Summary: Vigorous exercise appears to offer smaller benefits for certain brain health measures when it takes place in areas with higher air pollution. Source: AAN New research indicates that vigorous physical activity—such as running, fast cycling or competitive sports—may deliver fewer protective effects on some markers of brain health when performed in environments with elevated … Read more
Summary: Researchers have created a new multifunctional device that can record, sense, and manipulate human brain organoids. This platform enables detailed studies of brain development, mechanisms of injury and recovery, and could accelerate personalized strategies for neurorehabilitation and neurodegenerative disease research. Source: Northwestern University A research team led by scientists at Northwestern University, Shirley Ryan … Read more
Summary: Researchers report a promising vaccine formulation that targets the pathological proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, offering potential for both prevention and treatment. Source: Flinders University. As global cases of Alzheimer’s disease increase, the search for an effective vaccine and treatments has become urgent. Researchers in the United States and Australia have announced a significant … Read more
Summary: Researchers delivered a PTB-targeting antisense oligonucleotide directly into the midbrain of mice. A subset of astrocytes converted into neurons, increasing neuronal numbers by roughly 30%. Three months after a single treatment, mice recovered from Parkinson’s-like symptoms and remained symptom-free for the rest of their lives. Source: UCSD Xiang-Dong Fu, PhD, describes this finding as … Read more
Summary: Researchers suggest our neural circuits help explain why we feel comfortable around those who resemble us and why we often feel uneasy around people who differ from us. Source: The Conversation. Anti-immigrant policies, race-related protests, Title IX disputes, affirmative action court cases, same-sex marriage debates. These topics frequently dominate the news. Even thoughtful analyses … Read more
Summary: Adult male participants on the autism spectrum who received intranasal oxytocin for four weeks showed reductions in repetitive behaviors and improved feelings of social attachment that persisted for up to 12 months. Source: KU Leuven A research team led by Professor Kaat Alaerts (KU Leuven) enrolled 40 adult men with autism spectrum disorder in … Read more
Summary: Researchers have developed a clear, research-driven framework to explain why people are drawn to organised events that centre on death, disaster and suffering. These so-called “dark events” range from solemn commemorations to thrill-oriented attractions, and the new framework helps explain their appeal, social function and cultural significance. The study identifies six core concepts that … Read more
A female sex hormone that protects women from stroke may also lower their risk of autism, new research suggests. A study by researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University reports significantly reduced expression of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in the brains of children with autism spectrum disorder. ERβ mediates many of … Read more
Summary: Inflammation in both the brain and the gut triggered by opioid use may intensify the negative emotional symptoms of withdrawal. Reducing this inflammation could help ease withdrawal-related distress and lower the risk of continued dependence. Source: Thomas Jefferson University Overview: Opioid dependence remains a widespread public health crisis with far-reaching social and economic consequences. … Read more
Summary: Researchers examine the teenage brain to explain why behaviour changes so dramatically during adolescence. Source: The Conversation. Parents and teachers are painfully aware that getting a teenager to focus on what adults deem important is often a lost cause. Offers of rewards or stern warnings frequently fail, for reasons that include growing independence and … Read more
