Virtual reality (VR)-enhanced exercise, that combine physical exercise with computer-simulated environments and interactive videogame features, yield a greater cognitive benefit for older adults, as compared to traditional exercise alone.

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A number of research groups are developing DNA-based circuits designed to be embedded in the human body, to monitor health and treat diseases before they progress.

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Computer games can speed up and improve a patient's recovery from paralysis after a stroke.

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Progress has been made into the development of silicon computer chips that could be used to repair damaged nerve or muscle fibers, among other critical applications. Continue reading…

Researchers have discovered more than 120 peptides that can stop or slow the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. The discovery could lead to new treatments for some of the 30-plus diseases in which angiogenesis is known to play a key role. Continue reading…

Fundamental theories regarding consciousness, emotion and quality of life in sufferers of paralysis from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as 'Lou Gerhig's disease') are being challenged based on new research on brain-computer interaction. ALS is a progressive disease that destroys neurons affecting movement. The study appears in the latest issue of Psychophysiology. The article reviews the usefulness of currently available brain-computer Continue reading…

The feeling of pain produced during medical treatment can be reduced through sophisticated virtual reality helmets, a simple computer game and the determined predisposition of the patient. According to research psychologists at the UAB, this type of distraction even reduces the dosage of sedatives. Their research suggests putting greater emphasis on methodology and on psychological aspects of this technique in order to improve its property. Continue reading…

The elderly population is set to rocket in the coming years. But with fewer taxpayers, there will not be the funds to provide them with personal care. So how are houses going to be designed to allow people to live at home? The year is 2030. Mrs Smith, aged 98, turns to her electronic Companion to find out what medicine she should be taking. Continue reading…

In the December 6 issue of Nature Biotechnology, scientists from 14 different organizations around the world, including the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, propose a new quality standard for biochemical models. MIRIAM (for Minimum information requested in the annotation of biochemical models) will help researchers to reuse, modify and combine computer models of biochemical processes to gain a fuller understanding of life at the molecular and cellular level. Continue reading…

Flight simulators used to train pilots and astronauts can provide relief from chronic dizziness, a study shows. Researchers from Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and Imperial College London treated 40 patients with a history of balance problems. Continue reading…