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Breakthrough UC San Diego Brain Recording Device Receives FDA Approval for a Clinical Trial

The AHA! Team — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 08:21:00 +0000

University of California San Diego via Newswise – The Federal Drug Administration approved a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of an electronic grid that records brain activity during surgery, developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego. The device with nanoscale sensors records electrical signals directly from the surface of the human brain in record-breaking detail. The grid’s breakthrough resolution could provide better guidance for planning and performing surgeries to remove brain tumors and treat drug-resistant epilepsy. The grid’s higher resolution for recording brain signals could improve neurosurgeons’ ability to minimize damage to healthy brain tissue. During epilepsy surgery, the novel grid could improve the ability to precisely identify the regions of the brain where epileptic seizures originate for safe and effective treatment. The new brain sensor array, known as platinum nanorod grid (PtNRGrid) features a densely packed grid of a record-breaking 1,024 embedded electrocorticography (ECoG) sensors. The device rests on the surface of the brain and is approximately 6 microns thin–smaller than one tenth of the human hair–and flexible. As a result, it can both adhere and conform to the surface of the brain, bending as the brain moves while providing high-quality, high-resolution recordings of brain activity. In contrast, the ECoG grids most commonly used in surgeries today typically have between 16 and 64 sensors. These grids are rigid, stiffer and more than 0.5 mm in thickness and do not conform to the curved surface of the brain. The PtNRGrid was invented by Shadi Dayeh, a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California San Diego and members of his team. Over the years, the team developed the PtNRGrid technology in collaboration with neurosurgeons and medical researchers from UC San Diego, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). “This accomplishment ushers in a new era of clinical neuroscience and neuromonitoring,” Dayeh said. “We are very excited to receive the FDA approval to apply our groundbreaking PtNRGrid in a clinical setting. It is a credit to the hard work of my team members who worked tirelessly to meet the quality criteria mandated by the FDA. I am also grateful to my clinical partners, the support of the NIH, and to the campus leadership that fostered an impactful ecosystem across engineering and medicine to transform the future of healthcare.” The FDA approved an investigational device exemption (IDE) for a “pivotal study [titled] “Systematic Evaluation of Platinum Nanorod Grids (PtNRGrids) for Intraoperative Mapping and Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) During Brain Surgeries.” Specifically, the clinical trial is designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the PtNRGrid device to map both normal and pathological brain activity. During the trial, UC San Diego engineers will partner with clinician-scientists: Drs. Sharona Ben-Haim and Eric Halgren at UC San Diego, Dr. Sydney Cash at MGH, and Dr. Ahmed Raslan at OHSU. In a first phase, surgeons will implant the PtNRGrid in 20 patients, then measure and compare the grid’s performance with the present state-of-the-art. The PtNRGrid will be deployed in surgeries to remove brain tumors and to remove tissue that causes epileptic seizures. Record-breaking density Dayeh’s team has pioneered human brain and spinal cord mapping with thousands of channels since 2019, and has reported early safety and efficacy results in a series of articles published in Science Translational Medicine in 2022 in human subjects. PtNRGrid is the only device with thousands of channels to demonstrate in peer-reviewed publications that it can map motor and language brain activity, as well as epileptic discharges, by producing panoramic videos of brain waves over 10 square centimeters of the brain’s cortex while maintaining resolution at a microscopic level. Currently, Dayeh’s research group holds the world record of recording brain activity from a single cortical grid with 2,048 channels on the surface of the human brain published in Science Translational Medicine in 2022. The device was used in the operating room of Dr. Ahmed Raslan of the OHSU. Since then, the team has increased the number of recording channels to 4,096 and continues to work on increasing the number of channels in the grid to monitor brain activity in even higher resolution. Pending success of this staged trial, the team will transition to the next crucial step of making the PtNRGrid available for commercial use at scale. Demonstrating that ECoG grids with sensors in the thousands of channels record brain activity with high fidelity also opens new opportunities in neuroscience for uncovering a deeper understanding of how the human brain functions. Basic science advances, in turn, could lead to improved treatments grounded in enhanced understanding of brain function. “Our goal is to provide a new atlas for understanding and treating neurological disorders, working with a network of highly experienced clinical collaborators at UC San Diego, MGH, and OHSU,” Dayeh said. Dayeh’s work toward the FDA approval is supported by an NIH BRAIN® Initiative award # UG3NS123723. To read the original article click here.

