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UTSW Researcher Develop Device the Keeps Brain Alive … – dallasinnovates.com

What once would have been thought of as science fiction has become science fact.

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have developed a device that can isolate blood flow to the brain, keeping it alive and functioning independent from the rest of the body for several hours. The research could lead to advances in understanding how the brain controls functions in the body.

This novel method enables research that focuses on the brain independent of the body, allowing us to answer physiological questions in a way that has never been done, Juan Pascual, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology, pediatrics, and physiology, and in the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development at UT Southwestern, said in a statement.

Pascual is a member of the Peter ODonnell Jr. Brain Institute at UTSW and holds the Ed and Sue Rose Distinguished Professorship in Neurology and The Once Upon a Time Foundation Professorship in Pediatric Neurologic Diseases.

UTSW said the device was tested using a pig brain model and was described in Scientific Reports.

It could lead to new ways to study the human brain without influence from other bodily functions, UTSW said. Also, it could inform the design of machines for cardiopulmonary bypass that better replicate natural blood flow to the brain.

UTSW said these findings build on earlier research by Pascual and his colleagues.

The brain is master control for a variety of processes, such as regulating heart rate, breathing, and sleep and wake cycles, among other processes. Its function is affected by factors that originate in the body, such as blood sugar, blood pressure, and oxygenation.

Until now, Pascual said there has been no way to separate the brain from the body to study these influences.

UTSW said that in an animal model using anesthesia, researchers redirected the brains blood supply through a pump that maintained or adjusted a range of variables, including blood pressure, volume, temperature, oxygenation, and nutrients.

They discovered that brain activity and other measurements had minimal to no changes over a five-hour period, UTSW said.

Isolating the brain, researchers are able to manipulate inputs to this organ to study how they change brain function without the bodys influence.

Pascual said, for example, the team already has used this system to better understand the effects of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in the absence of other factors. Although scientists can induce hypoglycemia by restricting food intake in lab animals or dosing them with insulin, the body can partially compensate for either of these scenarios by altering metabolism, in turn, altering the brain.

UTSW said that in contrast, the new device permits researchers to alter the glucose content directly in blood pumped to the brain.

Cardiopulmonary bypass devices replicate some functions of the heart and lungs, delivering a continuous flow of oxygenated blood throughout the body.

The new device delivers blood using a pulsative flow, much like the human heart, a difference that may prevent brain-related side effects sometimes caused by cardiopulmonary bypass machines, UTSW said.

Pascual said this device has been patented to test its effectiveness for this indication.

Other UTSW researchers who contributed to this study include co-first authors Muhammed Shariff, visiting junior researcher in neurology, and Aksharkumar Dobariya, M.S., graduate student researcher in biomedical engineering; Bret Evers, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology and ophthalmology; Ulrike Hoffmann, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain management and neurological surgery; Vikram Jakkamsetti, Ph.D., instructor of neurology; Michael Jessen, M.D., professor and chair of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery; Bruce Mickey, M.D., professor emeritus of neurological surgery; Matthias Peltz, M.D., professor of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery and surgical director of cardiac transplant; Cameron Longfellow, perfusionist; Debra Douglass, chief perfusionist; Levi Good, Ph.D., visiting senior researcher in neurology; Gauri Kathote, data scientist in neurology; Gus Angulo, research technician in neurology; Qian Ma, M.D., Ph.D., senior research scientist in neurology; Ronnie Brown, senior research associate in neurological surgery; Misha Dunbar, DVM, senior staff veterinarian; John Shelton, lab manager; and Sourav Patnaik, senior biomedical engineering specialist.

One of the nations top academic medical centers, UT Southwestern integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education.

Its faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 26 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 20 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators.

The full-time faculty of more than 3,100 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments, UTSW said. Its physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 120,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5 million outpatient visits a year.

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Lyda Hill Philanthropies and TAMEST, the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science, and Technology, have launched the Hill Prizes. The new program will provide $2.5 million in funding to support the research of Texas scientists.

The "blood-brain barrier" acts like a highly selective firewall, preventing an estimated 98% of drugs from entering the brainmaking it a major hurdle in the development of brain and central nervous system drugs. Lantern Pharma has recently developed what it calls "highly accurate AI algorithms" to predict the ability of a drug or compound to pass through the barrier.

