Summary: A multi-institutional research team has received a $9 million grant to study how aging and functional decline in immune cells influence the risk and progression of Parkinson’s disease. The project will map immune system changes associated with cellular “burnout,” seek biomarkers that explain why the disease behaves so differently across patients, and pursue precision … Read more
Summary: A new study from Hiroshima University identifies G protein-coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) as an immediate-early–like molecule that helps initiate stem cell differentiation into neurons. The team found that GPR3 is rapidly induced—within 30 minutes of growth factor exposure—and functions as an autonomous amplifier of the cAMP–CREB signaling pathway, linking early gene responses to downstream … Read more
Summary: Neurosurgeons have completed the first-in-human clinical implant of the Paradromics Connexus wireless brain-computer interface (BCI). The procedure seeks to restore natural communication for a woman affected by a severe motor neuron disease, marking an important advance toward practical, fully implantable neuroprosthetics that reduce infection risk and expand daily use outside the clinic. Using a … Read more
Summary: A high-resolution neuroimaging study shows that both the human brain and large language models (LLMs) use deeply parallel, predictive information-processing strategies to organize language. By combining continuous audiobook listening with millisecond-resolution EEG and MEG recordings, researchers demonstrated that the brain activates in advance to anticipate upcoming words: predictable words evoke quieter neural activity, while … Read more
Summary: Great ape cognition is highly individualized, dynamic, and organized differently from human intelligence. In an 18-month longitudinal study of 48 animals — chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans — researchers found that individual cognitive profiles remain stable over time and are strongly shaped by factors such as rearing history, sex, and social group membership. Crucially, … Read more
Summary: A genetic marker linked to human Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is required for healthy cerebellar development. Researchers found that mutating the MEIS1 gene in zebrafish larvae disrupts the species’ rhythmic “burst and glide” locomotion, producing persistent, hyperactive movement episodes. Neuroimaging and cellular analysis localized this abnormal behavior to a partial loss of Purkinje cells—key … Read more
Summary: Adding a daily probiotic supplement to standard antidepressant care produced modest but meaningful reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults with moderate depression. In this 24-week pilot trial, 58 participants aged 60 and older were monitored using fecal microbiota profiling and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) measurements to evaluate biological and clinical … Read more
Summary: A study of 55,204 older veterans reveals a dangerous two-way association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and several neurological disorders. Researchers found that older adults who sustained a TBI were three to four times more likely to have received a new diagnosis of epilepsy, stroke, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease in the prior year—conditions that … Read more
Summary: New research indicates that GLP-1 receptor agonists—medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy—may substantially reduce behaviors associated with violence. An analysis of a nationally representative 2025 survey of U.S. adults found that current GLP-1 use weakened the established link between high impulsivity and violent behavior by about 62% and reduced the association between alcohol use … Read more
Summary: Researchers at Hiroshima University report that G protein-coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) acts like an immediate-early molecule that helps trigger stem cells to become neurons. The study shows GPR3 is induced within 30 minutes of growth factor exposure and functions as an autonomous amplifier of the cAMP-CREB pathway, linking early gene responses to the programs … Read more
