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Restoring pleiotrophin shows promise for improving brain function in Down syndrome

Faulty brain circuits seen in Down syndrome may be caused by the lack of a particular molecule essential for the development and function of the nervous system, new research suggests.

17 Oct 2025

VICT3R project builds momentum to accelerate animal-free safety testing

The VICT3R project is expanding its consortium by adding new beneficiaries and organisations to the network of contract research organisations (CROs) associated with the project.

16 Oct 2025

Elderberry juice boosts key genes for metabolic flexibility in overweight adults

Elderberry juice intake triggers metabolic gene expression changes, enhancing glucose control and fat oxidation in overweight adults during meal challenges.

3 Oct 2025

Scientists uncover 53 genetic clues that shape math ability beyond IQ

Researchers uncovered 53 genetic loci linked to quantitative ability, distinguishing it from general intelligence and non-cognitive skills. The study highlights brain pathways in axon guidance, synaptic signaling, and mRNA splicing as biological underpinnings of math-related ability.

22 Sep 2025

Boosting PI31 to restore synaptic function and prevent neurodegeneration

One fundamental feature of neurodegenerative diseases is a breakdown in communication. Even before brain cells die, the delicate machinery that keeps neurons in touch-by clearing away protein waste at the synapses-starts to fail.

16 Sep 2025

How processed red meat might drive neurodegenerative diseases

The relationship between processed red meat and neurodegenerative diseases is complex, with potential risks and protective effects requiring more investigation.

15 Sep 2025

Imaging breakthrough shows how spinal cord injuries affect the whole central nervous system

A new PET tracer can provide insights into how spinal cord injuries affect not only the spinal cord, but also the brain, according to new research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

13 Sep 2025

Infection or stressful events during pregnancy may increase anxiety risk in offspring

Increased risk for anxiety may begin before birth, shaped by infection or stressful events during pregnancy, according to a new preclinical study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

11 Sep 2025

Prefrontal cortex biopsies during deep brain stimulation surgery do not increase risk of adverse events

Obtaining prefrontal cortex biopsies during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in living patients does not increase the risk of adverse events or cognitive decline compared to standard DBS procedures that don't involve biopsies, a team of clinical research scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has demonstrated.

4 Sep 2025

Smell loss emerges as the early behavioural sign of Alzheimer’s

Research reveals immune cells target brainstem nerves, linking smell loss to early Alzheimer's, offering potential for earlier diagnosis and intervention.

4 Sep 2025

New insights into early brain circuit breakdown in Alzheimer’s

One of the first parts of the brain affected by Alzheimer's disease is the entorhinal cortex - a region that plays a big role in memory, spatial navigation, and the brain's internal mapping system.

2 Sep 2025

Cats with dementia show brain changes similar to Alzheimer’s in humans

Cats with dementia have brain changes similar to those of people with Alzheimer's disease, offering a valuable model for studying the condition in humans, a study says.

12 Aug 2025

Johns Hopkins uncovers protein's unexpected role in brain signaling

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they unexpectedly found new information about a protein's special role in getting brain cells to communicate at the right time and place in experiments with genetically engineered mice.

4 Aug 2025

AI-designed protein activates Notch signaling pathway to boost T-cell production

A new paper published today in Cell highlights how researchers have leveraged AI-based computational protein design to create a novel synthetic ligand that activates the Notch signaling pathway, a key driver in T-cell development and function.

1 Aug 2025

Scientists discover neuron-like communication system in the gut

In a key advance for regenerative medicine and gut health, scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have uncovered a precise and unexpected communication system in the gut.

24 Jul 2025

New study identifies genes that shape human brain features

What makes the human brain distinctive? A new study published July 21 in Cell identifies two genes linked to human brain features and provides a road map to discover many more.

21 Jul 2025

How can super-resolution technology help study neurotransmission?

Discover how super-resolution technology can be used to sudy neurotransmission at inhibitory synapses.

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 17 Jul 2025

New molecular pathway identified in alcohol-associated liver disease

Excessive alcohol consumption causes alcoholic liver disease, and about 20% of these cases progress to alcohol-associated steatohepatitis (ASH), which can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver failure. Early diagnosis and treatment are therefore extremely important.

17 Jul 2025

Ultra-processed foods threaten brain health in kids and teens, review warns

Children, adolescents, and unborn babies exposed to high levels of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) face increased risks of impaired brain development, cognitive deficits, and long-term mental health challenges. The review underscores how UPF-driven changes in reward pathways, nutrient deficits, inflammation, and the gut–brain axis can have lasting impacts across generations.

13 Jul 2025