Summary: Researchers at Kobe University have developed a novel approach to neutralize a key driver of Alzheimer’s disease by using mirror-image protein fragments. These synthetic “right-handed” peptides bind tightly to the naturally occurring “left-handed” amyloid-beta, preventing it from aggregating into toxic brain plaques. Conventional drug design struggles with intrinsically disordered proteins like amyloid-beta because they … Read more

The activities we choose shape our emotions and daily experience. When someone is depressed, they often stop doing things that used to bring meaning or enjoyment, which can deepen the low mood and reduce motivation (Behavioral Activation for Depression, n.d.). Behavioral activation is a core component of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It helps clarify how a … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that kalata B1, a cyclic peptide originally found in violets, can dramatically increase the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug temozolomide (TMZ) against glioblastoma cells in laboratory experiments. In cell studies, a synthetic form of kalata B1 lowered the amount of TMZ needed to kill tumor cells by more than tenfold, suggesting a … Read more

Scientists at EPFL solve a longstanding problem with modeling Parkinson’s disease in animals. Using newfound insights, they improve both cell and animal models for the disease, which can propel research and drug development. Parkinson’s disease is defined in part by the formation of protein aggregates inside neurons known as Lewy bodies. These intracellular inclusions are … Read more

Counselors have long found it difficult to settle on a single definition of their profession or to agree on the one best set of methods and techniques to help clients (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2015). Counseling is a respected practice that provides essential support to people in need, guiding them toward constructive behaviors and solutions (Sommers-Flanagan … Read more

Summary: Researchers examine the tiny structural changes in the brain that allow information to be stored during learning. Source: TUE. As we learn, something in the brain must change to store new information. Exactly what changes and how those changes allow memories to form remain active areas of research. PhD student Rémy Kusters studied the … Read more

Summary: The BRILLIANCE clinical trial has shown that a CRISPR/Cas9-based medicine, EDIT-101, can be safely delivered inside the eye and produced measurable vision improvements for people born with an inherited form of blindness due to mutations in the CEP290 gene. In this early-phase study, 14 participants received a single subretinal injection and 11 demonstrated improvement … Read more

Grief is intensely personal and varies from one person to the next, yet we all need our sorrow to be witnessed without attempts to minimize it or offer premature reframing (Brown, 2021). While many people experience sharp grief in the weeks and months after a loss, some develop complicated grief—a prolonged, severe preoccupation with the … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that the brain regulates hunger and appetite by releasing a neuropeptide into the cerebrospinal fluid, which then distributes signals that influence feeding behavior. Source: USC. USC study finds the brain uses cerebrospinal fluid both to clear waste and to broadcast a hunger signal that helps control when we eat. “Most people think … Read more

Connecting with others is more than just a pleasure; it is a fundamental human need. For an estimated 1 in 160 children worldwide who are on the autism spectrum, social and communication skills that support connection and collaboration may be harder to develop (World Health Organization, 2021). Lego Therapy is an evidence-informed approach designed to … Read more