Summary: By the time common motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease prompt diagnosis, roughly 60% of patients already have substantial damage to the heart’s sympathetic nerve connections. Researchers have now mapped where inflammation and oxidative stress occur in the heart and how those processes relate to cardiac problems linked to Parkinson’s. Source: University of Wisconsin Madison. … Read more

Summary: New research challenges claims that THC-O-acetate, a semi-synthetic cannabinoid, produces true psychedelic effects comparable to LSD or psilocybin. A survey of nearly 300 users found little evidence supporting widespread mystical or classic psychedelic experiences from THC-O-acetate. Instead, respondents most often reported moderate relaxation, euphoria, and pain relief. These findings carry implications for consumers, regulators, … Read more

Researchers have identified a previously unknown genetic mutation that causes a degenerative, ultimately fatal movement disorder by analyzing genetic data from two unrelated families spanning three generations. Using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) methods, the team also grew neurons from a patient to support future functional studies. Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a group of inherited … Read more

Summary: Researchers have created the most comprehensive parts list of the human brain to date, identifying important differences between human and mouse brain cells. These findings could help explain why many drugs that work in mouse models fail in humans. Source: Allen Institute A new study from the Allen Institute for Brain Science presents the … Read more

Summary: Men are less likely than women to share negative information, while both genders are similarly likely to share positive news. A multi-institution study involving more than 1,000 participants finds that men’s concerns about social perception can lead them to withhold negative experiences while sharing positive information at similar rates to women. The research highlights … Read more

Researchers have achieved a major advance by creating the first imaging tool capable of directly visualizing myelin damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). This breakthrough could enable earlier diagnosis, more accurate monitoring of disease progression, and better assessment of treatment responses. Scientists at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have developed a novel molecular probe … Read more

Summary: People with dementia who had a prior cancer diagnosis show better cognitive function at the time of dementia diagnosis and tend to decline more slowly than those without a cancer history. Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham As people age, the risk of developing cancer or dementia increases. Both conditions share common risk factors—such … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that a routine MRI scan can help detect and monitor vascular cognitive disorder by revealing microscopic damage in the brain’s white matter. Source: RSNA. Routine brain MRI shows promise for improving diagnosis of a common vascular cognitive disorder, according to a new study published in Radiology. Vascular cognitive disorder results from disease … Read more

Summary: Earlier studies linked social isolation and loneliness to higher rates of smoking. This new longitudinal analysis suggests the reverse may also be true: smoking can contribute to growing social isolation and loneliness over time. Source: Imperial College London New research shows that smoking is associated not only with well-known physical harms but also with … Read more

Famine, drug abuse and even stress can “silence” certain genes, causing health problems in generations to come. Now scientists are asking: could therapies that change parental gene expression benefit their children? Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) report new evidence suggesting the answer may be yes. In a study using mouse models of Huntington’s … Read more