A common protein produced by specialized barrier cells in the brain appears to protect the brain from age-related damage. This protein—MARCKS—helps ependymal cells clear away accumulated molecules and maintain the integrity of the barrier that separates cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from brain tissue. When MARCKS is absent in these cells, their ability to act as both … Read more

Summary: Researchers at the University of Melbourne and Austin Health have begun a world-first clinical trial testing whether daily intravenous zinc chloride can reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Earlier research indicates zinc may slow replication of some respiratory viruses and protect organs from oxygen-deprivation damage. Source: University of Melbourne World-first clinical trial tests intravenous … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified the factors that drive the brain to choose specific defensive strategies under threat and have implicated a specific pair of neurons in that decision process. Source: Champalimaud Center for the Unknown. Although threats from large predators are no longer a routine part of modern human life, the neural circuits that supported … Read more

It’s hard to view a picture of a car on a screen and not silently say the word “car” to yourself—even when you’ve been told not to. A new study led by San Francisco State University researcher Ezequiel Morsella shows that the same kind of automatic response can occur for far more complex mental operations. … Read more

Summary: A new Nature Immunology study from RIKEN shows that when T cells are chronically activated they reshape the body’s metabolism, reducing key amino acids in the blood and altering brain chemistry and behavior. Source: RIKEN. Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Japan, together with collaborators, report that persistent activation of … Read more

Myelin and Brain Plasticity: How Neural Activity Shapes White Matter The brain’s capacity to learn and adapt relies not only on changes at synapses but also on activity-driven remodeling of the cells that insulate nerve fibers. For decades, neuroscientists have emphasized synaptic plasticity — the selective strengthening or weakening of connections between neurons — as … Read more

UCL researchers have developed an innovative optical method to study how the brain works by using patterned flashes of light to both “read” and “write” neural signals. Published in Nature Methods, the new approach combines two advanced, light‑based technologies for observing and controlling electrical activity in the living brain. Genetically encoded activity sensors cause selected … Read more

Summary: A large metagenomic study in Merino sheep reveals that tiny genetic differences within gut microbes—single nucleotide variations (SNVs)—are associated with host neurocognitive traits and circulating metabolites linked to brain function. By reconstructing more than 5,200 species-level microbial genomes, including over 3,500 previously unreported genomes, researchers mapped SNVs across hundreds of species and connected microbial … Read more

People who recognise they are overweight or obese may be more likely to gain additional weight than those who do not realise they are heavier than medical guidance recommends, according to research from the University of Liverpool. The study examined weight perception and later weight change among roughly 14,000 adults from both the United States … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that for older adults, the most restorative and efficient sleep occurs when bedroom temperatures are maintained between 68 and 77 °F (20–25 °C). Sleep efficiency fell by roughly 5–10% as nighttime temperatures rose from 77 to 86 °F (25 to 30 °C), highlighting both the importance of indoor thermal conditions and the … Read more