Researchers have created the largest and most complete map of the fruit fly brain, detailing over 50 million connections between neurons. The study provides critical information about brain wiring and underlying signals, paving the way for future studies on larger-brained animals.
Rates of preteen suicide (ages 8-12) have increased by approximately 8% annually since 2008, with notable increases among female and minority preteens. The study emphasizes the importance of implementing culturally responsive prevention efforts, including suicide risk screening and lethal means safety counseling.
A neuroimaging study reveals extensive changes in brain structure among young people with conduct disorder, including a smaller cerebral cortex and lower volume in several subcortical regions. The findings suggest a link between brain structure and symptoms of conduct disorder.
Researchers create largest and most advanced multidimensional maps of gene regulation networks in the brains of people with and without mental disorders. The study uses postmortem brain tissue from over 2,500 donors to map gene regulation networks across different stages of brain development and multiple brain-related disorders.
Researchers developed a gene-based therapy that restored typical cellular function in organoids created from cells of people with Timothy syndrome. The treatment used antisense oligonucleotides to decrease the use of mutated exon 8A and increase reliance on non-affected exon 8, restoring normal calcium channel functioning.
A large clinical trial found that an intervention for pregnant women in Pakistan significantly reduced the likelihood of developing moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression after birth. The intervention, led by Dr. Pamela J. Surkan, was administered by non-specialized providers and showed promising results.
Researchers found stable differences in brain activity in unmedicated children with anxiety that improved after treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy. The study shows CBT leads to clinically significant decreases in anxiety symptoms and improves brain functioning.
The study maps over 32 million cells in the mouse brain, describing their type, location, and molecular information. This atlas paves the way for a greater understanding of the human brain and development of precision therapeutics for mental and neurological disorders.
Researchers have created detailed cell maps of the human brain and nonhuman primate brain, paving the way for new generation of treatments for mental disorders. The study reveals a comprehensive inventory of brain cells, their organization, and gene regulation, setting the stage for developing targeted therapies.
A new study confirms that HIV can persist in myeloid cells for months to several years, even in virally suppressed individuals. The findings suggest that these cells contribute to a long-lived HIV reservoir and may be an important target for cure efforts.
A study found that long-acting injectable ART suppressed HIV in people with unstable housing, mental illnesses, and substance use disorders. The treatment improved outcomes in underserved patients, overcoming daily treatment barriers such as housing insecurity and untreated mental illnesses.
A new research method allows for a detailed examination of brain processes involved in neurological disorders by integrating human cortical organoids into developing rat brains. The study finds that transplanted organoids integrate into specific brain pathways, displaying functional connectivity.
A clinical decision support system was found to lower cardiovascular risk for patients with severe mental illness by providing individualized informational handouts and treatment recommendations. The study suggests that such systems may result in positive impacts on long-term cardiovascular health.
Research found that women who experienced sexual violence were more likely to develop high blood pressure over a seven-year period. Women who experienced both sexual assault and workplace harassment had the highest risk of developing high blood pressure.
A new study found that children with persistent, distressing PLEs show impaired cognition, higher levels of psychopathology, and delayed developmental milestone achievement compared to those without these experiences. The researchers highlight the need for early intervention and support for youth who report these experiences.
A NIH study found that sexual identity intersects with gender, age, and race/ethnicity to compound suicide risk for some lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Rates of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts were higher among LGB adults compared to heterosexual adults across all demographic groups.
Researchers found four distinct brain activity profiles in trauma survivors that correlated with symptoms of anxiety and PTSD six months later. High reward reactivity was linked to increased symptoms of both conditions.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network has published an atlas of cell types and neuronal wiring diagram for the mammalian primary motor cortex, derived from detailed studies of mice, monkeys, and humans. This comprehensive resource provides a foundation for further study of cell types in the rest of the brain.
Researchers used exosomes to deliver a novel anti-HIV protein into infected mouse cells, silencing HIV replication and reducing its presence in the bone marrow, spleen, and brain. The treatment shows promise for future delivery methods for HIV and other brain diseases.
Researchers found that eating disorder behaviors like binge-eating alter brain reward response and food intake control circuitry, reinforcing these behaviors. The study suggests that behavioral traits contribute to eating disorder maintenance and progression by modulating internal reward responses.
Researchers found that exposure to new experiences dampens established brain connections, allowing for flexible strategy encoding. Novelty triggers neural mechanisms that facilitate learning from new tasks and rules.
A new study found that children with high behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood were more likely to experience worry dysregulation and elevated anxiety in young adulthood. This research could help predict who is at greatest risk of developing anxiety during stressful life events and inform prevention efforts.
Researchers found modest differences in gene expression between individuals with a mental disorder and those without, but more pronounced differences in transcript levels. The study identifies specific transcripts associated with each disorder, providing insights into their distinctness and potential treatment responses.
A new computerized adaptive screener has been developed to identify youth at risk for attempting suicide, correctly identifying 82.4% of youth who went on to attempt suicide in the three months following screening. The screener, CASSY, offers an easy-to-use way for providers to detect youth suicide risk in emergency department settings.
A NIH-funded study identified neuronal abnormalities in cortical cells from individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a genetic disorder associated with mental illnesses and developmental delays. The study suggests that overexpression of the DGCR8 gene and exposure to certain antipsychotic drugs can restore normal cellular functioning.
