Summary: New research points to a promising strategy for correcting dopamine imbalances in the brain by using a drug that blocks kappa opioid receptors (KOR). In mouse models carrying a rare DAT Val559 mutation that causes abnormal dopamine leakage, KOR antagonists reduced transporter-mediated leak, restored normal dopamine dynamics, and corrected related behavioral impairments. This targeted … Read more

Summary: Oxytocin, a hormone commonly associated with social bonding and affection, may play a direct role in repairing heart damage after a heart attack. New research shows oxytocin can activate epicardial cells—stem-like cells from the heart’s outer layer—causing them to migrate into the heart muscle and differentiate into cardiomyocytes, the contracting cells responsible for heartbeats. … Read more

Study Finds SOD1 Antioxidant Loses Protective Effect as Tau Builds in Alzheimer’s Disease Summary: Early in Alzheimer’s disease, the antioxidant enzyme SOD1 helps reduce levels of tau protein and supports cognitive function. As tau accumulates, however, SOD1’s protective role weakens, and its ability to prevent neurodegeneration diminishes. Source: Iowa State University New research from Iowa … Read more

Summary: New research indicates vitamin B6 deficiency may play a role in the emergence of schizophrenia-like symptoms by altering noradrenergic signaling. Source: TMIMS Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder marked by positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions), negative symptoms (apathy, flattened affect), and cognitive impairments. Recent clinical data indicate that a significant subset of people with schizophrenia … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified how primate brains convert flat, two-dimensional visual inputs into detailed three-dimensional mental representations. This process, described as “inverse graphics,” essentially reverses the steps of computer graphics: starting from a 2D image, moving through an intermediate, view-dependent stage, and producing a robust, view-tolerant 3D model of the object. Using a computational model … Read more

Some people remember a dream almost every morning, while others rarely recall theirs. A research team led by Perrine Ruby, an Inserm Research Fellow at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, investigated brain activity differences between these two types of dreamers to better understand what underlies dream recall. High dream recallers showed stronger spontaneous brain activity … Read more

Summary: Regular leisure reading can help preserve episodic and working memory in older adults, supporting cognitive health as people age. Source: Beckman Institute Reading remains one of the most popular and accessible hobbies, and new research shows it also benefits cognitive health. A study from the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology finds that … Read more

Summary: White matter tracts show measurable alterations in the brains of infants whose mothers experienced higher levels of stress before and during pregnancy. Source: King’s College London New research from King’s College London indicates that maternal stress before and during pregnancy can affect early brain development in newborns. Researchers led by MRC Doctoral Researcher in … Read more

Summary: Spontaneous mutations present in a father’s sperm can contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a sensitive approach to quantify these sperm-specific mutations and to estimate the likelihood that they will be transmitted and cause ASD in future offspring. Source: UCSD Understanding causes … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that a plasma component normally involved in blood clotting and inflammation may also contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease in some patients. Source: Rockefeller University. As the average age of the population rises, Alzheimer’s disease is becoming an ever more pressing public health problem. Many recent drug strategies aimed at removing … Read more