Research on how the brain is built and how it governs body and behavior. Covers neural circuits, sleep, sensory systems, brain structure, and the brain-body connection.
The MIND diet, which combines Mediterranean and DASH principles, was positively linked with attentional inhibition in school-aged children. The diet's emphasis on brain-healthy foods like leafy greens, berries, and legumes may help improve cognitive development.
Researchers found that people with prolonged COVID-19 symptoms experienced reduced performance in mental tasks up to two years post-infection. Those who didn't feel fully recovered after infection showed lower task accuracy scores.
A new study reveals that reptiles demonstrate spontaneous associations between visual and auditory information, including tortoises associating low sounds with large shapes and high pitch sounds with small shapes. This discovery shows how brains are prepared to predict visuo-acoustic correspondences likely to occur in the natural world.
A new study from UC Davis Health found that volunteering in late life is associated with better executive function and episodic memory. Those who volunteered several times per week had the highest levels of executive function, potentially serving as a simple intervention against Alzheimer's disease and associated dementias.
Researchers at MUSC developed a noninvasive method of vagus nerve stimulation that accelerates treatment outcomes and improves motor function after stroke. The method, known as MAAVNS, uses timed electrical impulses delivered to the ear during motor rehabilitation, producing similar results as FDA-approved devices in half the time.
Mutations in parkin gene break down contacts between lysosomes and mitochondria, disrupting essential metabolite supply to mitochondria. Restoring these contacts may represent a new therapeutic opportunity for Parkinson’s disease.
In a phase 3 clinical trial, donanemab significantly slowed clinical progression in patients with low/medium tau and high tau pathology. The treatment cleared brain amyloid plaque, demonstrating its potential to slow Alzheimer disease progression.
The latest Alzheimer's drug, donanemab, has shown encouraging results in slowing cognitive decline by 35% compared to placebo in patients with low-to-intermediate levels of tau. However, its effectiveness is limited for those with more advanced disease, and risks include serious side effects such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities.
Researchers found that fruit flies prefer larger quantities, but struggle to distinguish between 3 and 4 objects, highlighting the importance of ratio perception. LC11 neurons are essential for comparing quantities in fruit flies.
A new biomarker, MTBR-tau243, tracks Alzheimer's disease progression by measuring levels of a specific form of tau in cerebrospinal fluid. The finding has major implications for diagnosing and staging the disease, and could accelerate the development of effective treatments.
In a new study, Salk Institute scientists discovered that dopamine regulates anxious worm behavior in the presence of nipping predators. The findings illuminate how this dopamine-regulated brain pathway may be related to anxiety and could provide insight into human conditions like PTSD.
A new study found that inhaling 100% oxygen while learning a motor task improved learning efficiency in healthy people. The treatment also helped patients with neurological trauma recover old skills, suggesting potential benefits for neurorehabilitation.
Researchers discovered that honey bees make rapid and accurate decisions by balancing effort, risk, and reward. By studying the bees' brain structure, they created a computer model that replicated their decision-making process, showcasing how simple brains can be efficient.
A Lehigh University professor has received $4 million in NIH grants to develop an AI-driven approach for precision mental health diagnosis and care. The project aims to identify biomarkers in the brain that can predict treatment response and personalize interventions for patients with depression and other mental disorders.
A study led by Dartmouth College researchers found that participants' color memory improved when stimuli were meaningful and part of real-world objects. The results demonstrate that the capacity for visual working memory of colors is more continuous and flexible than previously thought, with better recall of colors in meaningful contexts.
Researchers have confirmed that measuring retinal layer thickness can significantly improve MS diagnosis and predict progression. The study found a strong correlation between retinal damage and brain damage, paving the way for earlier treatment and better patient outcomes.
The study reveals five distinct brain types, each suited for its purpose, from a jellyfish's diffuse neural network to the human brain's reflective capabilities. Researchers suggest that autonomous machines can learn from coordination in bees, rapid thinking in birds, and single-mindedness in worms.
A study by Pierre Hakizimana at Linköping University found that the DC signal in the cochlea can provide an indication of ear health status, allowing the brain to decode faint sounds. The discovery may contribute to new research on diagnosing noise-induced hearing loss and has implications for preventing permanent damage from loud sounds.
A clinical trial has shown that desmopressin may reduce the risk of death or disability in stroke patients taking antiplatelet drugs. The results support the need for a large-scale trial to determine its effectiveness.
