Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has been awarded the International Prize from the French Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) for her pioneering work in brain imaging and addiction science. Dr. Volkow will receive the award at a Dec. 17 ceremony at the College of France learning center in Paris.
NIDA Director Honored By French Government With Top Science Award for Addiction Research
December 15, 2009 | by
Amyloid Deposits in Cognitively Normal People May Predict Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
December 14, 2009 | by
For people free of dementia, abnormal deposits of a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease are associated with increased risk of developing the symptoms of the progressive brain disorder, according to two studies from researchers at Washington University in St. Louis. The studies, primarily funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, linked higher amounts of the protein deposits in dementia-free people with greater risk for developing the disease, and with loss of brain volume and subtle declines in cognitive abilities.
NIDA News Scan #64
December 14, 2009 | by
NewsScan #64 includes summaries of eight NIDA-funded scientific studies on a variety of topics, including brain imaging of sensation-seeking individuals, the role of glial cells in morphine’s effects in the brain, awareness deficits among marijuana abusers, the effects of two drugs on reducing opioid withdrawal symptoms, the behavioral effects of salvinorin A in non-human primates, drug abuse risk factors for traumatic brain injury survivors, use of marijuana among those with a subtype of testicular cancer, and environmental cues associated with nicotine.
Teen Methamphetamine Use, Cigarette Smoking at Lowest Levels in NIDA’s 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey
December 14, 2009 | by
Methamphetamine use among teens appears to have dropped significantly in recent years, according to NIDA’s annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, released today at a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington. However, declines in marijuana use have stalled, and prescription drug abuse remains high, the survey reported.
NIH-Funded Study Unveils Potential Genetic Links to Lung Disease Risk
December 14, 2009 | by
A new study involving data from more than 20,000 individuals has uncovered several DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function. The research, an analysis that combined the results of several smaller studies, provides insight into the mechanisms involved in reaching full lung capacity. The findings may ultimately lead to better understanding of lung function and diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.
