Ten emerging areas of neuroscience that will impact the future of
treatments for brain and nervous system
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Neurotechnology Industry
Organization (NIO) today announced the top ten emerging areas of
neuroscience that will impact the future of treatments for brain and
nervous system. According to NIO, the trade association that represents the
500 companies worldwide developing treatments for the brain and nervous
system, the U.S. economic burden of brain-related disorders has reached
more than $1 trillion, highlighting the acute need for continued
neuroscience research and therapeutic development.
"Advances across a wide spectrum of neuroscience research are making
possible the development of more effective treatments for the nearly 100
million Americans and 2 billion people worldwide that currently suffer from
brain-related illnesses," said Zack Lynch, Executive Director of NIO.
Top 10 Trends of 2007:
1.  Advancing discovery tools underpin innovation: Beyond biochips and
brain imaging, recent advances in neuroinformatics, image-based neural
circuit analysis, and neural computation are accelerating the pace of
neuroscientific discovery beyond what was imagined a decade ago.
2.  Neuroimmunology leading to new treatment targets:  The discovery that
immune molecules play a crucial role in shaping neuronal connections
opens up new treatment targets for Alzheimer‘s, autism, ALS,
Parkinson‘s, schizophrenia, and nerve injury.
3.  National Neurotechnology Initiative: Momentum for the new $200M/year
federal R&D initiative aimed at accelerating translational neurotech
innovation and improving the effectiveness of FDA review process for
neuroscience drugs, devices and diagnostics grows.
4.  Neurodevice interfaces improve prosthetics and treatments: Advanced
brain-machine interfaces (BMI) enable the severely handicapped to
independently compose e-mails and operate a TV in their homes. Other
neurodevices provide functional stimulation for the treatment of pain,
Parkinson‘s, obesity, and psychiatric disorders.
5.  Addiction advances: New research clarifies the role of drugs on sleep,
cocaine‘s potency, and the brain changes that occur due to abuse
leading to new treatment strategies for this epidemic impacting over
1.1 billion worldwide.
6.  Normal aging brain gets more attention: More research and development
is being focused on thinking impairments that only partially limit
independence and quality of life for senior citizens, adults and
school aged children. Neurosoftware will penetrate nursing homes and
schools, as brain fitness software becomes new first-line treatment
strategy.
7.  Regenerating the spinal cord: New experimental therapies in
development could open the doors for research to improve treatments
for people with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, and
other severe movement disorders
8.  Prevention evidence grows: You are what you eat; smoking is as bad as
we thought; and new studies reveal the effects of environmental
substances on Alzheimer‘s disease, Parkinson‘s disease and others.
9.  Emotional disorders research advances:  New research continues to link
neurogenesis to treatment of depression.  A better understanding of
PTSD should lead to new treatment regimes.
10. Neuroscience infiltrates society: From neuroeconomics to
neuroesthetics to neuroethics and neurolaw, the influence of
neuroscience on society continues to grow.
NIO has developed this "top ten" list in anticipation of cutting edge
research being presented at The Society for Neuroscience Conference being
held in San Diego, California, November 3-7. NIO will be hosting a booth
(#4311) and neurotech industry partnering social at the conference.
About the Neurotechnology Industry Organization
The Neurotechnology Industry Organization (NIO) is the trade
association representing companies involved in neuroscience -- drugs,
devices and diagnostics, brain research centers, and advocacy groups across
the world. More information can be found at
http://www.
Contact:
Zack Lynch
Neurotechnology Industry Organization
zack@
415-341-0193
Ross Gillfillan
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
ross.gillfillan@fkhealth.com
415-503-0197