Cuttlefish use a highly flexible and dynamic system to change color and texture, with the ability to display a rich variety of skin patterns and adapt to both natural and artificial backgrounds. The study found that cuttlefish continuously receive feedback about their skin pattern and adjust it in real-time.
Research suggests that glioblastoma cells possess large-scale coordination, allowing them to respond unison to therapies. Disrupting this organization may result in more powerful treatments for brain tumors.
Researchers found that fruit fly glial cells respond to sugar shortage by activating fat utilization, producing ketones for neurons. This switch is crucial for the fly's survival and holds potential to expand understanding of brain metabolism.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have identified a group of nerve cells involved in creating negative emotional states and chronic stress. The neurons, which are sensitive to oestrogen levels, were mapped using advanced techniques such as Patch-seq, Neuropixels, and optogenetics.
A study published in Neurology found that people with TBI experience improvement and decline over time, affecting their ability to function and thinking skills. The research suggests that TBI should be recognized as a chronic condition to provide tailored care for its evolving needs.
Higher testosterone levels during adolescence enhance emotion control, but decrease in young adulthood; the study suggests a shift in testosterone's role across developmental periods. The findings may be related to mood disorders that arise during adolescence.
Research suggests that guppies with enlarged telencephalon exhibit improved cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and working memory. The study found that up-selected fish performed better than down-selected fish in tasks requiring self-control and delayed gratification.
A study published in Cell Press reveals that ants have a dedicated brain region that processes alarm pheromones, triggering panic responses and colony-wide behavior changes. Researchers used GCaMP to scan the brain activity of clonal raider ants exposed to danger signals, finding a specific section lit up in response.
A new AI-based technique measures brain fluid flow with unprecedented accuracy, revealing pressures and three-dimensional flow rates. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for Alzheimer's, small vessel disease, strokes, and traumatic brain injuries.
Scientists at RIKEN Center for Brain Science find that somatic mutations in six genes lead to intracranial aneurysms, which can be blocked with a drug. The study establishes the first non-surgical animal model of intracranial aneurysm and provides a potential new treatment option.
A MU study found that providing educational information about naltrexone to healthcare professionals increases patient prescriptions for the drug. The study resulted in a 36% increase in patients leaving the facility with a prescription for naltrexone, suggesting better-informed decisions by healthcare professionals.
A new study reveals that only one in four adolescent residential treatment centers across the US provides buprenorphine, a proven tool in fighting opioid addiction. The lack of access to this medication undercuts US efforts to alleviate the overdose epidemic, which claimed over 109,000 lives in 2022.
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus is a complex syndrome that can lead to cognitive impairment and neurological damage. The new consensus guideline recommends standard-of-care approaches, including history review, head CT scans, and medications or surgical interventions to manage excessive intracranial pressure.
A study found that individuals with obesity have diminished brain responses to specific nutrients and do not improve after weight loss. This impairment affects eating behavior and the motivational aspect of food intake, suggesting long-lasting brain adaptations occur in obesity.
Researchers found that Perlecan deficiency causes axonal segments to break apart during development, leading to synaptic connection loss. The protein's critical role depends on its secretion from multiple cell types, not just neurons.
Researchers have developed an effective treatment that accelerates recovery after stroke by modulating astrocyte reactivity and cortical connectivity. The treatment, which involves administering a molecule called C3a in nasal drops, has shown positive results in mice with stroke, offering new hope for faster and better recovery.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discovered that blood leaking into the brain triggers toxic genes in microglia, turning them into harmful cells that destroy neurons. Fibrin, a blood protein, is responsible for this process, which can lead to cognitive dysfunction and motor impairment.
A study found that patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) who received incomplete neurovascular imaging were at higher odds of experiencing a stroke within 90 days. The research, published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, used Medicare claims data to analyze TIA emergency department encounters.
The study reveals that spontaneous waves of neurotransmitter glutamate facilitate dendrite pruning, while a unique protection/punishment machinery strengthens certain connections and eliminates others. Proper pruning is critical for neural development, with insufficient or excessive connections linked to neurophysiological disorders.
A University of Ottawa team has discovered a vital role for the VGLUT3 transporter protein in modulating the development of Huntington's disease. The study shows that blocking glutamate release through this protein can lead to an amelioration of the disease progression, offering new hope for potential treatment approaches.
Defective myelin promotes disease-related changes in Alzheimer's by accelerating amyloid plaque deposition and overwhelming immune cells. Slowing down age-related myelin damage could lead to new therapies and prevent or slow down the disease.
