Neuroscience

Rett syndrome drug shows promise in clinical trial

Rett syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes mental retardation, autism, and physical deformities, has no cure. However, a small clinical trial has found that a growth factor known as IGF1 can help treat some symptoms ...

Genetics

Genetic variants in epilepsy gene identified

Investigators have discovered a new method to determine whether individual genetic variants in the epilepsy-associated gene SZT2 cause a neurodevelopmental disorder, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in ...

Oncology & Cancer

Epilepsy drug stops nervous system tumor growth in mice

People with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) develop tumors on nerves throughout their bodies. These tumors are usually benign—meaning they don't spread to other parts of the body and are not considered life-threatening—but ...

Medical research

Protein may protect against neurodegenerative diseases

Cells translate their genetic material at rapid rates with exquisite precision to reproduce, repair damage or even combat disease. But the process can deregulate and give rise to disease. Byproducts of errant processes can ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Happiness and the evolution of brain size

During human evolution, the size of the brain increased, especially in a particular part called the neocortex. The neocortex enables us to speak, dream and think. In search of the causes underlying neocortex expansion, researchers ...

Medical research

Persistent DNA damage in the placenta affects pregnancy outcomes

Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have shown that a dysfunctional placenta can play a previously unrecognized role during the earliest stages of development in mouse models of Cornelia de Lange syndrome. ...

page 1 from 8