Summary: Researchers have identified a precise molecular approach to restore NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function, a central deficit in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Instead of targeting broadly expressed glycine transporters that cause dangerous systemic side effects, the team focused on Slc6a20a/SLC6A20 — a glycine transporter concentrated in cognition-related regions such as the cortex and hippocampus — … Read more

Summary: A new international study separates the different, hidden pathways through which parental DNA shapes a child’s traits. The research presents a novel analytical framework that disentangles a child’s direct genetic inheritance from the environmental influence produced by the parents’ genes that the child did not inherit—a process called “genetic nurture.” Analyzing genetic and phenotypic … Read more

Summary: Researchers have traced the earliest cellular origins of Rett syndrome by isolating genetically healthy and mutant brain cells from the same mosaic female hippocampus before analysis. This approach revealed a presymptomatic molecular signature and a uniquely vulnerable neuron type that help explain how the disorder begins long before symptoms appear. Using a combination of … Read more

Summary: A large new study identifies a dynamic, two-way relationship between short bursts of everyday physical activity and near-term improvements in mood. This international collaboration pooled wearable sensor data and real-time mood reports from more than 8,000 participants to reveal how small, spontaneous movements influence emotional well-being throughout the day. Researchers found that light, unstructured … Read more

Summary: A large neuroimaging study links circulating vitamin C levels to measures of brain structure and network function in older adults. Researchers analyzed high-resolution MRI scans together with blood plasma vitamin C measurements from 2,044 Japanese adults aged 65 and older, revealing significant associations between low plasma vitamin C, reduced gray matter volume and weakened … Read more

Summary: Researchers have launched an expanded investigation into how a father’s alcohol use before conception can biochemically alter sperm and contribute to developmental disorders, chronic disease and accelerated aging in children. Supported by a new $2.9 million grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and backed by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, … Read more

Summary: A new behavioral economics and sleep medicine study quantified the financial value people place on their nightly sleep. Researchers validated a two-factor structure for the Monetary Sleep Value Questionnaire and examined how demographics and psychological sleep attitudes influence economic choices related to rest. Using a national sample of 455 adults, the study identified two … Read more

Summary: A new primate study shows that a brain-selective estrogen prodrug can prevent many of the cognitive and physiological side effects caused by anti-estrogen breast cancer treatments. The compound, 10β,17β-dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one (DHED), is designed to raise estrogen levels only within the brain while leaving peripheral tissues — including breast tissue — free of added hormone exposure. … Read more

Summary: A new study reports a notable association between glucosamine, a widely used over-the-counter joint supplement, and faster cognitive decline. Researchers combined artificial intelligence analysis of 12 years of deidentified electronic health records with advanced spatial molecular analysis of post-mortem human brain tissue and controlled animal experiments to investigate potential mechanisms. Key Facts Widespread use … Read more

Summary: A new study has revealed how the brain’s predominant kainate receptor, the GluK2/GluK5 heteromer, opens and remains active. Combining cryo-electron microscopy with rapid patch-clamp electrophysiology, researchers show that ligand binding at just the GluK5 subunits is sufficient to lock the shared ion channel pore into a persistently open, non-desensitizing state. This discovery clarifies long-standing … Read more