Summary: A large national study of more than 27.8 million U.S. Medicare beneficiaries shows that long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is directly associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The analysis indicates that the effect occurs largely through direct impacts on the brain, rather than acting only through common chronic conditions … Read more

Summary: Learning to use a robotic prosthetic is not only a physical challenge but also a cognitive one. New research shows that a person’s body image—the internal map of how their body moves—has difficulty accurately representing robotic limbs. That mismatch can produce early pessimism about movement and later overconfidence, either of which may impede rehabilitation. … Read more

Summary: New pooled evidence shows that hearing problems are widespread among musicians. A large meta-analysis of 67 studies covering more than 28,000 musicians across 21 countries found that tinnitus, hearing loss, and hyperacusis occur far more often in musicians than in non-musicians. Tinnitus affected 42.6% of musicians—over three times the rate seen in control groups—while … Read more

Summary: For decades, the notion that the mammalian brain produces N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)—often called “the spirit molecule”—has been central to discussions about dreams, near-death experiences, and endogenous psychedelics. A new study from researchers at the University of Southern Denmark and Bern University Hospital challenges that view. Using highly sensitive quantitative methods in adult rats, the team … Read more

Summary: The worldwide rise in myopia (nearsightedness) is commonly blamed on screen use, but new research from the SUNY College of Optometry points to a physiological explanation: insufficient retinal illumination during prolonged near work in low indoor light. The investigators propose that sustained close-up focus causes pupil constriction (via accommodation), which, when combined with dim … Read more

Summary: Loneliness—especially among older adults—is an escalating public health concern. Researchers have found that combining AI-driven empathetic speech with music makes robotic companions feel more human and emotionally resonant. The study shows that pairing sensitive conversation with musical accompaniment strengthens emotional connection and increases how empathetic the robot is perceived to be. The effect can … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborators found that two interacting genetic faults are required to trigger Parkinson’s-like neurodegeneration. In fruit fly models, a common Parkinson’s risk gene, GBA1, by itself was not sufficient to produce disease. When combined with a second mutation in ATP13A2 (called anne in flies), the pair caused progressive … Read more

Summary: The way you take a probiotic—its physical form and delivery—can determine whether it primarily improves cognition or supports emotional well‑being. A randomized, placebo‑controlled trial in healthy older adults found that microencapsulated probiotics enhanced cognitive functions such as memory and attention, while non‑encapsulated powder produced stronger benefits for mood, reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. The … Read more

Summary: A new, large brain imaging study highlights a potential downside of heavy cannabis use in young adults. Examining more than 1,000 participants aged 22 to 36, researchers report that heavy lifetime cannabis use (defined here as more than 1,000 lifetime uses) is associated with reduced neural activity in brain regions essential for attention, decision-making, … Read more

Summary: As AI-generated images increasingly resemble real photographs, a new study finds that the key to spotting a “deepfake” is not technical knowledge but a stable visual skill: object recognition. Individuals who naturally excel at distinguishing visually similar objects are far better at telling real faces from AI-generated ones. Researchers created the AI Face Test … Read more