Summary: Scientists have identified two proteins that limit microglial reactivity, prevent scar formation after brain injury, and enable regeneration of neural tissue in a zebrafish model. Source: LMU LMU researchers show in a zebrafish model that two proteins suppress scar formation in the brain and thereby enhance the tissue’s ability to regenerate. Most tissues in … Read more

Summary: A new study clarifies how stress alters the brain’s reward circuitry, leading to increased alcohol consumption by changing the dopamine response to ethanol. Source: University of Pennsylvania Penn animal study links stress-induced changes in the brain’s reward center to higher alcohol intake; findings have implications for understanding mechanisms behind PTSD-related substance use. Stress is … Read more

Summary: A University of Miami–led study funded by the Veterans Administration finds that the genetic patterns linked to cognition are largely similar in people with schizophrenia, people with bipolar disorder, and the general population. The result suggests shared genomic influences on cognitive performance and may guide broader assessment and treatment strategies for cognitive impairment. Source: … Read more

Summary: LMU researchers identify an early epigenetic mechanism that, when disrupted during the first stages of neurogenesis, activates retroviral elements and ultimately causes delayed neural cell death. Source: LMU. Early epigenetic regulation by Uhrf1 is essential for long-term neuronal survival; its loss activates retroviral sequences and leads to progressive neurodegeneration. The formation of neurons from … Read more

Summary: A new mouse study uncovers a brain circuit that may support the rapid back-and-forth timing of human conversation. The discovery could clarify mechanisms behind speech disorders and suggest directions for future therapies. Source: UT Austin. Researchers from New York University School of Medicine and The University of Texas at Austin studied the singing behavior … Read more

Summary: A preliminary study suggests that people who develop headaches after a concussion show greater iron accumulation in specific brain regions, a marker that may indicate injury to brain cells. Researchers compared 60 individuals with post-traumatic headache following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) to 60 matched controls without concussion, and found a relationship between iron … Read more

Summary: A visual cortical prosthesis aims to restore sight by bypassing damaged eyes and delivering camera-derived visual information directly to the brain. New research demonstrates a promising approach: dynamically stimulating sequences of electrodes to “trace” shapes on the visual cortex, producing recognizable perceptions of letters and forms. Source: Cell Press Most cases of acquired blindness … Read more

Summary: Using enhanced CRISPR gene-editing and in vivo screening, Yale researchers screened more than 1,500 genetic combinations to identify multiple gene drivers and therapy-resistant alterations that promote glioblastoma. Source: Yale From thousands of candidates, Yale scientists identify gene combinations that drive glioblastoma A team led by researchers at Yale has pinpointed specific combinations of gene … Read more

Summary: Researchers reporting from the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified a microbiome-derived molecule that appears to be reduced in the gut and bodily fluids of models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In mouse models, the team tracked changes in gut bacteria as disease developed, pinpointed specific strains whose presence correlated with disease progression, and … Read more

Summary: Researchers implicate the neuropeptide NPPB in generating the itching sensation characteristic of eczema. Source: North Carolina State University. Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified a specific neuropeptide that contributes to transmitting itch signals in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. The findings add clarity to the signaling pathway that conveys itch from … Read more