Summary: A new nationwide analysis finds that getting fewer than seven hours of sleep per night is one of the strongest behavioral predictors of reduced life expectancy across U.S. counties. Sleep sufficiency eclipsed other lifestyle factors—including diet, physical activity, and social isolation—with only smoking showing a stronger link to shorter lifespan. Researchers observed consistent year-to-year … Read more

Summary: A new prospective cohort study finds that smokers who are temporarily abstinent show greater pain sensitivity during nicotine withdrawal and require more postoperative pain medication—particularly opioids—than nonsmokers. The study links these changes in pain perception to altered activity and connectivity in specific brain regions and shows the effect is strongest within a limited abstinence … Read more

Summary: A new study using advanced deep-learning brain age estimation finds that World Trade Center responders with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show signs of accelerated brain aging. Using BrainAgeNeXt, an artificial intelligence model trained on more than 11,000 MRI scans, researchers observed that responders with PTSD had brains that appeared older than their chronological age, … Read more

Summary: New cross-national research indicates that unusually high ambient temperatures are associated with lower rates of early learning success in literacy and numeracy. Analyzing data from more than 19,000 three- and four-year-old children across six countries, the study found that average monthly maximum temperatures above 86 °F (30 °C) corresponded with measurable declines in early … Read more

Summary: New experimental results show that removing Centaurin‑α1, a protein found at higher levels in Alzheimer’s disease, markedly reduces inflammation, lowers plaque accumulation in the hippocampus, and lessens cognitive deficits in a widely used mouse model. Deleting this protein restored several disrupted molecular pathways, preserved synaptic connections in the hippocampus, and improved spatial learning performance. … Read more

Summary: A new review explains how episodic memories form, persist, and change over time, showing why recollections often differ from the original event. Rather than fixed files, memories consist of multiple components—some immediately accessible, others latent until triggered by environmental cues. When recalled, these components mix with our general knowledge, past experiences, and current situation … Read more

Summary: New research reveals that astrocytes — a type of glial cell — actively contribute to nicotine-driven changes in the brain, challenging the long-standing neuron-centered view of addiction. Nicotine activates specific receptors on astrocytes, triggering intracellular calcium signaling that leads to pJNK activation, enhanced glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, and amplification of glutamate-related pathways. These molecular … Read more

Summary: Changes in skin temperature play a central role in how strongly we experience our bodies as our own. Thermoception — the perception of warmth and cold on the skin — acts as a direct skin-to-brain channel that supports bodily self-awareness and influences emotion, identity, and mental health. When thermal perception is disrupted, people can … Read more

Summary: A new systematic review identifies five primary ways microplastics can harm the brain, raising concerns that these particles may worsen or accelerate neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Microplastics can provoke inflammation, disrupt the blood–brain barrier, generate oxidative stress, impair mitochondrial function, and directly injure neurons. Evidence from experimental and animal studies shows … Read more

Summary: Biophobia—the growing tendency for people to feel fear, discomfort, or disgust toward nature—is becoming more common. A systematic review from Lund University shows these negative emotions arise from external forces like urban living and media portrayals as well as internal factors such as health, temperament, and limited experience with natural environments. Reduced contact with … Read more