A NIH study found consistent sex-based differences in cortical volume across 2,000 brain scans, which correspond with patterns of sex-chromosome gene expression. These findings suggest that genetic mechanisms, including those on the X and Y sex chromosomes, may influence sex differences in brain anatomy.
A large-scale US study reveals associations between high levels of outdoor and artificial light at night with less sleep and increased risk of mood disorders among teens. Teens living in areas with high levels of outdoor artificial light tend to report later bedtimes and shorter sleep duration.
Researchers found that astrocytes in the brain can harbor HIV and spread it to immune cells that travel to other organs, even when treated with combination antiretroviral therapy. The study suggests that HIV reservoirs in the brain must be targeted for effective cure strategies.
Patients who visited the emergency department for an opioid overdose are 100 times more likely to die by drug overdose in the year after being discharged. Those who experienced a sedative/hypnotic overdose had overdose death rates 24 times higher and suicide rates 9 times higher than the general population.
A long-term study found that infant behavioral inhibition is linked to a more reserved personality and higher levels of internalizing psychopathology in adulthood. The research also identified a neurophysiological marker, error-related negativity, as a potential predictor of risk for developing anxiety disorders.
A fast-fail trial has identified the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) as a potential target for treating anhedonia. The study found that participants who received a KOR antagonist showed increased activation in brain circuits involved in reward and pleasure, leading to reduced anhedonia scores.
A new machine learning algorithm, SELSER, has been developed to analyze EEG data and predict individual treatment response to sertraline. The study found that specific brain signals, such as alpha waves, recorded when participants had their eyes open, can reliably identify people likely to benefit from the medication.
A new study found that people who presented to California emergency departments with deliberate self-harm had a suicide rate 56.8 times higher than demographically similar Californians. Patients with suicidal ideation had a suicide rate 31.4 times higher, reinforcing the need for universal screening and follow-up care.
A single dose of intravenous ketamine was found to have relatively mild and short-lasting side effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The most common side effect was feeling strange or loopy, which peaked within an hour and resolved within two hours.
A National Institutes of Health-funded study found that coordinated brain activation, including 'replay' events, helps rats learn how to navigate toward goals. Reverse replay is crucial for reflecting on past paths, while forward replay supports planning for future choices.
Researchers discovered a link between SETD1A gene mutations and schizophrenia risk in mice. Restoring the gene's function reversed behavioral and neuronal abnormalities, suggesting potential treatment strategies.
Research reveals distinct growth trajectories for amygdala and hippocampus between males and females, shedding light on sex-based differences in mental health disorders. The study suggests that these differences may contribute to the varying risk profiles of males and females during adolescence.
Researchers discovered that gene expression regulators work together to raise an individual's risk of developing schizophrenia. The study found that modeled gene expression changes matched those found in patients' brains, highlighting the importance of considering complex genetic interactions in psychiatric disorders.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has awarded six research grants to develop a learning health care system for the treatment of early psychosis. The grants aim to improve quality of care and patient outcomes while speeding advances in early psychosis services and science.
Researchers developed a novel method to identify patients at high risk of HIV infection, which can benefit from preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) strategies. The algorithm analyzed electronic health records and successfully distinguished between patients who did or did not acquire HIV, with high precision.
The NIH study found that a sudden increase in demand for suicide prevention services occurs after celebrity suicides, with a significant spike in calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The researchers emphasize the need for increased funding and efficient allocation of existing resources to ensure surge capacity.
A NIH-supported study found that the release of "13 Reasons Why" was associated with a significant increase in US youth suicide rates, particularly among young males. The show's portrayal of suicide was linked to an estimated 195 additional suicide deaths between April and December 2017.
Researchers have developed a high-tech support system called BrainEx that can preserve limited brain function in isolated postmortem brains. The system delivers an artificial blood substitute to prevent degradation and allows for the study of cellular and molecular functions, but without functional activity in brain circuits.
Researchers found ketamine restores functional connectivity and ensemble activity of neurons and eliminates depression-related behaviors. Dendritic spine formation is crucial for maintaining remission, but its slow process may indicate that it's a consequence of ketamine-induced rescue of prefrontal cortex circuit activity.
A new NIH study identifies distinct brain connectivity and activity patterns in children with anhedonia, a condition characterized by loss of interest in activities. The research may aid in developing targeted treatments for this condition.
A recent NIH study found that nearly one-third of preteens (ages 10-12) screen positive for suicide risk in emergency department settings. This highlights the need for universal youth suicide risk screening, which may save lives and prevent undetected cases.
Researchers identify neuromelanin-sensitive MRI as a potential biomarker for psychosis, finding associations with dopamine function and severity of symptoms. The study uses NM-MRI signal to measure regional variations in neuromelanin concentration, reflecting dopamine activity.
Researchers have launched an ultra-large virtual docking library with over 1 billion molecules, expanding the number of 'make-on-demand' compounds for chemical biology and drug discovery. The larger library improves its odds of weeding out inactive decoy molecules.
A Puerto Rico-based neuroscience lab, supported by NIH's National Institute of Mental Health, fosters intellectual growth and diversity among its young trainees through journal clubs, lab meetings, one-on-ones, and philosophy retreats. The lab has published over 80 papers and generates more than 2,000 citations annually.
Researchers have identified distinct brain patterns that respond differently to learning danger and safety in individuals with varying levels of PTSD symptom severity. The study found that more severely symptomatic veterans exhibited greater corrections in physiological arousal and brain activity when faced with unexpected stimuli.