ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

Researchers have identified a four-protein complex that appears to play a key role in generating ribosomes -- organelles that serve as protein factories for cells -- as well as a surprising part in neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings could lead to new ways to manipulate ribosome production, which could impact a variety of conditions that affect human health.

Researchers have developed a miniature microscope that is designed for high-resolution 3D images inside the brains of living mice. The new, lightweight design could help scientists understand how brain cells operate by imaging deeper into the brain than previously possible with miniature widefield microscopes.

A new study reports that, among youth with substance use and depression, a significant proportion show early improvements in depression during their treatment for substance use. Youth who are using cannabis less frequently prior to treatment and those without conduct disorder are more likely to experience early depression improvement.

New research is breaking ground in repurposing an FDA-approved drug as a potential treatment in Down syndrome and normal aging. The results suggest that GM-CSF may improve cognitive function in people with Down syndrome. The drug sargramostim (GM-CSF, which stands for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) is also the first to show memory improvement in Alzheimer's patients in a phase II clinical trial. GM-CSF is a normal human protein that is safe and well-tolerated with over 30 years of FDA-approved use for other disorders.

Researchers have found that dysfunction in an important cell subtype in the brain's neuronal network contribute to chronic symptoms in the neurodevelopmental disorder Dravet syndrome.

Rehabilitation psychology is a field that focuses on assessing and treating cognitive, emotional and functional difficulties for patients in a rehabilitation setting. In a recent state of the field survey paper, researchers conclude that providers need to communicate the value they bring to organizations through saving costs from decreased hospitalizations, assessing the likelihood of successful interventions and recovery, and more. Authors also call for broad and simultaneous promotion and recruitment in the field.

Pharmacogenetic testing was associated with nearly a two-fold (89 per cent) increase in remission rates compared to treatment as usual in a recent clinical study.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects as many as 30,000 people in the United States, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It weakens muscles over time, impacting physical function and ultimately leading to death. There is no single cause for the disease and no known cure. However, researchers have found a possible window of opportunity during ALS treatment to target astrocyte abnormalities.

The rates of older adults getting treatment for substance abuse rose sharply from 2000-2017, in tandem with the Baby Boom cohort reaching older adulthood.

A study that showed changes in the brain in those at risk of developing bipolar disorder raises new hopes about early intervention.

A research review found that clot-busting therapy and mechanical clot removal to treat ischemic stroke in people with a pre-existing disability or dementia was as safe and effective as in adults without those conditions. These treatments are key to preventing additional disability. A person's pre-existing disabilities or dementia may cloud the stroke assessment process, which may lead to clinicians thinking the stroke is more severe and beyond the window for optimal treatment. This often results in delayed treatment or no treatment. People with a disability or dementia should be included in randomized controlled trials for stroke treatment. Currently, evidence-based stroke treatment data and guidance for people with disability or dementia are extremely limited.

Pregnant women with anorexia are at greater risk of having a stillbirth, underweight baby or pre-term birth, yet there are no clear guidelines for how doctors should manage the condition, according to a new study. Researchers have developed recommendations and principles for multidisciplinary management of anorexia nervosa in pregnancy. These recommendations include a focus on the specialist mental health, obstetric, medical, and nutritional care required to ensure optimal outcomes for women and their infants.