Dr. Randy Nelson, Hazel Ruby McQuain Chair for Neurological Research at West Virginia University, recently participated in discussion about the science of sleep during the annual Focus Forward conference in Morgantown.

Dr. Muhammad Alvi, director of the WVU Stroke Center at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, explained that while West Virginia isn’t in the “stroke belt” — a series of Southeastern states that see a higher-than-normal stroke rate — it has similar instances of the disease.

Brad Smith, an Arizona husband and father with ALS, has become the third person to receive Neuralink. He is also the first ALS patient and the first non-verbal person to receive the implant.

Researchers at the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) became the first in the United States to successfully record high-resolution neural activity from human speech areas using a novel technology capable of detecting more than 1,000 channels of neural information from the surface of the brain.

Drinking eight or more alcoholic beverages each week could have a damaging effect on the brain, according to a new study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).

Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor are movement disorders that are mostly diagnosed in older adults and share one common symptom: tremors. That’s why the two diseases are often confused for one another. 

Ali Rezai, MD, discussed current and potential applications of therapeutic soundwaves in medicine. He also shared examples of studies showing the efficacy of these treatments.

QALSODY is designed specifically to treat the SOD1 form of ALS by lowering the toxic effects of the mutations in the SOD1 gene.

In the Department of Neuroscience at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, part of the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, researchers are learning how the central nervous system is influenced by internal factors, such as genetics, and outside influences in our living environment.

Known as “gas station heroin” and marketed as a mood-enhancing herbal supplement, tianeptine is quietly finding its way into the hands of consumers, many of whom are unaware of its addictive properties and overdose dangers, substance abuse experts say.

People with spinal muscle atrophy (SMA), an inherited neuromuscular disease, usually experience muscle weakness that impacts movement. New research suggests that electrical spinal cord stimulation could improve muscle function for these patients, even restoring the capability to walk.

The future of addiction treatment could be in treating the brain itself. A new trial at the RNI is exploring whether using ultrasound waves on parts of the brain associated with addiction could disrupt connections that contribute to cravings.

RNI’s continued success in pioneering treatments for Parkinson’s and essential tremor using focused ultrasound (FUS) was recently covered in American Scientist. The article, entitled, “Brain Surgery Without a Knife,” features Dr. Ali Rezai who also details the possibilities of using FUS for Alzheimer’s and even addiction.

APhase I/II trial (NCT05603312) with MeiraGTx‘s AAV-GAD Parkinson’s disease gene therapy has met its primary endpoint.

A radical experiment uses focused ultrasound waves to reset cells inside the brain’s reward center to combat cravings.

Dr. Umer Najib was selected by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) to lead a national expert panel to revise the Academy’s official position statement on the use of opioids in neurologic disorders. This effort, completed over several months, involved a comprehensive review of available evidence, expert consensus, and a multi-tiered approval process.

In this episode of Curing with Sound, James Mahoney, PhD, associate professor and neuropsychologist at West Virginia University, discusses the use of focused ultrasound for addiction treatment.

Domestic violence survivors are getting the help they need thanks to two specialized neurological programs in Phoenix and West Virginia that focus on the traumatic brain injuries caused at the hands of abusers.

Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have announced progress on that front — they have developed a new therapy that uses stem cells to treat advanced Parkinson’s.

Dr. Matthew Tenan joined the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy’s “Casual Stats” podcast for an insightful conversation on statistics and scientific rigor in physical medicine.

For many people across the region, finding access to healthcare can be a challenge. That’s why some West Virginia providers are working together using a new method called the ECHO Model in the hopes of improving healthcare.

Movement disorders impact West Virginians at a higher rate than the national average, and WVU Medicine hopes those affected will recognize the signs and symptoms and seek care.

New data from the CDC’s National Vital Statistics System released in February 2025 revealed nearly a 24% decline in drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12 months ending in September 2024 compared to the previous year.

WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute continues its mission to advance treatment of brain aneurysms with its participation in the clinical trial of a new device called SEAL. SEAL stands for Saccular Endovascular Aneurysm Lattice, and manufacturer Galaxy Therapeutics calls their creation the SEAL Embolization System.

Emerging neuromodulation approaches are being explored as potential treatment options for substance use disorders (SUDs). Dr. James H. Berry tells Psychology Today how the RNI is leading the way.

Domestic violence survivors often face unseen injuries, including brain trauma. Dr. Javier Cardenas spoke with NBC News, highlighting the RNI’s innovative treatments that help survivors heal and regain their strength.

A new report from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine suggests that there are benefits to moderate drinking.

However, Dr. James J. Mahoney told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette there are potential unintended consequences if the risks are overshadowed by the benefits.

A new brain therapy offers hope for paralyzed patients gifting them with regained movement. RNI’s Dr. Ann Murray offered her insights, calling the study’s results, “suprising and exciting.” She added, “As we continue to better understand the brain networks, it will continue to enable us to modulate areas that aren’t working correctly.”

In February 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the marketing of the nation’s first-ever blood test to evaluate traumatic brain injury. An updated, handheld version of the test was released this past April by Abbott, which can even be used at a patient’s bedside.