Pressure from Brain Tumors Triggers Self-Destruct Mechanism in Neurons, Study Finds

Brain tumors may damage surrounding tissue in a more insidious way than previously understood. New research from the University of Notre Dame shows that chronic pressure from an expanding tumor does not simply crush nearby neurons. It activates an internal self-destruction program that pushes those cells toward death.  Neurons form the backbone of thought, movement and sensation. When they die, the brain cannot easily replace them. That loss often leads to cognitive decline, motor impairment and sensory deficits seen in patients with aggressive brain cancers and traumatic injuries.  An interdisciplinary team at the University of Notre Dame set out to examine how mechanical compression alone affects healthy brain cells. Meenal Datta, a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering…

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