The flight-or-fight response is how our body reacts to a possible threat. Blood goes to our muscles, we get a burst of energy, and our pupils get bigger. First, our body dumps adrenaline into our blood stream. Adrenaline then binds to specific proteins. These proteins start the flight-or-fight response. The Read more
There are three layers of tissues between the scull and the brain. The space between the middle layer and the one directly on top of the brain is the subarachnoid space. Spinal fluid and blood vessels fill this space. Arteries are the blood vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the Read more
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It starts slowly, but continues to get worse with time. At this time, there is no cure. Drugs can help control the symptoms, such as muscle tremors or stiffness. Over time, these drugs may stop working. They can Read more
D2-HGA is a rare condition that affects the brain. It usually shows up in young children resulting in growth delays, seizures and weak muscle tone. These signs get worse over time. This can cause severe disability or even death at a young age. Changes in either one of two genes Read more
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare disease that causes things like blood pressure, heart rate and digestion not to work very well. These are things that are “automatically” controlled. It usually occurs in people in their 50s and 60s. It continues to get worse once it starts. Patients usually Read more
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that causes a slow loss of memory and thinking skills. It is called late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, or LOAD, when the disease occurs in someone older than 60. One in every 8 people over age 65 has LOAD. We do not fully understand why people Read more
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) diseases are common inherited nerve disorders. CMT affects nerves of the body, but generally does not affect the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. People with CMT may have muscle weakness and foot deformities. They may also lose their sense of touch and tendon reflexes. There are Read more
Cushing’s syndrome happens when the body has too much of the hormone cortisol. The most obvious sign of Cushing’s syndrome is rapid weight gain around the belly. The condition can lead to diabetes and high blood pressure. If not treated, Cushing’s syndrome can be deadly. There are some medicines to Read more
Two people may experience pain very differently, even if they have the same disease or have had the same surgery. How they respond to pain medicines can also be very different. A drug that helps one person may not work for another person. What causes these differences is not known, Read more
Sodium channel proteins move sodium in and out of our cells. Some types of epilepsy have been linked to changes in genes for sodium channels. But changes in other genes may affect how severe a person’s disease is. The researchers leading this project have found one of these other genes Read more