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High Fructose Corn Syrup Damages the Brain Like Cocaine

AHA Publisher — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 08:00:25 +0000

Jonathan Landsman via NaturalHealth365 – The latest research shows that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is not only addictive but can cause behavioral reactions similar to those produced by drugs such as cocaine. The results of these studies were presented by addiction expert Francesco Leri, Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Science at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. These results clearly suggest that the current (global) obesity epidemic, violent crimes, and disease largely stem from poor quality food laced with HFCS, MSG, plus many other additive ingredients. Yet, the lame-stream media continues to focus on promoting greater governmental control over our lives to “save us.” How Does HFCS Alter (Damage) Brain Function? Did you know that drug addicts and high fructose corn syrup users – use the same (overused) brain circuits? There is significant activity in all areas of the brain, especially in the hippocampus, when consuming potent sweeteners. When addicted to powerful substances – you can literally burn out the brain from over-simulation. So, when you consider that a healthy brain is essential for learning, memory, and emotional wellbeing – it’s no wonder we have so many health problems from these unnatural sweeteners. Dr. Leri stated, “We have evidence in laboratory animals of a shared vulnerability to develop preferences for sweet foods and cocaine.” Dr. Leri investigated the behavioral, chemical, and neurobiological changes induced by the consumption of “addictive foods” in the body and brains of lab animals. Though we don’t always equate human studies with animal ones, there is one thing we surely have in common – humans (and animals) are being used experimentally. HFCS, aspartame, and GMOs do not have adequate safety testing – yet soulless politicians have approved them, and the health consequences are devastating. We Are What We Eat – Literally Our diet can modulate numerous pathways that can cause all types of inflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. And, let’s not forget, food significantly influences our moods and behavior. If you’re feeling a little depressed – clean up your diet! Food can switch critical genes off and on, modulate cell-signaling molecules and target different organs. When we consume unnatural (toxic) substances – we make it easy for the “wrong” message to get into our cells. What do you think – could all of this toxic food be causing the rise in autoimmune disorders? In a small human study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), scientists used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to track blood flow in the brain of young normal-weight individuals. The scans showed that drinking plain glucose “turns off the areas of the brain that are critical for reward and desire for food,” according to Dr. Robert Sherwin, Chief of Endocrinology at Yale University School of Medicine. According to Dr. Sherwin, it also showed that with fructose, “we don’t see those changes” and “as a result the desire to eat continues – it isn’t turned off.” The researchers saw these changes in the hypothalamus, insula, and striatum, which are regions in the brain that regulate appetite, motivation, and reward processing, in addition to increasing connections in certain brain pathways linked to satiety. Clearly, multinational food producers are profiting from metabolic “dis-ease.” More and more people (literally) don’t know how to stop eating. Millions of people (aimlessly) purchase billions of dollars in processed foods, and it’s slowly killing off humanity. Is HFCS Worse Than Sugar? Researchers found that fructose was more potent than glucose in bringing about changes within the central nervous system. We all know that excessive sugar intake can produce opiate-like effects similar to psycho-stimulants. Well, HFCS is no different – causing all kinds of food cravings, binging, and withdrawal issues. High fructose corn syrup may take longer to produce a cocaine-like reaction – but it’s real and quite harmful. In addition, HFCS will cause you to experience less focus and mental clarity, more drowsiness, and a higher level of anxiety. If you’re having difficulty concentrating or being productive – remove processed sugar (and artificial sweeteners) from your diet. We all want the same thing for ourselves and future generations – freedom, great health, and happiness. If we really want to improve our society by eliminating senseless violence and avoiding disease, we must improve humanity’s diet. Our future depends on it. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov ScienceDaily.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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Study Identifies Neural Connectivity Patterns Associated with Autism in Infants

AHA Publisher — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 07:00:36 +0000

Elsevier via News-Medical Net – Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rarely diagnosed until symptoms arise, often well into childhood. Evidence however, is mounting that developmental abnormalities likely emerge in the brain long before then: early identification of babies at risk for ASD could allow for interventions that would improve their developmental outcomes. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found evidence of signature brain activity in infants that predicted ASD symptoms later at 18 months old. The work, led by Shafali Jeste, MD, at UCLA appears in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier. “Early identification and intervention is key to getting better outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders,” said Cameron Carter, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. “This study suggests that relatively low-cost diagnostic tools such as EEG may, in the not-too-distant future, help us to do a better job by identifying atypical brain development in infancy, when interventions may be even more impactful than when offered to toddlers and young children.” The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique to measure electrical brain activity from outside the head and tracked neural activity in the so-called alpha range. Alpha-range activity is associated with long-range connections in the brain. The group then used an approach that allowed them to integrate data from across the brain. “One crucial aspect of brain development is the change in patterns of brain activity. We wanted to know if measures of neural activity could detect atypical brain development in ASD during early infancy.” (Abigail Dickinson, PhD, Study First Author, University of California) Dr. Dickinson and the team performed EEG measurements in 65 3-month-old infants; 29 with low familial risk of ASD and 36 at high risk, with an affected older sibling. When the children were 18-months-old, they were assessed for ASD by a trained clinician. The researchers used computer modeling to predict symptom outcomes at 18 months based on the babies’ neural activity in infancy. The model’s predictions correlated with the actual symptoms measured in the toddlers. The model was not able to predict verbal or non-verbal cognitive scores in the toddlers–suggesting that the brain connectivity pattern may be a specific marker of ASD. In infants that later showed higher ASD symptoms, researchers saw decreased connectivity between frontal regions. The infants also showed increased connections across temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere, which are associated with social information processing. “These findings improve our understanding of the neural differences that precede autism and show which brain regions reveal the earliest signs of disruption,” Dr. Dickinson said. The findings bolster the idea that disrupted brain connectivity is a root cause of ASD, not a consequence. The authors suggest that the low cost, wide availability and low risk of EEG make it a good screening tool to identify babies at higher risk of developing ASD or those with “borderline” symptoms, so that they get early intervention. “Mapping patterns of activity associated with autism could ultimately help identify infants who show early signs of neural risk,” Dr. Dickinson added. To read the original article click here.

