Summary: 2022 was a landmark year for neuroscience. Below is a curated look back at some of the most-read and impactful neuroscience stories we published, highlighting discoveries that captured readers’ attention worldwide.
Source: Neuroscience News
For more than two decades, Neuroscience News has covered leading developments in brain science and neuroscience research. Each year we review the articles that resonated most with our readers. The list below summarizes the top stories from 2022, selected based on website traffic and social engagement.
These entries are presented without ranking bias and reflect topics that sparked conversation across the scientific community and the general public. We are grateful to our loyal readers and newcomers alike for their continued interest and support. We look forward to bringing you the latest neuroscience research throughout 2023. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year.
20: A Surprising Link Between Immune System and Hair Growth
Researchers found that regulatory T cells communicate with skin cells through glucocorticoid signaling to stimulate new hair follicle formation, suggesting potential avenues for treating alopecia and other hair loss conditions.
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19: A New Theory in Physics Claims to Solve the Mystery of Consciousness
Investigators propose a novel conceptual and mathematical framework arguing that consciousness cannot be fully explained by neural activity alone. Their interdisciplinary model offers new ways to think about conscious dynamics.
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18: Alzheimer’s and Daytime Napping Linked in New Research
A longitudinal study identified a two-way association between daytime napping patterns and cognitive decline: longer or more frequent naps predicted worse cognition after a year, while cognitive decline was also associated with increased nap duration and frequency.
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17: Pain Relief Without Side Effects and Addiction
Scientists developed novel compounds that target adrenergic receptors instead of opioid receptors to treat chronic pain. Early results show effective analgesia without signs of respiratory depression or addictive behaviors.
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16: A Glimpse Into the Dog’s Mind: How Dogs Think of Their Toys
New research indicates dogs form multimodal mental images of familiar objects, meaning when dogs imagine a toy they recreate its visual, tactile, and perhaps olfactory features in their minds.
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15: How Many Daily Walking Steps Are Needed for Longevity?
A comprehensive meta-analysis of 15 studies identifies optimal step counts by age group to support longevity, offering practical guidelines for daily physical activity to improve long-term health.
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14: Nose Picking Could Increase Risk for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Researchers report that Chlamydia pneumoniae can traverse the olfactory nerve from the nasal cavity into the brain, triggering amyloid beta deposition and Alzheimer’s-like pathology. They suggest protecting the nasal lining to reduce infection risk.
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13: The End of Baldness? Protein That Controls Hair Follicle Fate Identified
Scientists identified how TGF-beta signaling regulates whether hair follicle stem cells divide to produce new cells or trigger programmed cell death, offering insights that could inform treatments for baldness and improved wound healing.
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12: Lucid Dying: Patients Recall Death Experiences During CPR
About one in five people resuscitated with CPR report lucid experiences at or near clinical death. Brain recordings during these episodes showed activity patterns associated with lucidity, suggesting aspects of subjective awareness can persist close to death.
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11: Trigger Finger Occurs More Often in People With Diabetes
Trigger finger, a condition where a finger becomes stuck in a bent position, is more prevalent among individuals with diabetes. Elevated blood glucose appears to increase the risk of developing this hand disorder.
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10: Vaping Alters Inflammatory Responses in Brain, Heart, Lungs, and Colon
Daily use of pod-based e-cigarettes shifts inflammatory signaling across multiple organs, including the brain. The nature of those effects depends on flavoring agents; for example, mint and mango flavors produced different immune responses that could influence susceptibility to infection.
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9: Green Mediterranean Diet Cuts More Visceral Fat Than Traditional Diets
A modified “green” Mediterranean diet—rich in polyphenols from green tea, walnuts, and plant-based ingredients and lower in red meat—reduced visceral fat twice as effectively as the standard Mediterranean diet and outperformed a conventional healthy diet by about 10%.
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8: Genetic Variants That Helped During the Black Death Now Linked to Autoimmune Disease
Genetic variants in ERAP2 and TICAM2 that likely increased survival during the Black Death also appear to elevate risk for modern autoimmune conditions. For example, ERAP2 variants are associated with greater susceptibility to Crohn’s disease.
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7: Toward Early Detection of Pathological Social Withdrawal (‘Hikikomori’)
Hikikomori describes prolonged social withdrawal lasting six months or more. As prevalence rises outside its originally identified regions, researchers propose screening tools to detect hikikomori earlier and connect affected individuals with appropriate care.
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6: Popular Dietary Supplement May Increase Cancer Risk and Brain Metastasis
New evidence suggests nicotinamide riboside—a supplement promoted for cardiovascular and neurological benefits—could raise the risk of breast cancer progression and brain metastasis under certain conditions, prompting calls for further investigation.
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5: Progress Toward a Tinnitus Treatment
Researchers report promising results for a new digital polytherapeutic that combines white noise and targeted sound therapy, producing meaningful improvements in tinnitus symptoms for many participants.
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4: Persistent Cognitive Impairments Linked to Cannabis Use
Evidence indicates cannabis use can produce cognitive deficits that last beyond the period of intoxication, raising important questions about long-term cognitive health and use patterns.
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3: Rise in Suicides Associated With Common Food Preservative
Reports link increasing cases of intentional poisonings and suicides to sodium nitrite, a curing agent used in processed meats, prompting experts to recommend stricter controls and public health measures.
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2: Childhood Circumstances and Personality Shape Loneliness in Later Life
Research shows that both early-life relationships and adult personality traits contribute to loneliness in older adults. Those reporting loneliness after age 50 were more likely to have lacked close childhood friendships and to have had strained relationships with their mothers.
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1: Coffee and Cigarettes: New Insights Into Nicotine and Morning Coffee
Many smokers pair their first cigarette with coffee each morning. New findings suggest compounds produced during coffee roasting may reduce morning nicotine cravings, offering a biochemical explanation for this common ritual.
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About this neuroscience research news
Author: Press Office
Source: Neuroscience News
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