Oak Lawn Place will provide "high-quality affordable rental housing" for residents 55 and over, with "a further goal of creating a supportive environment for members of the LGBTQ community and individuals affected by HIV in Dallas," Resource Center has said.

Saturday's event is one of many marking this year's 150th anniversary of Dallas' historic Deep Ellum neighborhood. Saturday's event will begin just down the street from the center beneath an overpass, where attendees will experience the Centers outdoor installation, Invisible Deep Ellum, followed by a live music performance at the new center by the Light Crust Doughboys.

The Fort Worth Local Development Corp. approved $500,000 over two years to create the Fort Worth Entrepreneurship Center. The center will be operated by The DEC Network in the city's Near Southside neighborhood, according to the Fort Worth Report.

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Food Insecurity in Seniors Linked to Increased Risk for Dementia – HealthDay

TUESDAY, Nov. 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults, food insecurity is associated with an increased risk for dementia and with poorer memory function and faster memory decline, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in JAMA Network Open.

Haobing Qian, Ph.D., from the University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues examined whether food insecurity in older adults is associated with later-life cognitive outcomes in a cohort study of U.S. residents aged 50 years and older with food insecurity data in 2013 and cognitive outcome data between 2014 and 2018. Outcomes were dementia probability and memory score estimated biennially between 2014 and 2018.

The sample included 7,012 participants with a mean age of 67.7 years. The researchers found that experiencing low food security and very low food security was associated with higher odds of dementia compared with that seen in food-secure older adults (odds ratios, 1.38 and 1.37, respectively). Lower memory levels and faster age-related memory decline were seen in association with low and very low food security.

"Our study contributes to a limited literature by capitalizing on a large and diverse sample, validated exposure and outcome measures, and longitudinal data to robustly evaluate these associations, providing evidence in support of the connection between food insecurity in older adulthood and subsequent brain health," the authors write. "Our findings highlight the need to improve food security in older adults and that doing so may protect individuals from cognitive decline and dementia."

One author disclosed ties to Cogstate.

Abstract/Full Text

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Study may improve palliative care for Parkinson’s, related dementia – Parkinson’s News Today

A five-year project funded by a $3.9 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant will study how team-based palliative care might lead to better health services and ease disparities in Parkinsons disease and disease-related dementia care.

Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses, aiming to address the physical, emotional, and social needs of patients and their families.

But in practice, it can be excessive with inappropriate treatments, of low value, and unequal in the care given patients by their socioeconomic or ethnic status, a project co-investigator noted.

The grant was awarded to UTHealth Houston, the University of Pennsylvania, and other institutions, and includes a $1.9 million subcontract given to Adriana Prez, PhD, a professor in the department of biostatistics and data science with UTHealths School of Public Health in Austin, Texas.

Prez, a project co-investigator and biostatistician, will determine the scope and drivers of unequal and limited value for Parkinsons patients.

The strength of our proposed research is the focus on health equity with the use of Medicare claims which would provide new knowledge that could be used to reduce disparities and improve end-of-life care for vulnerable sub-groups, she said in a university press release.

Parkinsons is caused by the progressive loss of nerve cells in the brain responsible for making dopamine, a chemical these cells use to communicate with one another. Their loss leads to the hallmark motor symptoms of the disease.

But Parkinsons patients also experience nonmotor disease symptoms that include dementia, mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, and problems in the autonomic nervous system responsible for involuntary processes like digestion and blood pressure. These also can significantly impact a persons overall well-being and quality of life.

Dementia is reported to develop in about one-third of Parkinsons patients, and like the difficulties with movement and balance that patients experience, it is due to the accumulation in the brain of toxic clumps of the alpha-synuclein protein, called Lewy bodies.

While dementia and other nonmotor symptoms can be given less attention and insufficient treatment, they are the leading causes of hospitalization and institutionalization among patients with these diseases in the U.S., UTHealth noted in the release.

According to Prez, current care models provide many people living with Parkinsons disease or related dementia with excessive services of little value, and are unequal across palliative domains.

Previous research also indicates that women and patients of Hispanic, Asian, or African American ethnicity along with factors guiding healthcare systems and policies are not given needed information and resources.

