BrainBlog

Does the brainʼs wiring make us who we are? Event homepage And, as discussed by Carl Zimmer: The Loom

The Greater Seattle Brain Science Cluster xconomy.com Luke Timmerman 16 March 2012 Read article

A press release from the FDA: FDA approves first generic Lexapro to treat depression and anxiety disorder 14 March 2012 Read the full press release

Making memories: How one protein does it The JHU Gazette 12 March 2012 [snip] "Studying tiny bits of genetic material that control protein formation in the brain, Johns Hopkins scientists say that they have new clues to how memories are made and how drugs might someday be used to stop disruptions in the process that lead to mental illness and brain-wasting diseases. "In a report published in the March 2 issue of Cell, the researchers say that certain microRNAs—genetic elements that control which proteins get made in cells—are the key to controlling the actions of so-called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF , long linked to brain cell survival, normal learning and memory boosting." [snip] Read the full article

Visit the Brain Awareness Week homepage at the Dana Foundation!

I noticed the abstract for this new paper earlier in the day. It should be a good read. Bauer RM, Iverson GL, Cernich AN, Binder LM, Ruff RM, Naugle RI (2012). Computerized neuropsychological assessment devices: Joint position paper of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology and the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology (2012 Mar 1).

Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Ascending Dose Study of the Oral γ-Secretase Inhibitor BMS-708163 (Avagacestat): Tolerability Profile, Pharmacokinetic Parameters, and Pharmacodynamic Markers Clin Ther. 2012 Feb 28; Tong G, Wang JS, Sverdlov O, Huang SP, Slemmon R, Croop R, Castaneda L, Gu H, Wong O, Li H, Berman RM, Smith C, Albright CF, Dockens RC Abstract BACKGROUND: γ-Secretase inhibitors (GSIs) are being investigated for their potential to modify the progression of Alzheimer disease based on their ability to regulate amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation. BMS-708163 (avagacestat) is an oral GSI designed for selective inhibition of Aβ synthesis currently in development for the treatment of mild to moderate and predementia AD. In addition to the desired effect on Aβ synthesis, GSIs affect Notch processing, which is thought to mediate some toxic adverse effects reported with this drug class. Avagacestat produced up to 190-fold greater selectivity for Aβ synth...