brain

Electrical circuit with various components interfaced with a brain
December 6, 2016

Blood-brain barrier on a chip sheds new light on “silent killer”

A new microfluidic device containing human cells that faithfully mimics the behavior of the blood-brain barrier is providing new insights into brain inflammation, the silent killer.

By VUMC News and Communications
November 10, 2016

Alzheimer’s study establishes way to measure resilience

Vanderbilt researchers have established a new measure of resilience to cognitive impairment in people with asymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease.

By Tom Wilemon
brain and lightning
November 10, 2016

Protein structure and epilepsy severity

Understanding how mutations affect the structure and function of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors will shed light on the mechanisms underlying some types of epilepsy.

By VUMC News and Communications
November 4, 2016

Probing drug abuse circuitry

Vanderbilt researchers have identified cocaine-induced modifications at specific neuronal connections, which could aid the development of new therapies for substance abuse disorders.

By Leigh MacMillan
(iStockphoto)
September 15, 2016

Researchers eye potential schizophrenia ‘switch’

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have discovered a key mechanism that explains how compounds they’re developing can suppress schizophrenia-like symptoms without side effects in mice.

By Bill Snyder
September 1, 2016

Trial to test whether DBS slows Parkinson’s progression

A consortium led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) researchers has received funding as it makes plans for a multicenter trial that could determine whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) slows the progression of Parkinson’s disease in early-stage patients.

By Tom Wilemon
August 15, 2016

Foundation’s support speeds search for new schizophrenia drugs at Vanderbilt

Research in the Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (VCNDD) aimed at developing innovative new treatments for schizophrenia just received a powerful assist from The William K. Warren Foundation.
By Bill Snyder
July 12, 2016

Vanderbilt study shows people with Alzheimer’s have lower ability to perceive pain

People with Alzheimer’s disease don’t perceive pain as readily as healthy older adults, and this may lead to delays and underreporting of pain. This alteration in pain detection may be one reason that people with Alzheimer’s disease and pain tend to be undermedicated and suffer unnecessarily, a trans-institutional group of Vanderbilt researchers reported recently in BMC Medicine.
By VUMC News and Communications
June 2, 2016

Alzheimer’s risk gene in younger adults

A genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in later life appears to benefit younger adults as they age.
By Leigh MacMillan
May 3, 2016

Drug combos for glioblastoma

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that activation of a certain signaling pathway protects brain cancers from targeted therapies, suggesting that using therapeutics that block both pathways may be a promising treatment.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 21, 2016

Putting schizophrenia to bed

A new compound developed at Vanderbilt treats multiple symptoms of schizophrenia in an animal model, without causing sedation.
By VUMC News and Communications
January 25, 2016

Using MRI to assess myelin health

Vanderbilt investigators report an improved model for estimating brain health, using MRI.
By Sanjay Mishra
October 29, 2015

Study explores nicotine patch to treat memory loss

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has received a $9.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to test the effectiveness of a transdermal nicotine patch in improving memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
By Nancy Humphrey