Summary: Researchers evaluated dronabinol, a plant-derived Δ9‑tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) formulation, for treating trauma-related nightmares in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found a statistically significant reduction in nightmare burden for patients receiving dronabinol versus placebo. By week ten, more than one third of patients on dronabinol reported complete resolution of nightmares, … Read more

Summary: A nationwide Swedish study of more than 40,000 patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) between 2007 and 2023 found a substantially increased risk of psychiatric disorders. By comparing IBD patients with nearly 180,000 matched population controls and some 26,000 IBD-free full siblings, the researchers showed that elevated mental health risk begins years before … Read more

Summary: Researchers achieved the first direct molecular mapping of how deep brain stimulation (DBS) affects human cortical tissue by applying DBS-like electrical patterns to living human temporal cortex slices maintained ex vivo. Using donated neurosurgical brain tissue kept alive in the laboratory for several days, the team applied stimulation patterns similar to clinical DBS and … Read more

Summary: Researchers have reported the successful completion of a Phase 1b clinical trial of a novel immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease. The investigational agent, IBC-Ab002, is a humanized anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody designed to rejuvenate systemic immune responses rather than directly remove neurotoxic amyloid beta plaques in the brain. Key Facts Established safety profile: The Phase 1b … Read more

Summary: A new PET imaging study shows that hallucinations and delusions that first appear after age 40 are often linked to underlying neurodegenerative changes. Using molecular positron emission tomography (PET), researchers found tau protein accumulation in roughly 65% of late-onset psychosis patients versus 15% of age-matched healthy controls, and amyloid beta positivity in 35% of … Read more

Summary: A large Penn State analysis of survey responses from nearly 200,000 Pennsylvania adolescents examined which social and community factors protect young people from suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The study finds that strong bonds with family, meaningful engagement in school, and visible community recognition consistently lower suicide risk. These relational protections work both directly and … Read more

Summary: Researchers have created a highly reproducible three-dimensional human brain tissue model that replicates key neurodegenerative processes seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Developed over nine years from human induced pluripotent stem cells, these self-organizing tissue spheroids combine functional neurons, supportive astrocytes, and immune-competent microglia into compact micro-architectures roughly the size of half a pinhead. The engineered … Read more

Summary: Researchers at UCLA developed a “cell village” experimental system together with a statistical framework called Townlet to measure individual cellular fitness across many human genetic backgrounds. The method pools neural progenitor cells from dozens of genetically distinct donors into a single shared culture well, removing batch effects and environmental variability that arise when each … Read more

Summary: A new editorial by UCL Professor Dame Uta Frith argues that the current diagnostic category of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has broadened so widely that it risks clinical confusion, overdiagnosis, and misplaced care. The paper calls for a more precise, needs-focused approach that distinguishes meaningful subgroups within the spectrum. Key Facts Dramatic prevalence shift: … Read more

Summary: Researchers trained a deep neural network on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from nearly 15,000 cognitively healthy adults aged 19 to 100. Moving beyond a single-number “brain age,” the model produces high-resolution 3D maps that estimate local brain age at the voxel level. When applied to people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s … Read more