Summary: New research shows that aging is not only a local, cell-autonomous process but can propagate throughout the body via the bloodstream. A redox-sensitive form of the protein HMGB1, called ReHMGB1, is secreted by senescent cells and shown to trigger aging-like changes in distant tissues, impairing regeneration and muscle function. In mouse models, blocking circulating … Read more

Summary: Researchers have found that ultra-small, bowl-shaped nanoparticles—called nanobowls—can bind to amyloid beta aggregates that form the characteristic plaques of Alzheimer’s disease. This discovery offers a new, minimally disruptive way to isolate and study these toxic protein assemblies and suggests future diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. Source: Biophysical Society Understanding and treating Alzheimer’s disease remains a … Read more

Summary: A large study of related rhesus monkeys finds that individual differences in functional connectivity between brain regions linked to fear and anxiety are heritable and relate to early-life anxious temperament. Source: SfN. Researchers report that variations in connectivity between regions of the brain involved in fear and anxiety are inherited, based on a large … Read more

Summary: Researchers from the Optics and Photonics Research Center (CEPOF) in Brazil report that low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also called photobiomodulation, produced the most effective results among current treatments evaluated for tinnitus, a symptom that affects an estimated 750 million people worldwide. The clinical trial found the strongest improvements with laser acupuncture and transmeatal low-power … Read more

Summary: Presence of the MECP2 protein in parvalbumin (PV) interneurons is essential for new mother mice to quickly learn and respond to their pups’ distress calls. This finding reveals how adult brain circuits can be rapidly rewired during a critical learning period and points to mechanisms that may underlie communication and sensory-processing deficits in neurodevelopmental … Read more

The Center for Nanoparticle Research has developed mitochondria-targeting ceria nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) that can reduce neuronal cell death in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease. The human brain contains more than 100 billion neurons and an estimated 100 trillion synaptic connections. These connections transmit electrical signals and neurotransmitters that form memories, thoughts, and emotions. In Alzheimer’s … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified 29 genes linked to problematic alcohol use. The new international study shows that, in addition to a higher risk of alcohol use disorder, people carrying certain risk variants also have an elevated genetic predisposition to depression, insomnia, and nicotine and drug dependence. Source: Aarhus University If you struggle with problematic alcohol … Read more

Summary: A species of gut bacteria, Lactobacillus apis, is associated with improved memory and cognitive performance in bumblebees. Source: Queen Mary University London An international team of researchers has identified a gut bacterium that boosts memory in bumblebees. Led by scientists at Jiangnan University, in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London and the University … Read more

Researchers from the University of Liverpool have examined how ecstasy (MDMA) affects different regions of the human brain. Dr Carl Roberts and Dr Andrew Jones of the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, together with Dr Catharine Montgomery of Liverpool John Moores University, carried out a systematic meta-analysis of molecular imaging studies … Read more

Summary: New research identifies tiny exosomes as a major route for the neuron-to-neuron spread of toxic amyloid‑beta oligomers, a process that promotes cell death and may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression. These findings point to exosomes as promising targets for improved diagnosis and treatment. Source: Springer. Researchers have identified small extracellular vesicles called exosomes as a … Read more