Summary: New research clarifies how brain inflammation and aging-related cognitive decline may be connected through a cascading cellular process. Source: Harvard Researchers at Harvard have published a study in Cell that provides new insight into how inflammation may drive the cognitive decline associated with aging. The work points to a possible cascade of cellular events—beginning … Read more

Summary: New research reveals that the brainstem’s locus coeruleus (LC) plays a central role in organizing sleep cycles by pacing transitions between non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The LC’s activity alternates in slow rhythms, creating windows that either permit REM entry or maintain a subcortical vigilance state. Stress alters LC … Read more

Summary: A large meta-analysis finds that heightened impulsivity—measured as a stronger preference for smaller immediate rewards over larger delayed rewards, known as delay discounting—is associated with many psychiatric disorders including bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and several eating disorders. Source: McMaster University Overview Researchers at McMaster University and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton conducted … Read more

Summary: New research shows that people who carry a higher load of ultra-rare protein‑truncating variants (PTVs) tend to have shorter healthspans and lifespans. On average, each extra ultra‑rare PTV in an individual’s genome corresponded to roughly six months less life and about two months less healthy life. Source: eLife Overview Researchers report that rare, highly … Read more

UC San Francisco researchers have, for the first time, developed a light-based method to precisely control embryonic stem cell differentiation, converting cells into neurons in response to a defined external cue. This optogenetic approach also uncovered an internal timing mechanism inside stem cells that filters out fleeting molecular fluctuations yet allows a swift, decisive switch … Read more

Summary: A comprehensive meta-analysis shows that people with vision impairment or blindness face a significantly higher risk of death from any cause compared with people who have normal or only mild vision loss. The pooled results indicate a 29% higher mortality risk for those with mild visual impairment, rising to an 89% higher risk for … Read more

Summary: Regulatory T cells (Tregs), known for controlling immune responses, may also help stabilize mood and protect cognition. New research links the Treg-regulating transcription factor Foxp3 to anxiety-, depression-like behaviors and to cognitive decline in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. Foxp3 (forkhead box P3) is a transcription factor that directs the development and function of … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized class of traveling brain waves that rotate through space and time. The study shows these spiral, vortex-like waves are driven by a fixed circular arrangement of neurons in the somatosensory cortex and coordinate activity across large-scale brain networks. Operating across broad brain regions, these rotating waves synchronize activity … Read more

Summary: Researchers report a major advance: a new biomarker that predicts which neurons will regenerate after injury. Using high-resolution single-cell RNA sequencing, scientists identified distinct gene-expression patterns within individual neurons. These patterns form the basis of a predictive tool for nerve repair and point to biological processes that may be targeted to improve recovery. The … Read more

Summary: When university students watched short educational videos they found most appealing, their brain activity patterns were more alike. The results suggest that neuroscience measures can help content creators design more engaging instructional materials. Source: SfN The most engaging educational videos produce similar brain responses across learners, a new EEG study in young adults reports. … Read more