Research in nonhuman primates is opening new possibilities for testing treatments for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions before extensive brain cell death and dementia set in. A recent study…

Every day, the seven National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) conduct and enable collaborative research studies to improve human and animal health . For more than five years now, we’ve been…

Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a critical role in social bonding and attachment. In recent years, researchers have been studying the effects of intranasal oxytocin, a non-invasive treatment that…

Oxytocin, a brain chemical known for promoting social bonding and nurturing behavior, has been used in several studies to potentially treat disorders such as autism, but with inconsistent results. Yerkes…

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. AD affects more than 44 million people worldwide and more than six million Americans….

Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive chronic neurologic condition, causing a gradual loss of the nerve cells producing the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. While there are no standard diagnostic…

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease is an inherited condition involving the brain and spinal cord, resulting in reduced neurological function. Those affected by the disease (an estimated 1 in 100,000 people) typically experience…

About 30 percent of people who have severe anxiety and depression do not find sufficient relief in available medications and psychotherapy, causing them chronic, debilitating symptoms and a significant risk…

Each year in the U.S., millions of people receive general anesthesia, and a small proportion of those patients actually regain some awareness during their medical procedures. A recently published study…

Promising results from the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WiNPRC) are giving hope to the millions of people who live with Parkinson’s disease (PD). By grafting neurons from monkeys, WiNPRC…

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects more than 5.5 million Americans per year. This staggering prevalence makes it a high-priority disease for researchers to develop better treatments and even a cure. Researchers…

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by motor-related symptoms, including tremors, rigidity and stooping posture. Lesser known is damage to nerves in the heart, which progresses over time, is independent of…

Alzheimer’s disease is far too common. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that more than 5 million Americans are living with it, and one in three seniors die from the…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which impacts communication and interaction abilities, affects 1 in every 54 children in the United States. In order to understand the biological basis of these types…

Researchers at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WiNPRC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) recently made a discovery that moves the scientific community one step closer to understanding and…

Here’s a sobering statistic: one in every five American women and one in every 10 American men at the age of 45 are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover,…

Scientists have made one more step toward the treatment and cure of multiple sclerosis (MS) by developing a compound that successfully promotes the regeneration of the protective myelin sheath around…

Is it possible for consciousness to be controlled through the brain? And if so, what implications could this have for people with serious brain disorders or conditions, like comas? As…

Could increasing just a single type of molecule in the brain alleviate anxiety? According to researchers at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC), it could indeed. Anxiety disorders often…

People who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other stress- and anxiety-related conditions experience debilitating bouts of fear when they encounter certain environmental cues. In some cases, these bouts…

It has been known that a widely-used attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug affected the brain—but the specifics of those effects hadn’t been fully understood until now. Luis Populin, PhD, professor of…

Parkinson’s Disease is a complicated neurological illness, the causes of which are still not fully understood by the scientific community. Researchers at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WiNPRC), however,…

Frequent alcohol use among adolescents and young adults has the potential to be dangerous for obvious reasons—and now, new research in nonhuman primates shows it can actually slow the rate…

Alcoholism isn’t easily explained, but it can have devastating effects for sufferers and their friends and families. New research conducted at Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) at Oregon Health…

What if certain parts of the brain could be turned off to treat neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease? Though it seems far-fetched now, such a solution could soon become reality….

It’s proven stress wears down the body and compromises the immune system—but why? Scientists can’t yet fully explain how the association between stress and health plays out at the cellular…

According to a new study by scientists at the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) at Texas Biomedical Research Institute, marmosets can mimic the sleep disturbances, changes in circadian rhythm…

Ever wonder how your brain knows what a certain object is, even if the object is mostly hidden? Researchers at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) at the University…

Most of us enjoy listening to our favorite tunes while in the car or relaxing at home—but could music serve an even deeper purpose in our lives? In September, Larry…

Parkinson’s disease is most widely known for causing muscle tremors and motor-control symptoms, but most Parkinson’s sufferers also exhibit damage to their hearts’ connection to the sympathetic nervous system. In…

Stress can lead to a host of health issues, including heart disease, digestive problems, asthma and diabetes. Stress can also be inherited, setting up infants and children for lives of…

Anxiety disorders affect some 40 million Americans; more than 16 million Americans suffer from depression, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison…

The holy grail of autism research is a reliable test for the condition – and researchers at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC), working with colleagues at the Stanford…

Nearly one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease (PD). As the disease progresses, people who have PD are likely to lose motor functions and the ability to live an independent…

Understanding the genetic code is one thing. Altering it is something different altogether. Researchers at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) have discovered a technique for inserting a specific…

It can make a parent’s heart race – finding out your infant must undergo extensive surgery that requires general anesthesia. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approximately…

Familiarity makes the heart grow fonder, at least when it comes to the prairie vole. This rodent species is monogamous, with partners forming lifelong bonds. Until recently, no one knew…

Menopause isn’t always accompanied by physical symptoms. In fact, for many women, the side effects of this hormonal change aren’t quite as tangible as hot flashes and stiff joints. A…