Summary: Autistic adults are disproportionately affected by negative life events—including employment problems, financial hardship, domestic abuse and social exploitation—which may help explain higher rates of anxiety and depression and lower life satisfaction in this group. Source: University of Cambridge Overview New research published in the journal Autism Research finds that autistic adults are more vulnerable … Read more

Summary: A new multi-site brain imaging study finds that people recruit different neural strategies when imitating emotional facial expressions. Rather than revealing a single, categorical difference between those with schizophrenia and people without mental illness, the research identifies distinct sub-groups with different brain activity patterns that could benefit from tailored treatment approaches. Source: CAMH A … Read more

Summary: Anacardic acid, a compound derived from cashew shells, stimulates myelin repair in laboratory and animal studies. These findings point toward potential new therapeutic strategies for diseases marked by myelin loss, such as multiple sclerosis. Source: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of … Read more

Summary: Researchers used information generated by artificial intelligence to develop a promising new inhibitor that targets the cyst form of Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Source: University of Kentucky New findings from a University of Kentucky College of Medicine study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry on May 28, describe the development … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified the cGAS–STING signaling pathway as a central driver of chronic inflammation and functional decline in aging. Experimental blockade of STING reduced inflammatory signals in aged cells and tissues and improved cognitive and physical outcomes in mice, revealing a promising target for counteracting age-related neuroinflammation and degeneration. This work clarifies how innate … Read more

Summary: A large genomic study finds that people genetically predisposed to be morning types tend to have better mental health and a lower risk of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. The study also identifies many new genetic regions linked to sleep timing, highlights the eye’s role in synchronizing the body clock, and finds … Read more

Summary: Children and adolescents who carry the APOE ε4 (APOE4) allele score lower on verbal and overall IQ measures than their peers without this genetic variant. APOE4 is a known genetic risk factor for late‑onset Alzheimer’s disease. New analysis indicates that subtle cognitive differences associated with APOE4 can be detected well before adulthood and may … Read more

Summary: New research from Texas A&M confirms that exercise increases hippocampal neurogenesis without causing loss of previously formed memories. Contradicting earlier findings, researchers confirm exercise benefits the brain Researchers at Texas A&M College of Medicine report that voluntary running increases the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, a brain region vital for learning, memory … Read more

Summary: Researchers developed a virtual supernumerary robotic arm controlled by a user’s feet in a virtual environment. After training, participants reported that the extra limb felt integrated with their own body. Source: University of Tokyo What would you do with an extra arm — or, like Doctor Octopus, several more? Work on supernumerary robotic limbs … Read more

Summary: New research identifies how a class of cortical inhibitory neurons, called basket cells, contributes to spatial information coding and navigation. Source: King’s College London. Researchers at King’s College London have identified a specific class of cortical inhibitory neurons that is essential for how the brain encodes and remembers spatial information. Their findings, published in … Read more