End-of-life care for people with Parkinsons and related dementia is often substandard and fraught with disparities, Prez said.

To address this, the scientists are conducting a large-scale trial of team-based, neurology-led palliative care in 33 of the 65 academic Movement Disorders Centers across the U.S., a model previously found to be effective at a few of them. The study will compare Medicare data at the involved centers with data collected at the 32 centers not part of this trial.

This model is based on increasing advance care planning, and decreasing acute care for non-motor symptoms, low-value end-of-life care, prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications, and sociodemographic disparities, Prez said.

The grants principal investigator is Allison Wills, MD, an associate professor in the department of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Other co-investigators include Benzi Kluger, MD, a professor of neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center; and Jean Kutner, MD, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Colorados Anschutz Medical Campus.

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6 Tips to Protect Brain Health – Health Matters

4. Exercise

Exercise is usually associated with physical health, but whats good for your heart, like cardiovascular or aerobic exercise, is also good for your brain, says Dr. Pahlajani.

Anything that raises your heart rate for at least 30 minutes, four to five times a week, is great for your brain, she says. Not only does exercise increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, but it also releases various brain-protective chemicals.

If someone doesnt have the time to get to a gym, she says things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking further away from your destination to force yourself to walk are good ways to get your heartrate up. Diet and exercise will also help manage vascular health, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which are big risk factors that can exacerbate cognitive decline and the onset of Alzheimers if they go unchecked or uncontrolled.

Most people have experienced how hard it is to focus or keep your attention if you dont get enough sleep. This is because sleep is the garbage truck for your brain, explains Dr. Pahlajani.

Sleep is when the body gets rid of toxins and replenishes itself, and its also a time when memory is consolidated, she says, adding that adequate sleep means getting seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. When we dont get proper sleep, this can lead to memory, focus, and attention issues.

A lack of quality sleep may result in things like a person not being able to find their words, or it may feel like their memory is all over the place, leading to your brain feeling foggy the next day. This is why its a good idea to turn off electronics at least an hour before going to bed, and to see a doctor if you think you have a disorder like sleep apnea, where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, preventing you from getting deep, quality sleep.

There are many things besides Alzheimers that can cause the symptoms of memory loss, she says. This is why we test people for sleep apnea or other sleep disorders if theyve been diagnosed with Alzheimers, to fully understand the underlying cause of a persons memory problems.

Challenging your brain with puzzles or new skills is not the only way to strengthen or create neural connections, says Dr. Pahlajani. Socializing and interacting with people can cultivate neuroplasticity, which is the brains ability to change and adapt in response to life experiences.

This became even more evident during the pandemic, when Dr. Pahlajani saw a significant decline in cognition for patients who had early stages of memory loss when they didnt have social stimulation.

There is nothing that can match the new connections our brain makes when we are actually interacting with other humans, says Dr. Pahlajani. This means non-screen kinds of things. If you are going to take a class, for instance, take it in person, not online. Social engagement helps stimulate our brains to make new connections and stay healthy.

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Mild Cognitive Impairment Underdiagnosed: Study Reveals … – HealthDay

TUESDAY, Nov. 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Mild cognitive impairment is underdiagnosed, with only 0.1 percent of clinicians and practices with diagnosis rates within the expected range, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease.

Ying Liu, Ph.D., from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and colleagues examined detection rates for mild cognitive impairment among primary care clinicians and practices in the United States using Medicare claims and encounter data in an observational study. The study sample included 226,756 primary care clinicians and 54,597 practices with at least 25 patients aged 65 years or older enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service or a Medicare Advantage plan. The detection rate for mild cognitive impairment was assessed as the ratio between the observed diagnosis rate of a clinician or practice based on documentation and the expected rate based on a predictive model.

The researchers found that the average detection rates were 0.08 for mild cognitive impairment for clinicians and practices, indicating that on average, about 8 percent of expected cases were diagnosed. Diagnosis rates within the expected range were seen for only 0.1 percent of clinicians and practices.

"There's really just a tiny fraction of physicians in a position to diagnose mild cognitive impairment who would find these cases early enough for maximum therapeutic potential," lead author Soeren Mattke, M.D., also from the University of Southern California, said in a statement.

One author disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, which partially funded the study.

