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What is N-acetylcysteine used for? Cysteine is an amino acid that is used as a building block in our bodies to make proteins. We consume cysteine in our diets through protein-rich foods, like beef or lentils. N-acetylcysteine is a chemical derivative of cysteine. This means which means that N-acetylcysteine contains Read More…
Nystagmus, also known as ocular ataxia, is a term that refers to uncontrollable eye movement- usually a repetitive cycle of slow movement in a specific direction followed by a quick adjustment back to center. The root of this movement lies in a normal reflex that we use every day: the Read More…
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation. It promotes or inhibits activities in specific parts of the brain. tDCS is an experimental treatment that has been shown to result in changes in motor, cognitive and behavioural activities. It may be a valuable tool for the Read More…
Riluzole, often sold under the trade name Rilutek, is a medication used for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects neurons controlling muscle movements. The drug was approved by the FDA (1995), Health Canada (1997), and the European Commission (1996). It Read More…
Public transit may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think about the brain, but it’s a great way to understand how all the parts of the central nervous system work together. Nutrients, hormones, and other important molecules (the passengers) need to get on and off Read More…
Neurons are the cells that serve as building blocks of the nervous system. The brain contains an enormous variety of neurons, and they all need to get a start somewhere. The process by which neurons are formed is called neurogenesis. When does neurogenesis happen? Nearly all neurogenesis occurs before the Read More…
A key role of the cerebellum is to control and fine-tune coordinated movement such as walking. Although walking is an unconscious behaviour, it is actually very complex and requires many systems to work together. The specific mannerisms and patterns of coordinated movement that make up how an individual walks are Read More…
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are well known for worsening motor coordination symptoms caused by the degeneration of the cerebellum. Yet, increasing reports indicate that broader changes are occurring in the brains of some SCA patients. This includes changes in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for learning and memory. One way Read More…
When you think of a balance beam, you might think of gymnastics. For humans, a balance beam is a surface where we perform jumps, flips, and other athletic feats. Whether it’s a child taking their first class, or an Olympic athlete going for gold, the balance beam requires both balance Read More…
Il coordinare facilmente ed efficacemente movimenti come il parlare e il camminare è essenziale nello svolgimento della vita quotidiana. L’abilità di orchestrare questi movimenti con successo è generalmente chiamata “coordinazione mootoria”. Anche se i pazienti di SCA in genere sono in grado di iniziare movimenti coorporei, la loro abilitá di Read More…
