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Researchers uncover new clues about links between parent age and congenital disorders

A new study found that the link between paternal age and rare congenital disorders is more complex than previously thought. Researchers discovered that while older fathers are more likely to have children with certain bone and heart malformations, some genetic mutations associated with these conditions do not increase with paternal age.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeContent analysis·DateFeb 27, 2024

How ketamine acts fast and slow

Researchers discovered that ketamine's sustained effects involve increasing immature cells' activity, while rapid effects rely on newborn neurons firing more rapidly. This breakthrough opens doors to developing new antidepressant treatments.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalCellular and Molecular Life Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 27, 2024

Making AI a partner in neuroscientific discovery

A new paper argues that LLMs can interpret and analyze neuroscientific data, unlocking new insights and potential treatments. Lead author Danilo Bzdok suggests that scientists may not always fully understand the mechanism behind biological processes discovered by LLMs.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNeuron·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateFeb 9, 2024

A new way to visualize brain cancer

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and MIT unveiled a new microscopy technology called decrowding expansion pathology (dExPath) that provides novel insights into brain cancer development. The technology enables scientists to study neurological diseases at a never-before-achieved nanoscale level on conventional clinical samples.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 31, 2024

Large Finnish study finds that maternal pulse recording during childbirth prevents encephalopathy in newborn babies

A large Finnish study found that external fetal heart rate monitoring without simultaneous maternal pulse recording increases the risk of neonatal encephalopathy and acidemia. The study suggests that combining maternal pulse recording with fetal heart rate monitoring can effectively prevent these complications and improve neonatal outc...

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateJan 29, 2024

Generative AI helps to explain human memory and imagination

A new study using generative AI models simulated how the brain learns and remembers events, revealing how memories are re-constructed in our minds. The model showed how the hippocampus and neocortex work together to create efficient 'conceptual' representations of scenes, enabling us to both recall past experiences and imagine new ones.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 19, 2024

Can we fight back against Parkinson’s disease? These research volunteers hope so

Researchers at Boston University's Center for Neurorehabilitation have made two important advances that may help people with Parkinson's disease walk more smoothly. Wearable soft robotic apparel and a music-based technology were tested in studies, showing promising results in increasing walking duration and distance.

SourceBoston University·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 5, 2024

Cerebral small vessel disease: predictive for intracranial hemorrhage and probably for extracranial bleeding during antithrombotic therapy

A study found that cerebral small vessel disease is a predictor for major bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage and extracranial bleeding, in patients taking antithrombotic agents. The risk of bleeding complications increased significantly with higher cerebral SVD scores.

SourceNational Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateDec 27, 2023

Physical and social activities promote healthy brain aging

A recent study published in NeuroImage found that physically active individuals experienced less decline in entorhinal cortex thickness over a seven-year period. Cognitive reserve is also boosted through regular mental stimulation, suggesting that brains can be trained like muscles to counteract age-related decline.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNeuroImage·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC scientist identifies a connection in the brain between stress and emotional eating

A recent study published in Nature Communications has identified a key brain molecule responsible for triggering overconsumption of comfort foods after stressful events. The lateral hypothalamic proenkephalin neuron plays a crucial role in driving threat-induced eating associated with negative emotional states.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 30, 2023

Women stroke survivors believe they will receive worse care in the emergency room

A national study of approximately 3,500 women found that those with a history of stroke are more likely to believe they won't receive adequate emergency care due to their gender and race. This perception may lead to delays in treatment for stroke patients, highlighting the need for improved healthcare equity.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalStroke·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 6, 2023

Mobile stroke units increase odds of averting stroke

A study published in Annals of Neurology found that receiving clot-busting drug treatment in a mobile stroke unit (MSU) increases the likelihood of averting strokes and complete recovery compared to standard hospital emergency care. Patients treated by an MSU had faster treatment times, with nearly one-third recovering within 24 hours.

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateOct 26, 2023

AI language models could help diagnose schizophrenia

Researchers developed AI tools to analyze speech patterns in people with schizophrenia and found that these patterns can be distinguished from those of healthy individuals. The study uses an AI language model trained on internet text to represent the meaning of words, and it was able to predict the words generated by control participan...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 9, 2023

Cognitive behavioral therapy eases how fibromyalgia pain is experienced by the brain

A randomized controlled trial found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly reduces fibromyalgia pain by decreasing pain-catastrophizing, a negative response that amplifies pain. CBT participants showed reduced connectivity between brain regions associated with self-awareness and emotional processing.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalArthritis & Rheumatology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 20, 2023

Targeted ultrasound can change brain functions for up to an hour after intervention

A new study suggests that transcranial ultrasound stimulation can be used to change specific types of activity within the brain, paving the way for targeted treatments of mental health conditions. The research found that TUS induced significant changes in GABA concentration and altered communication between brain regions.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2023