Dopamine and reward responses to music causally linked

A new study published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, reveals a causal link between the neurotransmitter dopamine and the reward responses to music. The study was conducted by an international team including researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of McGill University, the University of Barcelona, and the Hospital de Sant Pau of Barcelona.

Gut hormone increases response to food

Ghrelin promotes conditioning to food-related odours

Stigma impairs cognition in men living with HIV

Reducing stigma may address cognitive impairment in this population

A new study has drawn a direct link between the amount of stigma men with HIV report experiencing and their scores on cognitive tests, measuring abilities such as memory and attention.

Brain tumour awareness week

Providing excellent care and the latest research to help patients

The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada estimates that 27 Canadians a day are diagnosed with a brain tumour and 55,000 are living with one. This Brain Tumour Awareness Week we recognize the toll this disease takes on patients and the work being done to improve their quality of life.

Brain cancer fundraiser leads to important discovery

Brain cancer begins in stem cells, targeting them may prevent tumour growth

Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) have found an exciting new way of treating brain cancer.

Late stage brain cancer cells are heterogeneous — they differ down to the molecular level. This makes developing treatments at this stage difficult, because a drug that may be effective against one cell may not be effective against another.

Disease causing mutation found in French-Canadians

Carriers at higher risk of developing neurodegenerative disease

A team of Canadian scientists, including researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) has discovered the first French-Canadian founder mutation gene linked to synucleinopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases that includes Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy-Bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).

New insight into aging

Plasticity is enhanced but dysregulated in the aging brain

They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, but new research shows you can teach an old rat new sounds, even if the lesson doesn’t stick very long.

The link between obesity, the brain, and genetics

When it comes to weight gain, the problem may be mostly in our heads, and our genes

Clinicians should consider how the way we think can make us vulnerable to obesity, and how obesity is genetically intertwined with brain structure and mental performance, according to new research.

Happy Birthday Brenda!

Scientist Brenda Milner, born in 1918, pioneered memory research

Pioneering neuropsychologist Brenda Milner turns 100 today. Milner made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of human memory.  

Unique brain “fingerprint” can predict drug effectiveness

Technique can be used to better categorize patients with neurological disease, according to their therapeutic needs

Personalized medicine – delivering therapies specially tailored to a patient’s unique physiology – has been a goal of researchers and doctors for a long time. New research provides a way of delivering personalized treatments to patients with neurological disease.

Pathway of Alzheimer’s degeneration discovered

Finding is key for future treatment and earlier diagnosis 

Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) of McGill University have used a unique approach to track brain degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, uncovering a pathway through which degeneration spreads from one region to another.

New Insight Into How Autism Might Develop in Human Brain

Montreal — In a study published in Stem Cell Reports, a McGill team of scientists led by Dr. Carl Ernst, researcher at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, revealed a molecular mechanism that may play a role in the development of autism.

$10-million gift strengthens McGill’s commitment to brain research, young researchers and faster results for patients

Endowment to bolster big-data research and help establish Global Brain Consortium at Ludmer Centre

Genes associated with infantile forms of schizophrenia identified

Discovery will aid diagnosis and development of treatments

Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) and McGill University have identified novel genes associated with a specific form of schizophrenia.

Stroke Awareness Month – June, 2018

Award-winning unit will add 10 new beds this year

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in Canada. Each year, some 14,000 Canadians die as a result of a stroke.

June is Stroke Awareness Month, a time to spread awareness of the causes and effects of stroke as well as its treatment.