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Brain stimulation restores synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer’s mouse model

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition that affects a significant proportion of older people worldwide. Synapses are points of communication between neural cells that are malleable to change based on our experiences.

30 Jun 2025

Aging brain adapts to read ambiguous facial expressions

Because aging weakens cognitive skills, older people can struggle to read difficult social cues. A brain region involved in attention and arousal-the locus coeruleus (LC)-helps with complex tasks, and its connections to the cortex may adapt as humans age to support cognition.

30 Jun 2025

Cannabis smoking changes your DNA, leaving epigenetic scars

Long-term, persistent weekly or more frequent cannabis smoking leaves a distinct and partially reversible epigenetic footprint on blood DNA. These methylation changes strongly overlap with those from tobacco and may serve as biomarkers of smoke exposure.

30 Jun 2025

Can a global vault save the world’s threatened microbiomes?

Researchers warn that accelerating human-driven loss of microbial diversity threatens both planetary and human health. The Microbiota Vault Initiative offers a global, equitable framework to safeguard critical microbiomes for future generations.

30 Jun 2025

Oleic acid from olive oil reduces infection-related bone loss with age

A mouse study shows that dietary oleic acid, a key Mediterranean diet component, protects against age-related bone and microbiome damage triggered by periodontal infection. In contrast, a Western-style palmitic acid diet worsens bone loss and destabilizes the gut microbiome.

30 Jun 2025

Study finds no link between omega 6 and increased inflammation

A new study published in Nutrients offers new insight into omega-6 and whether it is truly the proinflammatory fatty acid many claim it to be.

30 Jun 2025

Novel method to improve the biocompatibility and chronic stability of neural electrode implants

An international research team, including scientists from the Institut de Neurociències at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), has developed a new solution to reduce the immune response triggered by neural prosthetics used after limb amputations or severe nerve injuries.

30 Jun 2025

GATE complex discovery sheds light on CMV's evasion of immune defenses

New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and La Jolla Institute for Immunology, published today in Nature Microbiology, reveals an opportunity for developing a therapy against cytomegalovirus (CMV), the leading infectious cause of birth defects in the United States.

30 Jun 2025

Urine-based DNA test predicts bladder cancer recurrence after immunotherapy

In a multi-institutional study published in Science Direct, researchers revealed that testing urine-based tumor DNA (utDNA) can help predict which bladder cancer patients are at higher risk for recurrence after treatment.

30 Jun 2025

N2 deep sleep powers your next aha moment, study reveals

A new study in PLOS Biology shows that deep N2 sleep, rather than light N1 sleep, dramatically boosts the likelihood of “aha” moments in a challenging perceptual task. The researchers also reveal that aperiodic brain activity during sleep best predicts who will gain insight after a nap.

30 Jun 2025

Comprehensive study maps genetic mutations in SLC13A5 linked to epilepsy

Citrate is essential for the metabolism and development of neurons. A membrane transport protein called SLC13A5 plays a central role in this process and has previously been linked to a particularly severe form of epileptic encephalopathy.

30 Jun 2025

VIRMA protein regulates brain development by controlling ribosome biogenesis

Ribosomes are tiny molecular machines inside all living cells that build proteins, and ribosome biogenesis is the complex, multi-step process by which they are made.

30 Jun 2025

Ionophore use in farming drives global spread of antibiotic resistance genes, study finds

Researchers identified the widespread presence of the ionophore resistance genes narA and narB in over 2,400 bacterial isolates across 51 countries. These genes are often genetically linked to resistance against critically important human antibiotics, raising concerns over agricultural practices and global antimicrobial resistance.

30 Jun 2025

Coffee’s hidden compounds could help fight type 2 diabetes

A comprehensive review of nearly 150 studies reveals that coffee polyphenols may help regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation linked to type 2 diabetes. However, most evidence comes from preclinical research, and robust clinical trials are needed to confirm benefits.

29 Jun 2025

How 50,000 years of ancestry shaped India’s unique disease patterns

Scientists sequenced the genomes of 2,762 individuals across India, revealing the country’s unique ancestral makeup and a wealth of previously undocumented disease-related gene variants. The study highlights how ancient migrations, founder effects, and endogamy have shaped both diversity and disease risk in India.

29 Jun 2025