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Brainomix Targets US Expansion with the Launch of its Cutting … – PR Newswire

OXFORD, England, and CHICAGO, Nov. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brainomix, the AI-powered medtech solutions company, has heralded its continued US expansion with the launch of its full suite of FDA-cleared modules in its Brainomix 360 platform for stroke care.

The US launch, which included its previously announced FDA cleared e-ASPECTS module, represents a comprehensive platform designed to support clinicians and their imaging-based treatment decisions at all points across the stroke pathway, from simple imaging to more advanced imaging.

Long established as a market leader in Europe and a pioneer in the development of innovative stroke AI solutions, the company will continue to introduce its transformative technology to more US stroke centers.

The Brainomix 360 platform is powered by state-of-the-art AI algorithms that provide real-time interpretation of brain scans to aid treatment and transfer decisions for stroke patients, with an aim towards enabling more patients to receive the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time.

The launch included Brainomix exhibiting at the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN) Conference in Miami, with Dr Waleed Brinjikji, Professor of Radiology and Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, providing a keynote presentation on his experience with the Brainomix 360 platform.

"We have been collaborating with the Brainomix team around numerous research projects over the past couple of years, including a recent study that validated the performance of their e-ASPECTS module," noted Dr Brinjikji. "The results showed that the accuracy of ASPECTS scoring by physicians improved across disciplines and levels of experience, which makes the e-ASPECTS module a powerful tool for clinicians across the US who are managing stroke patients."

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce our Brainomix 360 platform to more and more US stroke networks, and to showcase the extensive validation of our technology, a good portion of which was conducted in the US at such institutions as the Mayo Clinic, Emory University, Mount Sinai in New York, and UCLA" said Dr Michalis Papadakis, co-founder and CEO of Brainomix.

The recent FDA clearances included Brainomix 360 e-CTP and Brainomix 360 e-MRI, both software modules that can support thrombolysis and thrombectomy treatment decisions, particularly for late-window patients who present to hospital more than 6-12 hours after stroke onset.

Brainomix 360 Triage LVO and Brainomix 360 Triage ICH are two new notification tools, which send real-time alerts to clinicians when a bleed or large vessel occlusion (LVO) is suspected. The presence of LVO can be a key determinant when deciding a patient's eligibility for mechanical thrombectomy.

Brainomix has established commercial operations in the US and will continue to expand as it rolls out its products across US hospital networks. The company announcedthe FDA clearance of its e-ASPECTS module in March 2023, its flagship software that is powered by patented, explainable AI to assess non-contrast CT scans to automatically generate an ASPECTS score and features a unique overlaid heatmap that enables a more nuanced assessment of each region.

Dr Michalis Papadakis, added, "As a spin-out from the University of Oxford, we have a longstanding heritage of scientific and academic excellence, which has allowed us to achieve broad success in the UK and across Europe, including national-level deployments of Brainomix 360 across Hungary and Wales, as well as wide-ranging roll-outs in England, Poland, Sweden, Italy and Spain."

With deployments across more than 30 countries, Brainomix's AI stroke software has been studied and validated in more than 60 publications, including a set of recent studies showing that the implementation of Brainomix software enabled faster treatment by reducing door-in-door-out times by more than one hour, and improved patient outcomes by tripling the number of patients achieving functional independence after stroke,1 while also increasing the rates of both thrombolysis and thrombectomy by more than 50%.2

To learn more about the Brainomix 360 platform click here.

1Nagaratnam et al. Int J Stroke. 2021;16:28-29 2 Gunda B, et al. Cerebrovasc Dis Extra. 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35134802

About Brainomix

Brainomix specializes in the creation of AI-powered software solutions to enable precision medicine for better treatment decisions in stroke, lung fibrosis, and cancer. With origins as a spin-out from theUniversity of Oxford, Brainomix is an expanding commercial-stage company with operations in the UK, Ireland and the USA. A private company, backed by leading healthtech investors, Brainomix has innovated award-winning imaging biomarkers and software solutions that have been used in more than 30 countries worldwide. Its first product, the Brainomix 360 platform, provides clinicians with the most comprehensive stroke imaging solution, driving increased treatment rates and improving functional independence for patients.

To learn more about Brainomix and its technology visitwww.brainomix.com, and follow us onTwitter,LinkedInandFacebook.

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