Summary: New neuroimaging research shows that child neglect, even when it occurs without physical or emotional abuse, can change key brain pathways. The study found white matter differences in regions linked to movement, attention, language, and emotional regulation, and those changes were associated with conduct and behavioral difficulties. These objective neural markers could improve early … Read more

Summary: Scientists at the Buck Institute have identified an unexpected connection between gut immune cells and the brain in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Antibody-producing B cells that normally live in the gut appear to migrate into brain border regions, guided by chemokine signals produced by inflammatory brain cells. When the mice were fed … Read more

Summary: Surgeons at UC San Diego Health have completed the world’s first anterior cervical spine surgery using a fully personalized implant created to match a single patient’s anatomy. Moving beyond standard, mass-produced devices, this customized implant was planned with AI-assisted imaging and then produced with medical-grade 3D printing for precise fit, alignment, and structural support. … Read more

Summary: A comprehensive umbrella review of 248 meta-analyses examining complementary, alternative and integrative medicines (CAIMs) for autism found no robust evidence to support their effectiveness. The review covered 19 intervention types — from music therapy and animal-assisted interventions to probiotics and vitamin D — but most results were unreliable and evaluations of safety were sparse. … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that people with Alzheimer’s disease exhibit unusually high neural flexibility—the frequent reorganization of functional brain networks—even while at rest. In a large study of older adults, greater neural flexibility in the visual network predicted which cognitively normal participants later developed dementia. These findings suggest that measures of dynamic brain reorganization could become … Read more

Summary: Adolescence is a critical period for the frontal cortex, where executive functions mature and the brain is especially vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. New research from the University of Rochester reveals that microglia—the brain’s resident immune cells—actively shape dopaminergic circuits during this window by promoting the formation and strengthening of axonal connections. Contrary to expectations, … Read more

Summary: A major new study reports that the long-standing “unhappiness hump” in midlife — a peak in mental distress around middle age — has largely vanished. Instead, anxiety, depression, and stress are now highest among younger adults, while reported ill-being decreases steadily with age. Analyses drawing on millions of responses across 44 countries indicate this … Read more

Summary: A recent real-world analysis indicates that cannabis-based medicinal products may provide sustained improvements in sleep for people with insomnia. In a cohort of 124 patients tracked for up to 18 months, participants reported better subjective sleep quality, reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, and improved overall quality of life. Side effects were generally mild and … Read more

Summary: A new study demonstrates that prolonged overactivation of dopamine-producing neurons can drive their degeneration in a pattern that mirrors Parkinson’s disease. Using a mouse model that allowed continuous stimulation of midbrain dopamine neurons, researchers observed disrupted daily activity cycles, early damage to neuronal projections (axons), and progressive loss of dopamine cells in the substantia … Read more

Summary: New research finds that practicing high ventilation breathwork (HVB) while listening to music can produce profound altered states of consciousness similar to those reported with psychedelic substances. Combining self-reported experiences with brain imaging, the study showed that HVB activates the body’s stress-related sympathetic response while shifting cerebral blood flow to emotion-processing regions such as … Read more