Summary: New research finds that greater willingness among older adults to give money away correlates with subtle cognitive patterns associated with early Alzheimer’s disease, a link that may help explain increased vulnerability to financial exploitation. Source: USC Researchers aim to identify which older adults are most at risk for financial exploitation by examining connections between … Read more

Summary: A twin study finds that both proactive and reactive aggression in early childhood share much of the same genetic basis at age six, but whether aggressive behaviour increases or decreases between ages 6 and 12 is driven largely by environmental influences. Source: University of Montreal Genetics Provide a Starting Point; Environment Shapes the Course … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a synaptic mechanism that computes escape decisions in the brain. How does the brain decide what to do in a threatening situation? A new study published in Nature reveals how brain circuits assess threat level and trigger escape behaviour. Escaping imminent danger is essential for survival, but indiscriminate flight is costly. … Read more

Early Maternal Nurturing Predicts Larger Hippocampus in School-Age Children Children who experienced nurturing care from their mothers during early childhood show a larger hippocampus by school age, according to research by child psychiatrists and neuroscientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The hippocampus is a vital brain region involved in learning, memory … Read more

Summary: New research links intestinal inflammation and the gut microbiome to the development and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Source: University of Illinois Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago are investigating whether changes in the gastrointestinal tract can serve as early indicators of Lou Gehrig’s disease and whether modifying the gut microbiome can … Read more

Summary: Natural disasters create intense stress and disruption for affected communities. Past research indicates that incidents and severity of domestic violence often rise after such events. Researchers at the University of Missouri have proposed a practical framework to support and protect victims of intimate partner violence before, during, and after disasters. Source: University of Missouri … Read more

Summary: New research highlights that anger is a prominent feature of postnatal mood disturbance. Authors recommend screening for anger alongside depression and anxiety during the postpartum period. Source: University of British Columbia. Health professionals should screen postpartum women for anger as well as depression and anxiety, according to new findings from the University of British … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Duke University developed a computer algorithm that designs energy-efficient deep brain stimulation patterns. These optimized patterns can maintain symptom relief for Parkinson’s disease while reducing energy use and the frequency of battery replacement surgeries. Source: Duke University New method preserves treatment effectiveness while cutting energy use and moving toward personalized therapy for … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Singapore Management University are developing PresentationPro, a virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) platform designed to improve public speaking skills and reduce public speaking anxiety. PresentationPro recreates realistic presentation environments populated by AI-driven audience avatars that react to both verbal and non-verbal cues, offering presenters immediate, data-driven feedback in a safe, … Read more

Summary: Restoring sight with brain implants is a powerful goal, but a major obstacle remains: the brain’s immune response to foreign devices. A new study dismantles the standard assumptions about neural implants and offers practical guidance for designing devices that the brain can tolerate long-term. The research delivers a rigorous comparison between rigid silicon electrodes … Read more