Summary: Researchers have identified distinct brain connectivity patterns linked to regular smoking and alcohol consumption. The study found that people who drink alcohol show higher functional connectivity in the medial orbitofrontal cortex, a brain region associated with reward, while regular smokers exhibit lower connectivity in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, a region tied to impulsivity. The … Read more

Memory Reactivation Boosts Visual Learning, Study Finds Summary: Brief reactivation of a learned memory can substitute for repeated practice and substantially improve perceptual learning, a new Tel Aviv University study reports. Source: AFTAU Key finding: Researchers at Tel Aviv University report that short, targeted reactivations of a learned memory can produce the same improvements in … Read more

Summary: Up to 40% of common, long-term mental health conditions in Australia—including anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders—can be traced back to childhood maltreatment. Researchers estimate that eliminating childhood abuse and neglect could prevent more than 1.8 million cases of these disorders and substantially reduce suicide, self-harm and overall years of healthy life lost. The … Read more

Summary: People with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) often show socially inappropriate behaviors. Although there is no cure for FTD, researchers are identifying ways to reduce some of these harmful behaviors. A new study finds that impulsive and inappropriate actions in people with bvFTD are substantially reduced when the patient is engaged in … Read more

Summary: A small group of people with Alzheimer’s disease who received experimental blood plasma infusions from young donors showed signs of improved daily functioning, according to researchers. Source: Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford investigators report that an early-phase clinical trial testing young-donor blood plasma infusions in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease was … Read more

Summary: MIT researchers have created an inexpensive disposable “smart” diaper that combines conventional diaper materials with passive RFID technology to detect wetness and notify caregivers when a change is needed. Source: MIT Overview: Some infants cry immediately when their diaper becomes wet, while others remain comfortable despite prolonged dampness. Extended exposure to moisture increases the … Read more

Summary: A randomized clinical trial shows that structured internet-based conversations can improve cognitive performance in socially isolated older adults. The I-CONECT trial enrolled 186 participants aged 75 and older who received frequent video-chat conversations with trained interviewers. After six and twelve months, participants—especially those with mild cognitive impairment—demonstrated gains in memory, language-based executive function, and … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified amyloid fibrils in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) that are composed not of the expected TDP-43 protein but of TMEM106B, a less-studied lysosomal membrane protein. This discovery shifts attention toward TMEM106B as a potential driver of FTLD pathology. Source: UCLA For years, scientists have associated amyloid fibrils — long, rope-like assemblies of … Read more

Summary: A new study shows that when one synapse strengthens, nearby synapses weaken, and this coordination is driven by the protein Arc. Source: MIT Neural circuits adapt through synaptic plasticity: neurons form stronger or new connections to encode experience. New research from the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT reveals a simple, local … Read more

Summary: Researchers found that adults who feel closer to their chronological age tend to report lower satisfaction with their sexual lives. Source: University of Waterloo. The closer you feel to your actual age, the less likely you are to be satisfied with your sex life, a University of Waterloo study has found. A longitudinal study … Read more