A recent study at UC San Francisco discovered that fragmented tau protein in diseased neurons could be a new target for existing drugs, potentially improving diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's. The researchers found that measuring the fragments in cerebrospinal fluid may help distinguish between different forms of dementia.
A new Northwestern University study reveals ketamine's fast-acting antidepressant effects by increasing activity in existing newborn neurons, offering hope for a faster-working treatment with fewer side effects.
A novel brain cell type, named theta off-ripples on (TORO), has been discovered in the hippocampus, playing a key role in the formation of memories. TORO neurons are activated during sharp wave ripples and inhibit other brain areas, propagating SWR information broadly in the brain.
Researchers developed an in vitro stem cell model to map disease risk variants in human neurons, which could provide insights into the biological mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. The study focuses on mapping cis-regulatory elements linked to psychiatric disease heritability.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine identified a chemical compound that stops the final events in the pathway linked to brain cell death in Parkinson’s disease. The compound, PAANIB-1, blocks the protein parthanatos without affecting its other critical activities, potentially halting neurodegenerative progression.
This study shows how specific brain regions control the immune response during acute stress, highlighting the detrimental effect on fighting off infection. Researchers found that acute stress prompts a major migration of immune cells, diminishing an immune response to viruses like COVID-19 and influenza.
A recent study out of the Complexity Science Hub Vienna developed a mathematical and computational framework for analysing neural activity in C. elegans, a tiny worm used to study neural activity. The study proposes a way to unmask the roles of neurons by using more natural perturbations.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a key molecular mechanism behind memory linking and identified an FDA-approved drug that can restore this brain function in middle-aged mice. The study suggests a potential early intervention for dementia and strengthening human memory in middle age.
A new study by Bar-Ilan University researchers reveals that synchronized brain activity is crucial for information transfer between brain regions. Increasing synchronization improves transmission and processing of information, while decreasing it impairs cognitive function. This finding may contribute to the development of treatments f...
A study led by Tel Aviv University researchers reveals a common mechanism underlying genetic mutations associated with autism, schizophrenia, and other neurological disorders. The discovery points to an experimental drug developed by the team as a potential treatment for these conditions.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown mutation in a child with epilepsy that affects the functioning of ion channels, which are crucial for brain function. The mutation has been found to decrease the function of normal proteins as well, highlighting the importance of studying genetic mutations.
A study by Kyushu University researchers has analyzed the development and genetic profile of a set of cells that construct the brain's immune system. The findings reveal that meningeal macrophages develop in the same way as other microglia, but perivascular macrophages originate from meningeal macrophages after birth.
Two preclinical studies have identified potential new therapies for patients with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS), a brain development disorder that causes severe intellectual disability and movement problems. A gene therapy approach has shown promise in improving cognitive and motor functions, while repurposing a common drug may ...
A novel preclinical drug has been developed to inhibit the kinase enzyme Cdk5, which is implicated in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions. The drug, 25-106, is brain-permeable and shows promise in altering neurobehavior in mice with anxiety-like behavior.
Researchers have developed a new training method for machine learning models to perform blood cell counts, reducing manual annotation work. The U-Net model achieves high accuracy in segmenting images with multiple cell types, promising a simpler and cheaper alternative to traditional cell analyzers.
Researchers discovered that neurons carrying a mutation in the Nf1 gene are hyperexcitable and suppressing this hyperactivity with lamotrigine stops tumor growth in mice. The study provides an explanation for why some people with NF1 lack optic gliomas or neurofibromas, highlighting the critical role of neurons in tumor biology.
A team of researchers has developed a novel method using infrared imaging to assess glymphatic function, which is crucial for understanding neurological conditions. The technique allows for the measurement of temporal dynamics of glymphatic functions and provides insights into brain fluid exchange and clearance.
Researchers found that jellyfish's stinging cells evolved by repurposing a neuron inherited from a pre-cnidarian ancestor. This discovery provides insights into the emergence of new cell types and the evolution of biodiversity, suggesting that co-option of ancestral cell types was an important source for new cell functions.
Researchers suggest a novel neuroimaging technique can unveil Alzheimer's disease secrets and predict symptom risk. The 'neuromelanin-sensitive MRI' method provides insights into the brain's noradrenergic system, linked to aggressive behavior and cognitive decline.
