Brain / Neuro / Spinal

Washington University has an array of strong interdisciplinary research programs exploring the human brain and related issues, such as psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, cognitive function and the mind-brain connection. Washington University's Spinal Cord Injury Program is one of the top treatment and research facilities in its field. Explore this topic through any news stories or experts listed below. Related groups and medical topics are listed to the right.

Faculty Experts:

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James Cheverud Professor of Physical Anthropology in Arts and Sciences Expertise: quantitative genetics, evolutionary theory, human genetics, human and nonhuman primate biology, genetics, obesity, evolution, … Direct contact: (314) 362-4188 / cheverud@wustl.edu

Steven Petersen James S. McDonnell Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in Neurology Petersen is chief of the Neuropsychology Division and a pioneer in using brain imaging to identify brain regions that contribute to attention, learning, memory and language. He also investigates the effects of disease and brain damage on these cognitive processes, bridging a range of psychological ... Expertise: Neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, neuropyschology, brain imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), attention, … Media assistance: (314) 286-0122 / purdym@wustl.edu

David Gray Associate professor in the Program in Occupational Therapy Gray studies how environmental enhancers and barriers affect people with disabling conditions. He also is examining how surgery influences the mobility of children and adults with cerebral palsy. Additionally, he is looking at how disabling conditions affect the spouses of people with multiple sclerosis ... Expertise: environmental enhancers and barriers, disabling conditions, mobility of children with cerebal palsy, disabling conditions and spouses Media assistance: (314) 286-0111 / williamsdia@wustl.edu

Shirley Sahrmann Professor of cell biology and physiology Clinically, Sahrmann specializes in musculoskeletal pain syndromes and neuromuscular dysfunction syndromes. Her research interests include motor control and the classification of musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Expertise: musculoskeletal pain syndromes, neuromuscular dysfunction syndromes, motor control Media assistance: (314) 286-0111 / williamsdia@wustl.edu

David Clifford Melba and Forest Seay Professor of Clinical Neuropharmacology in Neurology Clifford, who is director of the AIDS Clinical Trials Unit (ACTU) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, is a leading expert on the neurological complications of AIDS and their treatment and management. He has also participated in studies of epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Clifford is involved ... Expertise: Neuropharmacology, HIV, AIDS, AIDS-related dementia, peripheral neuropathy, leukoencephalopathy, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, … Media assistance: (314) 286-0126 / pattoner@wustl.edu

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News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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Elderly driver safety Experts discuss aging's impact on ability to drive, find other transportation April 28, 2008 -- Ensuring that the elderly have access to transportation while preventing age-related driving impairments will be the focus of the eighth annual Friedman Conference on Aging, "Are We Licensed for Life? Transportation and Driving Issues in an Aging Society."

From beginning to dependence Environment influences when drinking begins; genes' role increases in transition to alcohol dependence April 22, 2008 -- The influence of genetics increases as young women transition from their first drink to alcohol dependence. A team of researchers at the School of Medicine found that although environment is most influential in determining when drinking begins, genes play a larger role in advancing to problem drinking and alcohol dependence.

Tracking biomarkers Washington University in St. Louis and AstraZeneca announce Alzheimer's research collaboration April 17, 2008 -- The School of Medicine and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) have announced a research collaboration that aims to develop new and improved ways to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease. The major focus of the alliance will be biomarkers, characteristic changes in the brain and spinal fluid that physicians can use to diagnose Alzheimer's disease and track its response to treatment.

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Related News Clips:

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Show More Brain / Neuro / Spinal Clips

Genetic link to alcoholism in women discovered XETC-TV FOX 6 News at 6 a.m. (San Diego CA) and 7 others April 25, 2008 -- Story on the WUSTL medical school research on the genetic link to alcoholism in women. Includes video link to the news story.

Study Details New Molecular Approach to Preventing Alzheimer's The Washington Post and 7 others April 25, 2008 -- German researchers are reporting a new approach to the possible prevention of the molecular "debris" that's associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. WUSTL neurology professor James Galvin called the German research "a novel idea."

Gut Check: Why Doctors Say Not All Fat Is Created Equal The Wall Street Journal and 2 others April 15, 2008 -- The recent report that having a pot belly in your 40s roughly triples your risk of dementia in later life is just the tip of an ominous iceberg. WUSTL research on liposuction in which found no change in the women's cholesterol levels, triglycerides, insulin sensitivity or other health risks. "If they had lost that much fat by dieting, they would have substantially improved their metabolic profile, but they didn't," says Samuel Klein, director of WUSM's Center for Human Nutrition and the study's principal investigator.

Researchers zero in on Alzheimer's plaque origin Agence France Presse and 13 others April 10, 2008 -- WUSTL researchers have found that a key ingredient for the formation of Alzheimer's plaques is produced by a brain cell activity. WUSTL neurology professor and the study's first author John Cirrito comments.

Autism Cases on the Rise; Reason for Increase a Mystery WebMD.com April 3, 2008 -- The number of children diagnosed with autism or related disorders has grown at what many call an alarming rate. Some of the increase in reported cases is because of "diagnostic substitution," says WUSTL social work professor Paul Shattuck, an autism researcher.

Spotlight Links:

Online Neuroscience Tutorial
An illustrated guide to the essential basics of clinical neuroscience created in conjunction with the first-year course for medical students at Washington University in St. Louis. Take the tutorial

Brain Awareness Week at Washington University
A annual event organized by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, Brain Awareness Week is an international effort to advance public awareness about the progress, promise, and benefits of brain research. Washington University has established a Web site with links of interest to brain research and an archive of material from past events. More info

Neuro-Rehabilitation
Clincal neurorehabilitation services at Washington University focus primarily on Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitation and on Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. The Spinal Cord Injury Section integrates research and clinical care. Current research is focused on the mechanisms of injury and developing strategies to repair the injured cord. The Clinical Program centers on the delivery of traditional and advanced rehabilitation therapies. The STATeam (Spinal Trauma and Treatment Team) is a group of professionals that provide care from the onset of injury through life long care.

Center for the Study of Nervous System Injury
Central nervous system injury is a problem of widespread clinical importance currently lacking treatment but ripe for the development of new therapeutics derived from advances in neuroscience. Such injury occurs in two main settings. The first is acute insults, such as stroke (caused by sudden loss of blood flow to the brain, or hemorrhage), head trauma or spinal cord trauma. The second is chronic neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease or Huntington's disease. Taken together, central nervous system injury represents one of the most important challenges facing medicine today. It is particularly significant in the elderly population, where it ranks as the leading cause of disability and one of the leading causes of death. To approach this pressing problem, Washington University established the Center for the Study of Nervous System Injury in 1992. The center's mission is to develop new therapeutic strategies to protect the brain and spinal cord from injury and to promote recovery once injury has occurred. More info

Art and the Mind-Brain
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the bearing of cognitive science on the perception and understanding of art. This interest has roots in tradition: Historically, art, aesthetics, and vision science have often been linked. But the growth of knowledge in cognitive science has opened up new opportunities for understanding art and addressing philosophical questions regarding the nature of aesthetic experience. The converse is also true. The production, perception, and understanding of art are human capacities that can shed light on the workings of the mind and brain in general. More info