Summary: A novel study demonstrates that briefly perceiving oneself with a childlike version of one’s face can help adults retrieve richer, more detailed childhood memories. Using a virtual “enfacement illusion,” participants viewed a live, altered video of their own face made to resemble how they might have looked as children. This created a transient sense … Read more

Summary: Researchers have found that mutations in the EPG5 gene—previously identified as the cause of the rare childhood disorder Vici syndrome—also raise the risk of Parkinson’s disease and dementia later in life. EPG5 is essential for autophagy, the cellular process that clears damaged proteins and organelles. When this pathway fails, toxic proteins accumulate and progressively … Read more

Summary: New research shows that rats kept in social groups throughout life retain stronger memory and mental flexibility into old age than those housed alone. Even when all animals received the same physical and environmental enrichment, only the socially connected rats matched younger animals on a demanding memory test. Isolated aged rats showed clear declines … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified two compounds that promote repair of the myelin sheath damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), marking a major step toward therapies that regenerate nerve insulation rather than merely slowing damage. The lead compound, K102, not only encourages remyelination but also helps rebalance immune responses—an important combination for durable neurological recovery. In preclinical … Read more

Summary: Chronic pain affects nearly 50 million Americans. New research points to an internal brain mechanism that can reduce long-term pain: a set of brainstem neurons that act like a “pain override” by integrating signals for hunger, fear, and thirst and dialing down ongoing pain. When immediate survival needs take precedence, these neurons suppress pain … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a specific brain function—social inference—that could shift how schizophrenia is treated. Social inference is the ability to interpret tone, context and unspoken intentions in social interactions. Strengthening this skill early in the course of the illness may help young people regain independence, improve daily functioning and reduce long-term cognitive decline. Instead … Read more

Summary: Researchers have created a brain-on-a-chip using human cells to model how the blood-brain barrier (BBB) fails during systemic inflammation and disease. These microphysiological systems reproduce key aspects of the human BBB and reveal how cytokine storms and blood proteins that leak into the brain can trigger damaging changes in brain cells. A second complementary … Read more

Summary: New research finds that more than two-thirds of people living with chronic pain turn to comfort foods—especially chocolate—to cope during flare-ups. Eating provides short-term pleasure, distraction and even mild pain relief, likely because calorie-dense foods affect the brain’s reward and pain systems. While this can ease immediate suffering, the pattern can lead to weight … Read more

Summary: New research shows that harmful genetic mutations in sperm become more common as men age, and some of these mutations are actually favored during sperm production, giving them a reproductive advantage. Using an ultra-accurate sequencing technique, scientists found that sperm from older men are significantly more likely to carry mutations linked to neurodevelopmental disorders … Read more

Summary: New research identifies the glycoprotein Reelin as a promising candidate to repair a weakened intestinal barrier (“leaky gut”) and to reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder by acting on the gut–brain axis. Chronic stress lowers Reelin levels in the gut, which weakens the intestinal lining and allows bacterial products and toxins to enter circulation, … Read more