yet dangerous, effects of cocaine. In the latest Neuropsychiatric Genetics section of the American Journal of Medical Genetics, Mary Jeanne Kreek, M.D., and Rockefeller University colleagues report that people carrying a "high-output" version of the dynorphin gene - one that is thought to result in higher levels of this protein in the brain - may be better protected against cocaine dependence or abuse than those carrying a "low-output" form. "These results are preliminary, but do suggest that genetic differences in the gene that codes for dynorphin are correlated with individual variations of vulnerability to cocaine abuse," says Kreek, head of the Laboratory of Biology of Addictive Diseases at Rockefeller and senior physician at the Rockefeller Hospital.

Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 1883 - Posted: 04.16.2002

Older men with higher testosterone levels performed better on tests of cognition in a new study from UCSF researchers. The study suggests that older men who are prescribed testosterone supplements may reduce their risk of cognitive decline, a precursor state to Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers said. Men’s bodies tend to produce less testosterone as they age, and some doctors have begun prescribing supplements of the hormone to increase libido and treat other age-related problems in men. “The men in the study with higher levels of bioavailable testosterone, the testosterone that can reach the brain, did significantly better on these cognitive tests than men with lower levels,” said lead author Kristine Yaffe, MD, UCSF assistant professor of psychiatry, neurology and epidemiology and biostatistics, and chief of geriatric psychiatry at SFVAMC.

Keyword: Hormones & Behavior; Development of the Brain
Link ID: 1882 - Posted: 06.24.2010

Copyright © 2002 AP Online By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press WASHINGTON ( - Male frogs exposed to even very low doses of a common weed killer can develop multiple sex organs - sometimes both male and female - researchers in California have found. "I was very much surprised," at the impact of atrazine on developing frogs, said Tyrone B. Hayes of the University of California at Berkeley. Atrazine is the most commonly used weed killer in North America, he said, and can be found in rainwater, snow runoff and ground water. Copyright © 2001 Nando Media

Keyword: Hormones & Behavior; Sexual Behavior
Link ID: 1881 - Posted: 06.24.2010

By Troy Goodman Scripps Howard News Service A lot of things happen in the minds of children as they get older: expanded vocabulary, altered senses of self-worth and social status and increased cognitive ability (many parents hope). Scientists have now found this maturation of young minds runs steady up to about age 17, says a new study, before cognitive ability starts to decline in the late teens on through adulthood. The findings do not necessarily mean humans are getting dumber as they age, but it does reveal some important biological changes happening in the brain's neural network, said study author Gabrielle de Courten-Myers. She explained that children produce more neurons through their teen years until about the age of 17. After that, the neural growth stops, sometimes even reversing, so the density of some neural pathways in the cerebral cortex is lost. All contents © 1996 - 2002 The Augusta Chronicle.

Keyword: Development of the Brain
Link ID: 1880 - Posted: 06.24.2010

DR. PETER GOTT DEAR DR. GOTT: My husband, 69, is very forgetful and testy. He is also quite confused. An MRI scan showed ''cortical atrophy.'' What is this? Could it be the cause of his problems? Is it treatable? DEAR READER: As we age, our brains shrink. The current theory is that this inescapable situation is related to death of neurons (brain cells), probably caused by tiny blood clots that deprive the nerve tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Doctors believe that such clots form in cycles over a period of decades. Each event is so tiny that we fail to notice anything is amiss; however, the cumulative effect eventually leads to a significant loss of cognitive function, memory and judgment. No one knows why this process is accelerated in certain people. For instance, many adults in their 80s (and beyond) continue to function at relatively high levels of cognition; they may forget names and have to make lists, but their reasoning, judgment and personality characteristics are not dramatically affected. On the other hand, some men and women in their 60s and 70s suffer definite and progressive difficulty with thinking; they often exhibit early disability that quickly progresses to senility and dementia. On a positive note, many authorities are convinced that these neurological abnormalities can be arrested if older people continue to stimulate their brains with intellectual projects, such as learning, reading, problem-solving and working. ©1996-2002 The Dominion Post

Keyword: Alzheimers; Brain imaging
Link ID: 1879 - Posted: 06.24.2010

People who binge drink could be causing rapid damage to their brain cells, research suggests. The finding could have implications for the growing legions of young people in the UK who binge drink. It has commonly been thought that brain damage, or neurodegeneration, occurs not when a person is drunk, but over a longer period when the brain has to cope with alcohol withdrawal. However, a new study on rats has shown that just two days of binge drinking is enough to cause damage to an area of the brain called the olfactory bulb, which is responsible for smell. Damage to other regions of the brain occurred after just four days of binge drinking. (C) BBC

Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 1878 - Posted: 04.16.2002

— Researchers have found that neural stem cells isolated from the brains of adult rats can mature into functional neurons. Stem cells, which are found in tissues throughout the body, are immature progenitor cells that give rise to more specialized cells that form tissues and organs. The scientists emphasized that although their studies show that adult stem cells have the capacity to develop into functioning brain cells, their findings do not mean that clinical application of adult neural stem cells is imminent. The studies were published April 15, 2002, in an advance online article in Nature Neuroscience by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator Charles F. Stevens and colleagues Hong-jun Song, an HHMI research associate, and Fred H. Gage at The Salk Institute. According to Stevens, previous experiments showed that adult neural stem cells bear certain molecular markers that suggested that they could become neurons. “It’s absolutely clear that embryonic stem cells can make perfectly good neurons, otherwise there would be no development of the brain,” said Stevens. “But nobody had demonstrated before that adult stem cells can generate fully functional neurons, beyond just having particular protein markers.” ©2002 Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Keyword: Stem Cells; Regeneration
Link ID: 1877 - Posted: 06.24.2010

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Tired and sweaty after sex? A Dutch doctor said on Friday he is studying a rare new syndrome among middle-aged men who complain of flu-like symptoms for up to a week after having an orgasm. Marcel Waldinger, head of the department of psychiatry and neurosexology at Leyenburg Hospital in the Hague (news - web sites), said he planned to publish a report on "post-orgasmic illness syndrome" in the U.S. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy this month. Waldinger has seen five Dutch men in as many years in his surgery complaining of a range of flu-like symptoms, including a sore throat, sweating, extreme fatigue and eye irritation after sex. Copyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

Keyword: Sexual Behavior
Link ID: 1876 - Posted: 06.24.2010

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Laser surgery to control sleep apnea -- interrupted breathing amid heavy snoring -- appears to work in the short term but causes even worse snoring and apnea later on, according to a report published on Sunday. Doctors at Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, Israel, said they reached that conclusion after studying 26 patients with obstructive sleep apnea who underwent laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty. The technique uses a laser to shrink the uvula, the conical structure that hangs from the lower edge of the soft palate, which is part of the roof of the mouth. Copyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

Keyword: Sleep
Link ID: 1875 - Posted: 06.24.2010

By BARRY MEIER The federal Drug Enforcement Administration said last week that an expanded review of autopsy data had suggested that the painkiller OxyContin might have played a role in 464 drug overdose deaths in the last two years, a figure sharply higher than the agency's previous estimate. But the drug's manufacturer vigorously challenged the agency's interpretation of that data and an official of another federal agency, the Food and Drug Administration, expressed caution. The company and the F.D.A. said they were also reviewing autopsy reports and the Food and Drug Administration official said that agency's study indicated that OxyContin did not appear to pose a threat when used properly. The latest Drug Enforcement Administration update, which was released on Friday, expands on an earlier review. Last year, the agency asked state and local officials to submit all medical examiner and autopsy reports from 2000 and 2001 in which the narcotic oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin and other painkillers, had been found during autopsies. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company

Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 1874 - Posted: 04.15.2002

First images of inhalants in the brain reveal why solvents may be so addictive. UPTON, NY -- Inhalant abuse, also known as "huffing," is a rapidly growing health problem, particularly among young people. However, little is known about how inhaled chemicals affect the brain and body. Now, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory -- inspired by schoolchildren who wanted to know more about huffing -- have produced the first-ever images showing what parts of the brain and body are most affected by toluene, a commonly inhaled solvent. The study, which was performed in baboons and mice, appears in the April 26 issue of the journal Life Sciences (available online April 15). The images show that toluene moves into the brain rapidly and initially affects the same brain regions as cocaine and other abused drugs. Then, toluene spreads more generally to the entire brain before clearing the body rapidly via the kidneys. "This affinity for brain regions associated with reward and pleasure, as well as the quick uptake and clearance, may help to explain why inhalants are so commonly abused," said lead author Madina Gerasimov, a Brookhaven chemist.

Keyword: Drug Abuse; Brain imaging
Link ID: 1873 - Posted: 04.15.2002

By Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent A western lowland gorilla born with cataracts in both eyes can now see clearly for the first time. The gorilla, Romina, underwent a successful operation in Bristol, UK, to restore the sight of one eye. The team who operated on her hope to remove the cataract from her other eye. The operation was the first of its kind in Europe on an adult gorilla. Romina, who is 21, came to Bristol Zoo Gardens (BZG) from Rome zoo in Italy, where she had been born and hand-reared. Checks by the staff at Bristol revealed the cataracts, which had left Romina with only minimal peripheral vision. (C) BBC

Keyword: Vision
Link ID: 1872 - Posted: 04.15.2002