Summary: A large survey identifies seven compensation strategies that can help people with Parkinson’s disease manage walking and mobility problems, but many patients are unaware of these options. Source: AAN Many people with Parkinson’s disease experience difficulty walking, yet a new large survey shows that several effective compensation strategies remain unfamiliar to a substantial number … Read more

Summary: Exercise is a proven antidepressant, yet depression often saps the energy and motivation needed to move. A new paper from the University of Ottawa explores a futuristic approach: exercise mimetics — pharmacological agents designed to make skeletal muscle behave as if it has just completed a sustained workout. These compounds could activate the muscle-brain … Read more

Summary: Artificial intelligence identified distinct behavioral phenotypes at different stages of epilepsy development in mice, revealing subtle signatures invisible to the human eye. Source: NIH Using advanced machine learning and 3D video analysis, researchers have developed an automated method to detect and quantify behavioral changes in mice with epilepsy, offering a faster, more objective way … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified molecular mechanisms that shift children’s memory from general, “gist-like” recollections to precise, event-based or episodic memories. This transition typically happens between ages four and six and is driven by maturation processes in the hippocampus. The study pinpoints the role of inhibitory neurons called parvalbumin-expressing (PV) interneurons and the surrounding dense extracellular … Read more

Summary: A new study reports that disrupting the brain’s master circadian clock in mice produces depression- and anxiety-like behaviors. Source: Elsevier. Disrupting the daily rhythm of the brain’s master clock produces depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in mice, according to a new study published in Biological Psychiatry. The research links the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and its … Read more

Introducing a protective APOE variant into the brain appears to halt—and in some cases reverse—amyloid progression in mouse models A specific version of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) is the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset, sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, yet the mechanisms behind that risk have remained debated. New research led by investigators at … Read more

An interdisciplinary team from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the University of Houston has identified a novel way to influence serotonin signaling that could lead to more effective medicines with fewer side effects. Serotonin signaling plays a central role in many physiological and behavioral processes, and disruptions in that system have … Read more

Summary: A new study explains how a subset of older adults maintain youthful memory abilities and identifies the brain networks that support this resilience. Source: Harvard Researchers’ images reveal resilient brain networks in “super-agers” While some degree of memory decline is common with age, a growing body of research highlights older adults who remain remarkably … Read more

A New Model for Understanding Neural Self-Regulation Researchers present a theoretical framework explaining how neurons maintain stable function while their molecular components are continually replaced. Unlike a car that must be taken out of service for repairs, the nervous system continually replaces the molecular parts of its cells while remaining fully operational. Neurons can survive … Read more

Summary: A new anatomical study indicates that bonobos may retain muscle features closer to those of the last common ancestor shared with humans than do common chimpanzees. Source: George Washington University. Study compares bonobo, common chimpanzee and human musculoskeletal anatomy and finds bonobos show fewer changes from the ancestral condition. Researchers have completed the first … Read more