A receptor protein called insulin receptor is pivotal for brain stem cell longevity, according to a Rutgers study. The researchers also found that the same protein plays a crucial role in sustaining brain cancer cells.
Researchers identified a key brain circuit in the anterior thalamus that helps us hold information in mind. In a study of mice, enhancing this circuit's activity improved their ability to navigate a maze and reversed memory loss with artificial stimulation.
A study found a connection between learning and memory deficits in children with Joubert Syndrome and defects in the hippocampus. The researchers used animal models to create a genetic mutation that mimicked the human disease, revealing key findings about the role of primary cilia in brain development.
A new study suggests that supplementing a diet with Ascidiacea, also known as sea squirts, reverses some main signs of aging in animal models. The researchers found that plasmalogens, vital to body processes, decrease with age and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
A new study suggests that up to 1 in 4 cases of congenital hydrocephalus may be linked to genetic mutations affecting neural stem cell growth, leading to underdeveloped brains and enlarged ventricles. This paradigm shift could lead to targeted therapies such as gene editing or drugs to optimize neurodevelopment.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai discovered how the brain uses a group of neurons in the frontal lobe to monitor performance, enabling humans to learn from mistakes and develop specific skills. This mechanism allows for flexibility in learning new tasks and adjusting focus based on conflict or difficulty encountered.
Scientists discovered that sleep neuron activity controls protective gene expression during sleep, which is essential for maintaining the brain and body. Disturbing sleep leads to overactivation of the sleep neuron, promoting further protective gene expression.
Scientists have discovered a master gene that programs ear hair cells into either outer or inner ones, enabling the development of these cells to restore hearing. This breakthrough could provide a previously unavailable tool to create specific hair cells and improve treatments for age-related hearing loss.
A newly discovered brain circuit facilitates focusing attention on salient features in the environment by heightening activity in specific microcircuits of the hippocampus. This circuit may play a role in executive functions and cognitive issues like dementia, ADHD, and psychiatric disorders.
Astrocytes, comprising nearly half of all brain cells, have been found to perform an electrically active function that influences neurotransmitter release and brain disease pathology. This discovery opens new avenues for neuroscience research and potential treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's and epilepsy.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine developed an AI training strategy to capture images of mouse brain cells in action, allowing scientists to understand how the brain functions and is affected by disease. The technology combines ultra-small microscopes with AI to enhance image resolution up to 52 frames per second.
Chronic pain causes maladaptive emotional states and is often comorbid with psychiatric disorders. Researchers identified the neuronal circuit involved in chronic pain-induced anxiety in mice, finding that restoring its activity attenuates anxiety.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have discovered that reducing protein tau levels soon after birth can prevent autism and epilepsy in an experimental model. The study pinpointed the crucial brain cells where tau levels must be reduced to avoid these problems, and showed that lowering tau is still effective when initiated after birth.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover that brain parses information through interactions of waves of neural activity, changing how data is processed and affecting attention and focus.
Scientists at MIT's Picower Institute mapped thousands of inputs to the anterior cingulate cortex and lateral posterior thalamus, finding that both regions receive input from non-sensory areas. The study provides a detailed roadmap for understanding selective attention in mice.
Researchers identified two genes associated with recovery within the first 24 hours after stroke, linking neuronal excitability to stroke outcomes. Genetic evidence suggests that calming overexcited neurons may protect the brain after a stroke.
Scientists have developed novel methods to study human brain cell migration during fetal development by tracking genetic mutations in healthy adult individuals. This allows for the first time to reconstruct brain development and provide key findings on cell type origins and hemisphere separation.
Researchers tracked brain cell activity in zebrafish during seizures, finding that seizures arise from an excess of excitatory over inhibitory neuron activity in confined regions. The findings suggest a nuanced role for both excitation and inhibition in seizure origins.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have successfully cultivated human muscle stem cells capable of renewing themselves and repairing muscle tissue damage in mice. The self-renewing stem cells were created by reprogramming laboratory-grown human skin cells, which then differentiated into specific cell types using a nutrient-rich broth.
A study by Tokyo University of Science researchers has demonstrated that a computationally-light model can simulate complex brain cell responses, including periodic and quasi-periodic responses. The Izhikevich neuron model was found to be capable of reproducing both types of responses at lower computational cost.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that hydrocephalus is caused by problems with brain stem cells, not fluid circulation. Genetic analysis identified a key gene mutation, TRIM71, which disrupts neuroepithelial cell development, leading to underdeveloped brains and cerebral cortex compression.