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Research Shows Music Aids Memory Performance in Older Adults and Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease

AHA Publisher — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 07:00:39 +0000

Texas State University via News Wise – For this year’s World Alzheimers Day, Dr. Deason from Texas State University, reflects on how aging and disease affects the human mind, particularly in older adults. For this year’s World Alzheimers Day, Dr. Deason from Texas State University, reflects on how aging and disease affects the human mind, particularly in older adults. Who: Dr. Rebecca Deason, Associate Professor of Psychology at Texas State, investigates how we learn and remember items and how memory is changed by aging and disease. Dr. Deason has researched memory of words, pictures, and music in young adults, healthy, older adults, and patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) to find ways to enhance and maintain cognition throughout the lifespan. Dr. Deason believes changes in cognition with age is an important issue as the population itself ages. Interventions to increase the chances of healthy aging or to improve the lives of those suffering from age-related diseases such as AD are desirable and currently a focus of much scientific work. Currently, Dr. Deason operates a Memory and Cognition lab where her students and herself study younger and older participants on computer/laptop-based experiments and additionally run young adult participants in EEG/ERP studies. The ERP studies involve recording electrical activity as measured on the scalp- to make inferences about cognitive processes. In addition, music and memory is another area of focus for her research. Dr. Deason says music may aid memory performance in older adults and patients with AD, and her research has been some of the first to explore the possibilities and limitations of musical mnemonics. Patients with AD showed increase recognition memory for lyrics that had been sung compared to spoken music. Recently, Dr. Deason found intact implicit memory for musical stimuli in patients and says further investigation of how and why musical mnemonics work is critical for successfully using music to improve memory performance throughout the lifespan. Dr. Deason’s work centers on finding solutions to improve the daily lives of older adults and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. To read the original article click here.

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Concussion Symptoms Reversed by Magnetic Therapy

The AHA! Team — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 07:00:00 +0000

University of Saskatchewan via EurekAlert – Taghibiglou also found that certain proteins, which are important to protect the brain from various neurological conditions, were restored to their normal level by the low-frequency magnetic stimulation. The proteins protect neurons and halt the progression of post-concussion inflammation and neurodegeneration. Concussion symptoms – such as loss of balance, hazy comprehension, sleep disturbance and ability to walk straight – can be reversed by a new type of magnetic stimulation, research at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) shows. Magnetic stimulation using a laptop-style device for 20 minutes per day improved the ability of rodents with concussion to walk in a straight line, navigate a maze, run on a wheel, and perform cognitive tests, according to research published in the Journal of Neurotrauma. “Concussion is a major health concern affecting all sections of society from children whose brain is still developing to older people suffering falls,” said Professor Changiz Taghibiglou, who led the research. “The beauty of this therapy is not only that it is effective, but that it is non-invasive, easy to use and cost-effective.” The USask team also found evidence that Low Frequency Magnetic Simulation could potentially protect the brain from future degeneration, a risk following serious concussions. Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a major public health concern and can be caused by sports injuries, motor-vehicle accidents, falls and other head trauma. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 10 million people per year are affected by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In Canada, 160,000 people suffer from brain injuries annually, with over 1.5 million Canadians living with the consequences. Income lost from disabilities related to brain injuries in Canada is predicted to rise from $7.3billion to $8.2 billion between 2011 and 2031. Concussion can also cause severe headaches and hamper a person’s ability to think straight and perform day-to-day tasks. Within four days of treatment, rodents with repeated concussion had their ability to perform a variety of cognition and motor tests restored to almost normal levels. Their bodyclocks, governing sleep patterns, which can be thrown out of sync by concussion, were also restored to their normal function. In the next stages of the research program, the USask team plans to conduct longer-term tests on rodents, followed by human trials. The mice were exposed to low levels of magnetic stimulation, which mimic the way brain waves oscillate. Mice with concussion that had not been treated were unable to perform the behavioral and neurological tasks, which included running on a wheel without falling off. Taghibiglou also found that certain proteins, which are important to protect the brain from various neurological conditions, were restored to their normal level by the low-frequency magnetic stimulation. The proteins protect neurons and halt the progression of post-concussion inflammation and neurodegeneration. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of brain injuries as their brains are still developing into their early 20s. “Traumatic brain injury is a clinical condition that poses significant challenges to patients, families and health professionals,” said Dr. Yanbo Zhang (M.D), professor of psychiatry in USask’s College of Medicine, and co-author of the paper. “Patients can suffer long- lasting cognitive impairments, emotional and behavioural changes. Currently, we do not have effective treatment to improve the cognitive impairment. Low frequency magnetic stimulation provides a novel option for concussion treatment. It is portable, non-invasive and affordable.” To read the original article click here.

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