Nervous System News and Research

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Genetic links between type 2 diabetes and subcortical brain structure revealed

Recently, the team led by Chief Physician Quan Zhang and Associate Professor Feng Liu at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital systematically evaluated the genetic associations between type 2 diabetes mellitus and subcortical brain structures using large-scale genome-wide association summary statistics and advanced statistical genetic methods.

11 Jul 2025

Egr-1 gene identified as crucial regulator of regulatory T cells in multiple sclerosis

Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), affect millions of people worldwide.

11 Jul 2025

Researchers create over 400 types of nerve cells from stem cells

Nerve cells are not just nerve cells. Depending on how finely we distinguish, there are several hundred to several thousand different types of nerve cell in the human brain according to the latest calculations.

11 Jul 2025

Virginia Tech researchers explore creatine therapy for brain health

Creatine is popularly known as a muscle-building supplement, but its influence on human muscle function can be a matter of life or death.

9 Jul 2025

Physical fitness associated with better cognition in people with relapsing-remitting MS

Good physical performance is associated with better cognition in people with relapsing-remitting MS, according to a recent study by the University of Eastern Finland. Good functional capacity was also clearly related to cognition and physical performance.

8 Jul 2025

Astrocytes influence metabolism and cognitive function in obesity

Fatty diets and obesity affect the structure and function of astrocytes, the star-shaped brain cells located in the striatum, a brain region involved in the perception of pleasure generated by food consumption.

7 Jul 2025

Virtual mindfulness meditation apps improve cognitive focus in adults

Studies suggest mindfulness meditation can improve cognition, but few researchers have examined whether virtual mindfulness meditation apps are effective.

7 Jul 2025

Positive emotions enhance memory for neutral images

How do emotions influence memory? In a collaboration between Hangzhou Normal University and Nanjing Normal University, Xi Jia led a study to explore whether emotions shape how well people remember meaningless, or neutral, images.

7 Jul 2025

Neural stem cell grafts show promise for myelin repair in multiple sclerosis

A study led by Cambridge researchers has shed light on how neural stem cell grafts could help restore myelin in the central nervous system.

7 Jul 2025

Circadian misalignment in the blind may impact daily brain functions

This study investigates how blindness affects sleep, dreams, and spatial awareness, revealing links between circadian rhythms and cognitive performance.

7 Jul 2025

Study provides a molecular snapshot of Tanshi constitution's immunological landscape

The study aims to uncover the immunological basis of Tanshi (phlegm-dampness) constitution—a subhealth type in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)—using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

7 Jul 2025

Innovative approach for the development of next-generation cancer therapies targeting FGFR2/3

Aberrations in fibroblast growth factor receptors FGFR2/3 are major drivers of many cancers-including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, endometrial, breast, gastric, and bladder cancers.

4 Jul 2025

Study finds significant uptick in chronic digestive disorders during COVID-19 pandemic

A study led by Cedars-Sinai investigators uncovered a significant uptick in chronic digestive disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3 Jul 2025

TET2 mutations in blood stem cells linked to lower Alzheimer's risk

A study published in Cell Stem Cell reveals that some mutations in blood stem cells might help protect against late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

2 Jul 2025

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

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

New trial offers hope for effective treatment of spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injuries are currently incurable with devastating effects on people's lives, but now a trial at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland offers hope for an effective treatment.

30 Jun 2025

Do spicy foods help or hurt your gut health?

Capsaicin, the spicy compound in chili peppers, not only influences inflammation, metabolism, and cancer risk but also shapes the gut microbiome in complex, context-dependent ways. This comprehensive review highlights both the therapeutic promise and potential risks of capsaicin, calling for deeper research into its microbiome-mediated effects.

26 Jun 2025

Can saffron treat Alzheimer’s and depression?

Saffron shows promise as a natural treatment for depression and cognitive decline, performing as well as standard drugs in clinical trials. However, more rigorous studies are needed before saffron can be recommended in mainstream psychiatric and dementia care.

26 Jun 2025