LSU Health New Orleans researchers found that a combination therapy using Neuroprotectin D1 and Resolvin D1 boosted brain cell survival, growth, and stability. The therapy showed promising results in reducing lesion volume and improving neurological function in acute ischemic stroke models.
Researchers at MIT have designed a computational model that can predict other people's emotions, including joy, gratitude, and regret. The model uses insights into human intuition, incorporating factors such as desires, expectations, and observation of actions to make predictions.
Researchers used mouse genetics to determine if brain or spinal cord causes dystonia, finding that spinal cord is responsible. Spinal cord dysfunction leads to signs of dystonia similar to those seen in humans, providing a new target for treatment.
Researchers at UCSF tested a nitroglycerin patch for treating menopausal women experiencing severe hot flashes. The study found short-term improvements, but benefits did not last past 12 weeks, with some side effects reported.
Researchers have developed a simple blood test that can diagnose De Vivo disease, a rare and disabling neurological disorder. The test, called METAglut1, has a high sensitivity and specificity, allowing for accurate diagnosis in a short amount of time.
A new targeted therapy drug vorasidenib has been shown to extend treatment time without worsening glioma in people with IDH1 and IDH2 mutations. The study suggests a possible new treatment option for slow-growing but deadly brain tumors, delaying chemotherapy and radiation.
Researchers discovered a protein complex called FERRY that plays a crucial role in transporting messenger RNA in neurons. The study provided evidence of the transport of mRNA using Early Endosomes (EEs) and a novel mode of binding RNA via coiled-coil domains.
A phase 2 trial found that immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab had a durable antitumor effect in 24 of 57 patients with metastatic brain cancer. The study achieved its primary endpoint, with median overall survival of 8 months and seven patients surviving longer than two years.
The study found that the immune response to spinal-cord injuries is impaired in older individuals, leading to weaker cell responses and reduced recovery. The researchers identified an essential role for the meninges surrounding the spinal cord in mounting the immune response, paving the way for new therapeutic approaches.
Researchers found that a reduction in body weight of 1% led to participants' brain age being almost 9 months younger than expected. This attenuation of brain aging was associated with changes in liver fat and enzymes, which can negatively affect brain health in Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study of 30,465 adults without a history of heart attack or dementia found that those who experienced an MI had a faster rate of decline in global cognition, memory, and executive function compared to those without an MI. The study suggests that preventing heart attacks may be crucial for maintaining long-term brain health.
A new MIT study shows that lawyers prefer plain English contracts, which they find easier to understand and more appealing than traditional legal documents. The researchers found that while lawyers excel at reading and writing complex legalese, the style can be a barrier for non-lawyers.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed a new blood test that can measure biomarkers in the blood before and after neurosurgery, correlating with the extent of brain injury. The study found that high levels of certain markers may indicate damage that could cause cognitive problems for patients in the long term.
In a breakthrough study, researchers discovered that the neuropeptide DH31 regulates reproductive dormancy in insects, controlling juvenile hormone production. This finding could lead to the development of new technologies to control agricultural pests and infectious disease vectors.
A team of scientists has developed an automated algorithm to reconstruct the shape of each neuron inside a light microscopy image using deep learning. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of generalizing algorithms across diverse species, brain locations, developmental stages, and microscopy image sets.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston are investigating the role of fibrin and fibrinogen in traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic shock. The four-year grant will fund Phase II of a stem cell clinical trial evaluating whether mesenchymal stem cells reduce chronic neuroinflammatory response to traumatic brain injury.
A nationwide study of nearly 10,000 adults identifies 12 hallmarks of long COVID, including debilitating fatigue, loss of smell or taste, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The findings provide a new scoring system for clinicians to define and investigate treatments for patients with long COVID.
Researchers have identified a novel model and therapy to mitigate the development of REM sleep behavior disorder, which affects over 3 million Americans. Dual orexin receptor antagonists have been shown to significantly reduce dream enactment behaviors, providing a promising new treatment option.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new imaging technique to track changes in blood vessels in the brains of mice, which could lead to early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. The method uses advanced imaging techniques and AI algorithms to identify biomarkers that may predict disease onset.
Researchers found that isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol can safely improve debilitating outcomes after lacunar stroke. The two drugs were even more effective when used in combination, with participants showing significant improvements in thinking and memory skills, as well as quality of life.