Summary: Chronic pain affects about one in five adults, and medications alone often do not provide sufficient relief. A new review led by researchers at Aarhus University shows that psychological treatments—especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—can reduce chronic pain by producing measurable changes in brain activity. By combining results from many smaller studies, the review finds … Read more

Summary: Researchers at the University of Virginia have developed a noninvasive focused ultrasound technique combined with microbubbles that halts growth of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) in preclinical models. CCMs are abnormal clusters of blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord that can lead to headaches, seizures, neurological deficits, and in severe cases, life‑threatening hemorrhage. … Read more

Summary: Thiamine derivatives developed initially to treat nutritional deficiencies are drawing renewed interest for their effects on brain function and energy regulation. A recent study from the University of Tsukuba reports that thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD), a vitamin B1 derivative, raises dopamine levels in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats and promotes increased arousal and … Read more

Summary: New research shows that even light physical activity—such as gentle jogging or yoga—engages key neurotransmitter systems that stimulate the hippocampus and support memory. Using a rat treadmill model designed to mirror human light-intensity exercise, researchers measured increases in dopamine and noradrenaline in the dorsal hippocampus and traced their origins to activated brainstem regions. The … Read more

Summary: Extended periods of sitting or lying down in adults over 50 are linked to declines in cognition and shrinkage in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease. These associations appeared even among participants who reported high levels of physical activity, and were strongest in people who carry the APOE‑ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor … Read more

Summary: A new multi-institutional study finds that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is linked to thinning of the brain’s cortex in older adults, especially in regions that support memory and cognition. Using advanced neuroimaging on a diverse cohort, researchers report that poorer blood sugar control—measured by higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)—appears to drive these structural changes. The … Read more

Summary: A large genomic study shows that parental age, ancestry and parental smoking each leave subtle but measurable effects on the number and types of de novo germline mutations (DNMs) children inherit. By analysing whole genomes from about 10,000 parent–child trios, researchers found that most variation in mutation counts is explained by parental age—particularly the … Read more

Summary: A new Emory University study reveals a biological connection between inflammation and reduced motivation in people with schizophrenia, pointing to a potential treatment target for negative symptoms that current antipsychotic medications do not reliably improve. Elevated levels of the inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were linked to lower activity and reduced connectivity in … Read more

Summary: Breathwork—the deliberate practice of changing one’s breathing pattern—has measurable effects on the brain and body. Research shows that slow, controlled breathing reduces anxiety, calms brain activity, and can ease symptoms of depression. Deliberate deep breathing engages neural circuits that regulate emotion, producing a reliable calming response. This response is rooted in physiology rather than … Read more

Summary: Infants hospitalized with severe COVID-19 mount an immune response that is strikingly different from that of adults and older children. Researchers observed simultaneous elevation of interferon-driven antiviral responses and pro-inflammatory signals—an unusual combination not previously seen with other viral infections in infants. T and B cells in these infants remained largely naïve yet showed … Read more