Follow Topics

Analysis and Comment (6)

14 May 2013

Pyqyg4jh-1368163631 — Implanted electrodes can alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and help treat addiction. Wikimedia Commons

Deep brain stimulation: a fix when the drugs don’t work

By Amy Reichelt

Neurological disorders can have a devastating impact on the lives of sufferers and their families. Symptoms of these disorders differ extensively – from motor dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease, memory…

19 October 2012

Nmx4pc2m-1350602567 — Each of the 100 billion nerve cells in the brain makes an average of 1,000 connections with other neurons. Zachary Veach

The promise and challenges of biomarkers for mental illnesses

By Ian Cooke, Cooperative Research Centre for Mental Health

The human brain is the location of personality, emotion, learning and wisdom in a unique individual. It contains 100 billion nerve cells – roughly the same number as there are galaxies in the observable…

16 March 2012

7cpk3bnc-1331853943 — Reading oversimplified science stories is stressful business. Michael Clesle

‘Men react more aggressively to stress’ … sure, but you’re missing the point

There’s this gene that about half of all people carry. It’s a pretty nasty gene – it massively increases the risk of the carrier being a murderer or a murder victim, going to jail or dying in an accident…

14 March 2012

X3mpsbdf-1330493206 — Muhammed Ali, Michael J Fox, former pope John Paul II and Yasser Arafat all suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Ali by Ludie Cochrane/Flickr; all others AAP.

Explainer: what is Parkinson’s disease?

By Claire Stevens, Neuroscience Research Australia

Parkinson’s disease was not always known by this name. Almost 200 years ago in 1817, when English doctor James Parkinson first described the disease, he called it Shaking Palsy. But Parkinson’s disease…

7 October 2011

Brain — brain.

Rebuilding the damaged brain: can stem cells be used as repair kits?

By Lachlan Thompson, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Welcome to part five of On the brain, a Conversation series by people whose job it is to know as much as there is to know about the body’s most complex organ. Here, Lachlan Thompson, head of the Neurogenesis…

4 October 2011

2918918286_f692265f25_o — Everything from playing sport to speaking a foreign language is better when done automatically. pfv

Your brain knows the moves (you just get in its way)

By Malcolm Horne, University of Melbourne

Welcome to part two of On the brain, a Conversation series by people whose job it is to know as much as there is to know about the body’s most complex organ. Here, Malcolm Horne, deputy director of the…

Research and News (1)

27 July 2011

Methamphetamine abuse linked to Parkinson’s

By Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation

People hospitalised for abuse of methamphetamines like crystal meth or ice have a 76% higher risk of developing Parkinson…

Research Briefs (11)

21 May 2013

Molecular malfunction can trigger Alzheimer’s

University of Cambridge

The change to a structure of a protein molecule may be linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers at the University…

4 April 2013

Faint hope for Parkinson’s sufferers

University of Adelaide

Up to 50% of Parkinson’s disease sufferers experience a severe drop in blood pressure after eating. Researchers from the…

12 September 2012

‘Mad cow’ blood test a step closer

University of Melbourne

Researchers may have developed a simple blood test for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Mad Cow disease. Scientists used newly…

11 July 2012

Promising speech treatment for stroke patients

University of Queensland

The development of new technology could change treatment methods for people with speech and language disorders resulting…

17 April 2012

Combining therapy reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease

Monash University

A previous study found that individuals with diabetes had double the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, and that the…

20 December 2011

Arm movement can help diagnose Parkinson’s

Pennsylvania State University

Researchers have developed a new way to detect Parkinson’s disease in it’s early stages. While there is no cure, there are…

10 November 2011

Stem cell research hopes to repair brain damage of Parkinson’s disease

University of Melbourne

Australian scientists have developed a new technique using stem cells, in the hope to replace damaged cells in Parkinson…

22 June 2011

Using maths to unlock the secrets of Parkinson’s

Queensland University of Technology

Mathematical models can be used to improve the quality of life for patients with Parkinson’s disease. The models are used…

20 June 2011

Step forward for Parkinson’s disease patients with frozen gait

University of Sydney

Researchers have found a new way to help Parkinson’s disease patients by using a simulated virtual reality environment to…

8 June 2011

Nerve-growth compound for Parkinson’s treatment

Monash University

A new biomaterial has been shown to encourage regrowth of damaged nerve cells in the brain and spinal chord. Xyloglucan is…

1 June 2011

Algorithm to improve brain disease diagnosis

Griffith University

The clinical diagnosis of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease could be made easier and more efficient…

Participants (37)