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Can odors help fight infection? Nematode research suggests so

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, used the nematode model Caenorhabditis elegans to determine whether the olfactory nervous system could non-autonomously control the mitochondrial unfolded protein response in response to cellular stress.

12 Aug 2024

Research finds synaptic strength key to maintaining memory in old age

Over the course of life, memory fades with varying degrees, robbing older people of the ability to recollect personal experiences.

7 Aug 2024

Accelerated neuronal development linked to intellectual disabilities and autism

The mechanisms underlying intellectual disabilities or autism remain largely unknown. Researchers in the labs of Prof. Pierre Vanderhaeghen and Prof. Vincent Bonin at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research and NERF have discovered that mutations in a gene called SYNGAP1 disrupt the prolonged development of human neurons, which is thought to be essential for normal cognitive function.

6 Aug 2024

Rapid, noninvasive tool tracks neurons and biomolecules activated in the brain by psychedelic drugs

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a rapid, noninvasive tool to track the neurons and biomolecules activated in the brain by psychedelic drugs.

5 Aug 2024

Psychedelics' dark side: New model reveals risks of false insights and beliefs

Researchers introduce the FIBUS model to explain how psychedelics can lead to false insights and beliefs, highlighting the need for careful clinical evaluation to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

4 Aug 2024

Understanding brain coupling in conversations through linguistic context

When two people interact, their brain activity becomes synchronized, but it was unclear until now to what extent this "brain-to-brain coupling" is due to linguistic information or other factors, such as body language or tone of voice.

2 Aug 2024

High-resolution brain maps reveal vascular blueprint for healthy aging

Healthy blood vessels matter for more than just heart health. Vascular well-being is critical for brain health and potentially in addressing age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer's disease, according to new study led by Penn State researchers. The findings point to an understudied but possible key role the brain's vascular network - or energy infrastructure - plays in the onset of neurodegenerative disease.

31 Jul 2024

MS Australia unveils new grants to revolutionize multiple sclerosis diagnosis and care

MS Australia has announced new research funding to address disease progression, social needs, and biological signs of MS through three innovative incubator grants. These grants aim to improve diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing fresh ideas to meet unmet needs in MS care.

30 Jul 2024

UW research contradicts Musk's vision of high-resolution implants

Elon Musk recently declared on X that Blindsight, a cortical implant to restore vision, would have low resolution at first "but may ultimately exceed normal human vision." That pronouncement is unrealistic at best, according to new research from the University of Washington.

30 Jul 2024

Scientists explore early life factors contributing to SMA

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neurological disease for which there is presently no cure, although current therapies can alleviate symptoms. In the search for better treatment options, scientists at DZNE and the Dresden University of Technology are now drawing attention to previously unnoticed abnormalities in embryonic development. They base their argument on studies of so-called organoids: Laboratory-grown tissue cultures that can reconstruct disease processes. Their findings are published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.

27 Jul 2024

New brain atlas reveals hidden cell vulnerabilities in Alzheimer's

Researchers created a detailed transcriptomic atlas of six brain regions, revealing cell-type-specific and region-specific vulnerabilities in Alzheimer's disease and highlighting astrocyte genes linked to cognitive resilience.

25 Jul 2024

Breakthrough research identifies fibrin as key factor in preterm brain bleeds

Mark Petersen, MD, has seen firsthand the devastating effects of brain bleeds in premature babies. It's an exceedingly common condition that affects up to 20 percent of infants born before 28 weeks of gestation, bringing an increased risk for developmental delays and autism.

24 Jul 2024

Proteomic signatures enhance risk prediction for both common and rare diseases

Researchers have developed sparse prediction models combining plasma proteins and clinical data to predict the 10-year risk of 218 diseases. The study, involving over 41,000 participants, highlights the enhanced predictive power of proteomic signatures.

24 Jul 2024

Psilocybin reconfigures brain networks, showing potential for lasting therapeutic effects

Researchers found that high-dose psilocybin significantly disrupts brain functional connectivity, particularly in the default mode network, with lasting effects linked to therapeutic benefits.

18 Jul 2024

Understanding astrocyte-neuron interplay in learning deficits

In the brain, synaptic plasticity - the ability to change neuronal connections over time - is fundamental to learning and memory.

18 Jul 2024

Spinal Muscular Atrophy patients are at higher risk of developing fatty liver disease

An international study has discovered that people living with the neurodegenerative condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) are at higher risk of developing fatty liver disease, suggesting that SMA patients may face additional health problems over time.

17 Jul 2024

Breakthrough interactive atlas offers pathway to precision medicine for TBI patients

Researchers at Phoenix's Barrow Neurological Institute and the University of Pittsburgh have created a vast interactive atlas that may eventually help doctors use precision medicine to target treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients – and could replace the existing uniform treatment model.

16 Jul 2024

Mechanism behind propofol-induced unconsciousness revealed

There are many drugs that anesthesiologists can use to induce unconsciousness in patients. Exactly how these drugs cause the brain to lose consciousness has been a longstanding question, but MIT neuroscientists have now answered that question for one commonly used anesthesia drug.

15 Jul 2024

New brain targets for GLP1-based obesity drugs may reduce weight without nausea

Researchers identified distinct hindbrain GLP1R neurons driving satiety and aversion, offering new targets for effective, side-effect-free obesity treatments.

14 Jul 2024

Discovering the cerebellum's new role in thirst modulation

The cerebellum, often referred to as the 'little brain', has captivated researchers for centuries due to its unique structure and cellular complexity, as one of the most ancient brain regions in evolutionary terms.

12 Jul 2024