Researchers at Institut Pasteur have found that hypothalamic neurons can directly detect variations in bacterial activity, adapting appetite and body temperature accordingly. This discovery could lead to new treatments for diabetes and obesity.
Researchers found a higher number of small HDL particles in cerebrospinal fluid is associated with better cognitive performance and lower risk for Alzheimer's disease. These particles may play a key role in clearing amyloid beta peptides, which contribute to the disease.
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio have identified a novel mechanism by which tau protein causes neurons to die, which can be altered pharmacologically. This discovery provides a new framework for studying vertebrate models of tauopathy and eventually clinical trials.
The TTUHSC's C. Patrick Reynolds has received a $1.34 million CPRIT grant to investigate updating the clinical risk stratification scale for neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, two childhood cancers in need of improved therapies.
Research in mice suggests that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can cause further damage to the brain after a stroke by trapping other cells and reducing blood flow. Blocking NETs with a compound called nNIF may protect the brain from this harm, leading to better outcomes for patients.
A new study by MIT researchers confirms that a single memory is stored across many connected brain regions, challenging long-held assumptions. The study used advanced imaging techniques to map memory encoding and recall activity in mice, revealing dozens of brain regions involved in memory storage.
A groundbreaking system implanted directly on the spinal cord has restored blood pressure regulation in a patient with multiple system atrophy-parkinsonian type (MSA-P), enabling them to walk again after being bedridden for over a year. This innovative therapy paves the way for new clinical breakthroughs in treating degenerative diseases.
Researchers developed new method to visualize CNS fibroblasts and their intercellular interactions in the CNS. The technique provides a detailed picture of CNS fibroblasts, including their location, size, morphology, and gene/protein expression patterns.
A University of Essex study found that people subconsciously attribute happiness to women and anger to men, with emotion influencing sex perception more than vice versa. The research suggests this bias may be an evolutionary advantage.
New research suggests the brain uses multiple strategies to process smells, employing both snapshot-like and evolving ensemble approaches. The study provides new tools for scientists to quantify and interpret brain activity patterns.
A study reveals that Alzheimer's patients experience lethargy due to the degeneration of neurons that keep them awake, not a lack of sleep. Researchers developed a hypothesis that these patients have trouble staying awake and are testing a treatment approach to shut down the system keeping them awake.
Researchers at UT Southwestern identified a four-protein complex crucial for ribosome production, shedding light on the process of ribosome biogenesis. The findings may lead to new treatments for conditions like cancer, ribosomopathies, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
A team of Danish researchers has shed new light on a fundamental mechanism in all living cells that helps them explore their surroundings and even invade tissue. By studying the mechanical behavior of filopodia, they discovered how cancer cells use these structures to move towards their targets and penetrate tissues.
Researchers at UVA Health System discovered a cluster of cells in the brainstem that controls the body's response to severe blood loss. The study found that re-activating these neurons can restore blood pressure and heart rate in lab rats, offering new hope for treating traumatic injuries.
Researchers have created an online resource that maps the cell types and genes expressed in the human and mouse trigeminal ganglion, a key relay center for migraine and facial pain. The atlas identifies potential therapeutic targets that are selectively expressed in cells driving head pain.
Researchers found that aesthetically appealing experiences trigger fast gamma waves after a one-second delay, indicating active meaning formation. Alpha waves were also observed, reflecting increased attention for high- or low-rated artworks.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered that the brain region responsible for social behavior, the locus coeruleus, is activated precisely when a mother retrieves her pup. This finding could help reveal causes of disorders such as depression, anxiety, and autism, leading to potential new treatments.
A team at Harvard Medical School identified a mechanism that triggers local dopamine release in the brain when acetylcholine binds to axons, not previously known to initiate firing. This finding reveals more about the interaction between acetylcholine and dopamine systems, suggesting a new strategy for treating diseases like Parkinson's.
Researchers created cortical organoids from patients' skin cells, mimicking focal cortical dysplasia and identifying mechanisms involved in its emergence. The model can be used to screen existing medications for patients with severe epilepsy.
A new study led by Kelly Monaghan at West Virginia University suggests that interrupting the immune response may improve multiple sclerosis outcomes. The researchers found that targeting a specific protein called CCL17 can prevent the disease from attacking the central nervous system, leading to milder symptoms and delayed paralysis.