Summary: Researchers have pinpointed a brain pathway that appears to play a central role in the development of alcohol addiction. Source: University of Warwick New research by teams from the UK and China has identified a specific neural circuit involved in the emergence of alcohol use disorders. The study, co-led by researchers at the University … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a distinct epigenetic signature in certain immune cells that can distinguish people living with HIV who have measurable cognitive impairment. Source: University of Hawaii. University of Hawaiʻi researchers have found a cell-type specific epigenetic footprint in blood monocytes that correlates with HIV-related cognitive impairment. Identifying reliable biomarkers for HIV-associated cognitive impairment … Read more

Summary: Researchers observe molecules moving along the length of neural stem cells. Source: Duke University. Scientists visualize potential mechanisms driving formation of new neurons in the brain Researchers at Duke University have captured the first clear images of molecules traveling along a linear pathway that runs the length of neural stem cells—cells essential for generating … Read more

Summary: Researchers evaluated the cognitive capabilities of the large language model GPT-3 and found it matches human performance in some tasks but lags in others, likely because it lacks real-world interaction and embodied experience. Source: Max Planck Institute Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen assessed the general intelligence of GPT-3, … Read more

Summary: By applying a machine-learning model to neural recordings, researchers reveal how the brain encodes spatial maps and preserves memory traces during brief pauses and rest. Source: Rice University. Neural activity continues to replay memories even when an animal is not actively exploring. New collaborative research from Rice University and Michigan Medicine shows how brief … Read more

Rare, pathologic version of tau protein can pass directly from neuron to neuron. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have identified a specific mechanism that helps explain how neurofibrillary tangles — one of the defining hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease — spread through the brain. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study pinpoints a rare … Read more

Summary: Among adults aged 80 and older, maintaining a healthy lifestyle—regular physical activity, a balanced diet, moderate or no alcohol use, not smoking, and healthy body weight—was linked to substantially lower odds of cognitive impairment, even for people who carry the genetic risk variant APOE ε4. Source: PLOS New analysis of data from the oldest-old … Read more

Summary: Cannabidiol (CBD) blocks lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) from amplifying neural signals in the hippocampus. LPI weakens the signals that normally restrain seizures, offering an explanation for CBD’s effectiveness against many treatment-resistant epilepsies. Source: NYU A new study identifies a previously unrecognized mechanism by which cannabidiol (CBD), a non-euphoric cannabis-derived compound, reduces seizures in several treatment-resistant pediatric … Read more

Summary: A large retrospective study of over 75,000 adults found that moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with an increased risk of developing malignant brain tumors. Within three to five years after a moderate or severe TBI, about 0.6% of patients developed malignant brain tumors—higher than the rate observed in people without TBI or … Read more

Summary: Physical activity produces a twofold benefit for people with depression: it reduces clinical symptoms and enhances the brain’s capacity to adapt and learn, researchers report. Source: RUB (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) Physical activity supports brain health and boosts the brain’s ability to change. A study conducted by the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Ruhr-Universität … Read more