A new study in Biological Psychiatry shows that children whose mother used marijuana while pregnant have a thicker prefrontal cortex than children who were not exposed to the drug in utero. This area of the brain is involved in decision-making, active memory, cognition, and other functions.

It’s estimated that up to 13% of women worldwide use cannabis during pregnancy. Several studies have associated marijuana use in women who are pregnant with behavioral problems—both short- and long-term—in offspring. Analyzing data from the study shows differences in brain structure among children exposed to marijuana, children exposed to tobacco, and children exposed to neither substance before birth.

The causal relationship between cannabis use during pregnancy and abnormal brain development, if any, is not fully understood at this time. Good prenatal care—including avoiding marijuana use and smoking—increases the chances for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Sourced from: ScienceDaily, Cannabis use during pregnancy may affect brain development in offspring: Thicker prefrontal cortex

According to results of a small study recently published in the journal Aging, a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and brain stimulation can help treat cognitive decline in some people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. It’s important to find effective treatment measures—about 5.4 million people in the U.S. currently suffer from Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to reach 13.8 million by 2050.

So far, effective Alzheimer’s treatments have been elusive. This study, which according to researchers provided “unprecedented” results, suggests a treatment protocol personalized for each individual patient may be the way to go. Called MEND—metabolic enhancement for neurodegeneration—the program involves improvements in diet, exercise, and sleep; specific medications and vitamins; and brain stimulation.

While the study included only 10 patients, all 10 experienced substantial long-term (at least 2 years) improvements in memory. For many of them, cognitive function improved from “abnormal” to “normal” following treatment—promising results indeed.

Sourced from: MNT, Memory loss in early Alzheimer’s reversed with personalized treatment plan

Phase I clinical trials involving an experimental vaccine to prevent Zika infection in people are set to begin. According to Inovio, the company that manufactures the vaccine, results of these studies—which are designed to determine if the vaccine is safe—are expected to be announced later this year. This go-ahead from the FDA is an important first step in developing an effective Zika vaccine.

The new vaccine uses artificial fragments of DNA inserted into genetic material, which is designed to better stimulate the body’s immune system response to the virus, as well as an improved delivery system. Early studies in monkeys demonstrated an immune response that helps prevent Zika infection.

The Zika virus has spread quickly through Latin America and the Caribbean, causing devastating birth defects, miscarriages, and stillbirths. Commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, the virus usually causes mild symptoms, but can result in rare, neurological side effects. Researchers caution that vaccine development will be tricky.

Sourced from: NBC News, Company Gets OK to Test New Zika Virus Vaccine