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Study identifies a promising new strategy for treating alcohol use disorder

Researchers have identified a promising new strategy for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). A novel study found that the dopamine-boosting drug tolcapone increases activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during self-control tasks.

13 Aug 2025

New computer model provides detailed look at mouse brain vasculature

Healthy brain function relies on a steady supply of blood. Disruptions in blood flow are linked to major neurological conditions like stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and traumatic brain injuries. But understanding how the brain fine-tunes this flow – especially across its smallest blood vessels – remains a challenge.

13 Aug 2025

Lifestyle interventions key to closing life expectancy gap in mental illness

Mental health services must urgently increase investment in lifestyle interventions to improve care and help close the 15-year life expectancy gap faced by people with mental illness, a new Lancet Psychiatry Commission report warns.

12 Aug 2025

Love hormone oxytocin found to be critical for the formation of friendships

A new UC Berkeley study shows that the so-called love hormone, oxytocin, is also critical for the formation of friendships.

12 Aug 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

Brain cells beat AI in learning speed and efficiency

Researchers have demonstrated that brain cells learn faster and carry out complex networking more effectively than machine learning by comparing how both a Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI) system known as 'DishBrain' and state-of-the-art RL (reinforcement learning) algorithms react to certain stimuli.

12 Aug 2025

Study explores how oxytocin influences brain activity to shape social behavior

Oxytocin promotes social behaviors and helps maintain relationships. But clinical trials in patients with autism show variability in how consistently oxytocin improves these behaviors.

12 Aug 2025

Brain cells follow rhythmic patterns during learning and memory retrieval

A research team from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn, and the Medical Center - University of Freiburg has gained new insights into the brain processes involved in encoding and retrieving new memory content.

11 Aug 2025

Study establishes a causal link between mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases

Mitochondria, the tiny organelles without which our bodies would be deprived of energy, are gradually revealing their mysteries.

11 Aug 2025

New subcutaneous EEG device offers breakthrough in epilepsy monitoring

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London in partnership with the Mayo Clinic and UNEEG medical, has found that an electronic device placed under the scalp is an effective and feasible means of accurately tracking epilepsy.

11 Aug 2025

Brain aging may be slower and more layered than previously thought

The human brain ages less than thought and in layers – at least in the area of the cerebral cortex responsible for the sense of touch.

11 Aug 2025

Special von Economo neurons may hold key to super-sharp memory in 80+ superagers

Researchers at Northwestern University’s SuperAging Program reveal how some people over 80 retain memory performance like those decades younger, linking it to unique brain structures, reduced pathology, and lower inflammation. Their 25-year study highlights genetic, cellular, and social traits that may protect cognitive function.

10 Aug 2025

Alzheimer’s research reaches a critical tipping point

One-third of people older than 85 in the United States are estimated to live with Alzheimer's disease today, according to the National Institute on Aging.

8 Aug 2025

Challenges and promise of meditation apps in modern mental health care

Do you have a meditation app on your smartphone, computer or wearable device? Well, you're not alone.

8 Aug 2025

Exploring the genetic and clinical landscape of clubfoot

A new publication offers an extensive examination of clubfoot, a congenital deformity known as congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), affecting about 0.3% of all live births.

8 Aug 2025

Uncovering the secrets of ‘SuperAgers’ and cognitive longevity

For 25 years, scientists at Northwestern Medicine have been studying individuals aged 80 and older - dubbed "SuperAgers" - to better understand what makes them tick.

8 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria may connect pregnancy diet to childhood autism

Unhealthy maternal diets may alter gut microbes, impacting brain development and increasing autism risk in offspring. Study the microbiome's influence.

8 Aug 2025

New insights into how SETD2 shapes immunity and disease

The emerging role of SETD2 in regulating immune cell function is shedding light on potential therapeutic strategies for a range of immune-related diseases.

7 Aug 2025

CRISPR screening uncovers microproteins involved in fat storage

The obesity rate has more than doubled in the last 30 years, affecting more than one billion people worldwide.

7 Aug 2025

Study sheds light on how early brain wiring lays the foundation for attention skills

A new study by researchers at Simon Fraser University is shedding light on how the brain's wiring in early childhood lays the foundation for attention skills- a key step toward characterizing healthy developmental patterns that could help identify young children at risk for attention-related challenges like ADHD.

7 Aug 2025