Effects of Parkinson’s Disease Mutation Reversed in Cells
UCSF scientists working in the lab used a chemical found in an anti-wrinkle cream to prevent the death of nerve cells damaged by mutations that cause an inherited form of Parkinson’s disease.
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Global Team Identifies New Genes Behind Severe Childhood Epilepsy
An international study on epilepsy has uncovered 25 new mutations on nine key genes that could pave the way to develop precise therapies for a devastating form of the disorder during childhood.
New Tool Helps Detect Delirium in Hospital Patients
UCSF researchers have developed a two-minute assessment tool to help hospital staff predict a patient’s risk of delirium, a change in mental cognition characterized by severe confusion and disorientation that can prolong hospital stays.
Anemia Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
Anemia, or low levels of red blood cells, may increase the risk of dementia, according to a new UCSF-led study that found people who were anemic had a nearly 41 percent higher risk of developing the condition than those who were not.
Scientists Identify Key Brain Circuits that Control Compulsive Drinking in Rats
A research team led by scientists from the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at UCSF has identified circuitry in the brain that drives compulsive drinking in rats, and likely plays a similar role in humans.
Failure to Destroy Toxic Protein, Not Buildup of Protein Itself, Contributes to Progression of Huntington’s Disease
Scientists at the UCSF-affiliated Gladstone Institutes have discovered that the progression of neurodegenerative disease is not due to the buildup of brain toxins itself, but rather in the individual neurons’ ability to dissolve them.
Healing Harmonies: Testing the Power of Music to Improve Senior Health
A new UCSF research project is exploring whether singing in a community choir can provide tangible health advantages to older adults.
Breakthrough Study Reveals Biological Basis for Sensory Processing Disorders in Kids
Sensory processing disorders are more prevalent in children than autism. In a groundbreaking new study, UCSF researchers have for the first time shown a biological basis for the disease in the brain structure.
Interactive Software Helps Veterans Suffering from PTSD
UCSF scientists discussed their work in developing software, apps and online tools to help veterans with PTSD and brain injuries at the annual "Brain at War" symposium.
High-Resolution Mapping Technique Uncovers Underlying Circuit Architecture of the Brain
Using an innovative brain-tracing technique, scientists have found a way to untangle the complex connections that influence specific brain functions.
Researchers Discover How Fruit Flies Know to Mate with Their Own Species
A UCSF-led team has discovered a sensory system in the foreleg of the male fruit fly that answers a central problem in evolution that is poorly understood: how animals of one species know not to mate with animals of other species.
Simple Two-Drug Combination Proves Effective in Reducing Risk of Stroke
Results of a Phase III clinical trial showed that a simple drug regimen of two anti-clotting drugs lowered the risk of stroke by almost one-third, compared to aspirin alone, when given to patients who had minor or transient stroke symptoms to prevent subsequent attacks.
Absence of Gene Leads to Earlier, More Severe Case of Multiple Sclerosis
A UCSF-led research team has identified the likely genetic mechanism that causes some patients with multiple sclerosis to quickly progress to a debilitating stage of the disease while other patients progress much more slowly.
Genes Involved in Birth Defects May Also Lead to Mental Illness
Gene mutations that lead to major birth defects may also cause subtle disruptions in the brain that contribute to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism and bipolar disorder, according to new research by UCSF scientists.