Research shows the brain’s lasting plasticity and how early language exposure shapes later processing You might feel you’ve forgotten a language you heard as a child, but the brain often retains traces of that early exposure. New research indicates that even brief exposure to a first language in infancy can influence how the brain processes … Read more

Summary: A large analysis of more than 11 million medical records shows that people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) face a substantially higher long-term risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. After adjusting for factors such as age, obesity and cardiovascular conditions, veterans who did not use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were nearly twice as … Read more

Summary: Avoiding activities that previously caused pain can lead people to avoid other tasks that are actually safe. This generalization of avoidance can extend beyond physically similar movements to whole categories of activities, producing unnecessary limitations on daily life and valued pursuits. A controlled study with healthy volunteers shows that learned pain avoidance can spread … Read more

Summary: A new single-cell study maps molecular changes in brains affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), revealing distinct cell-type specific alterations that may drive symptoms. Researchers analyzed the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—an area central to emotional regulation—comparing single-nucleus data from individuals with PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and unaffected controls to identify disrupted communication pathways and … Read more

Summary: New research suggests that an antibiotic-induced shift in gut amino acid concentrations may be a causal mechanism for reduced inflammatory pain. Source: University of New England Glenn Stevenson, Ph.D., professor of psychology in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of New England, recently published a study investigating how modulation of … Read more

Summary: A review in Frontiers in Psychology links adolescent binge drinking to reductions in brain regions responsible for memory, learning, language and attention. Source: Frontiers. Heavy alcohol consumption or binge drinking during adolescence and young adulthood changes brain structure and function, reduces cognitive performance, and increases the risk of later alcohol use disorder. Alcohol is … Read more

In a new study published in Neuron, researchers at Brown University report that mutation of a gene linked to some forms of autism in humans disrupts the normal growth and connectivity of neurons in mice, and they demonstrate laboratory methods to restore proper neuronal growth. Brown University scientists have traced a genetic deficit tied to … Read more

Summary: A new study shows that galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) can produce persistent learning and memory deficits in female rodents. The research also reports that dietary supplementation with an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound, CDDO-EA, reduced the cognitive effects of GCR exposure. These results deepen our understanding of how space radiation may affect brain function and … Read more

Summary: A new study challenges previous assumptions about how Parkinson’s disease develops and progresses. Source: University of Basel Researchers at the University of Basel have published findings that call into question a widely held theory about the molecular origins of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder first described more than 200 years … Read more

UCLA Study Finds Processed Fructose Impairs Brain Recovery After Head Trauma Summary: A UCLA study shows that a diet high in processed fructose reduces the brain’s ability to repair itself after traumatic head injury, with implications for millions living with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuroscientists at UCLA report that diets rich in processed fructose can … Read more