Summary: Researchers are using artificial intelligence to design novel compounds that can block kappa opioid receptors, aiming to develop new treatments to reduce opioid dependence and withdrawal-driven relapse. Source: Biophysical Society Approximately three million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, and more than 80,000 die each year from overdoses. Opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone … Read more
Summary: Researchers have created a biohybrid neural implant that can strengthen communication between the brain and paralyzed limbs, offering a promising route to restore limb function after amputation or nerve injury. Source: University of Cambridge New biohybrid neural implant developed to restore limb function Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a biohybrid neural … Read more
Summary: Rising rates of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents may be linked to a long-term decline in opportunities for unsupervised play, exploration, and independent activity—experiences that build resilience, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. Source: FAU Anxiety and depression among school-aged children and teenagers in the United States have reached historic highs. In 2021, child … Read more
Brain research has identified a clear link between the amount of formal education a person receives and their risk of developing dementia. By comparing the brains of 872 individuals with their reported educational histories, researchers found that people who received more education earlier in life were less likely to have shown dementia symptoms than those … Read more
Summary: NG2‑glia, a recently characterized population of self‑renewing brain cells, are regulated by the body’s circadian clock. These results reveal how daily rhythms influence cellular proliferation and suggest new directions for improving recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Source: Children’s National Hospital New research from Children’s National Hospital shows that NG2‑glia—also called oligodendrocyte precursor cells—follow … Read more
Summary: Strong cardiovascular health is linked to slower biological aging, which could reduce the risk of age-related diseases and increase lifespan. A recent analysis using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 score and a biological-age metric called phenotypic age found a clear relationship: better cardiovascular health corresponds with a younger biological age. This suggests … Read more
Summary: Meaningful sounds such as speech and music can impair performance on cognitive tasks, while meaningless noise tends to be less disruptive, a new study reports. Source: Acoustical Society of America. Researchers also measured how annoying listeners found different types of noise. Open-plan offices are increasingly common because they can maximize space and encourage collaboration. … Read more
Summary: New research shows that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the virus most commonly associated with cold sores, can invade selective regions of the brain and may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative conditions. Detailed mapping of HSV-1’s route into the central nervous system reveals that the virus preferentially targets areas that regulate sleep, … Read more
Phase 3 results for the Alzheimer’s treatment solanezumab to be presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2015 New data from an extended analysis of solanezumab — an anti-amyloid therapy tested in people with mild Alzheimer’s disease — will be presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2015. The phase 3 extension follows 1,322 … Read more
Summary: New research highlights the vital role of bystanders in responding to anti-social behaviour. Across three experimental studies, researchers found that when bystanders actively support someone who confronts mistreatment, they reinforce social norms and help prevent harmful behaviour from becoming tolerated. In contrast, silence or topic-changing from bystanders can weaken those norms and undermine efforts … Read more
