Summary: Researchers report a measurable decline in cerebral blood flow after physically fit older adults paused their exercise for a short period. Source: University of Maryland. Stopping regular endurance exercise for just ten days led to a significant reduction in blood flow to multiple brain regions, including the hippocampus, in healthy, physically fit older adults, … Read more

Summary: Childhood adversity can leave lasting traces on brain development, mental health, and behavior. Adults who experienced adversity in early life face higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. Source: SfN (Society for Neuroscience) Researchers are using advanced molecular methods in rodent models to map the brain circuits and cellular changes caused by … Read more

Summary: A new study finds that sleep deprivation raises levels of the Alzheimer’s-associated protein tau and speeds its spread in the brain. The results suggest that insufficient sleep alone can promote processes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report that poor sleep increases tau and accelerates tau … Read more

Summary: In a rodent model, SARS‑CoV‑2 infection leaves a persistent gene expression signature in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) that remains after the virus is cleared and resembles molecular patterns seen in other pain conditions, suggesting mechanisms for long COVID–related pain and potential therapeutic targets. Source: Experimental Biology New animal research offers insight into how … Read more

Summary: The amygdala–pons connection within the pons-corticolimbic network is markedly stronger in people with major depressive disorder. Source: University of Hong Kong Major depressive disorder (MDD), commonly referred to as depression, is a serious psychiatric condition frequently linked to increased suicide risk and major functional impairment. Although an estimated 250 million people worldwide live with … Read more

Summary: Researchers have developed a promising, low-cost screening approach for Parkinson’s disease (PD) that analyzes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in ear wax. By identifying four specific VOCs that differ significantly between people with and without PD and training an artificial intelligence (AI) olfactory model on these chemical signatures, the team achieved classification accuracy of … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, can reduce psychiatric risks associated with THC exposure in an animal model. Source: Indiana University. IU neuroscientists report that cannabidiol reduces THC-induced memory and behavioral deficits in adolescent mice Neuroscientists at Indiana University published a study on Sept. 5 showing that cannabidiol (CBD), the … Read more

QUT scientist explores stem cell approaches to repairing brain injury Rachel Okolicsanyi, a researcher at the Genomics Research Centre within QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, is investigating whether adult stem cells from bone marrow can be manipulated to help repair damage to the brain. Unlike many other cells in the body, most mature … Read more

Summary: Stress can influence voice disorders. Researchers observed that higher salivary cortisol levels corresponded with brain activity affecting the laryngeal region. Participants with lower extraversion were more likely to show stress-linked speech reactions. Source: University of Missouri Stress, Brain Activity, and Voice Disorders: What the Research Shows Glossophobia—the fear of public speaking—is one of the … Read more

Summary: A new study finds that repeated mild daily stress leads to a clear increase in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This REM increase correlates with altered expression of genes linked to cell death and survival, shedding light on how stress may contribute to mood disorders through sleep changes. Source: University of Surrey. Daily mild … Read more