FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·April 3, 2024·6 min readImmunotherapy Shows Promise as Alzheimer’s TreatmentResearchers unveiled a novel approach to combat Alzheimer’s disease by activating microglia, the brain's immune cells, to devour amyloid beta plaques, a hallmark of the condition. This study highlights the potential of using immunotherapy to not only tackle Alzheimer’s but also other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by harmful protein accumulations.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·February 28, 2024·5 min readSleep Brainwaves Flush Brain of WasteA new study unveiled a crucial role of sleep: brainwaves facilitating the cleansing of the brain by flushing out waste. This discovery not only underscores the brain's non-dormant state during sleep but also highlights a sophisticated system where neurons' synchronized activity powers the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, effectively removing metabolic waste and potentially neurodegenerative disease-causing toxins.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·February 20, 2024·6 min readDecision Making: The Brain’s Blueprint for Future InsightsResearchers made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain makes decisions about future information, pinpointing the lateral habenula as a key player in this process. Their study demonstrates that humans and animals evaluate the worth of cognitive rewards, such as information about the future, using mental rules that the brain applies to both tangible rewards and the intangible satisfaction of curiosity.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·January 9, 2024·6 min readUnlocking the Fountain of Youth: Brain-Fat Tissue Feedback Loop Holds KeyA new study reveals a vital brain-fat tissue feedback loop that plays a pivotal role in aging. The research identifies specific neurons in the hypothalamus that, when activated, signal the body's fat tissue to release energy, facilitating physical activity and brain function.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·January 8, 2024·6 min readThe Science of Sleep: Brain’s Reset Mechanism RevealedSleep has long been a mystery, but a new study offers fresh insights. By tracking brain activity in sleeping rats, they propose that sleep's primary function is to reset the brain's computational state to achieve "criticality."Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·December 12, 2023·6 min readRare Gene Mutation Shields Woman from Alzheimer’sResearchers uncovered why a Colombian woman, despite carrying a genetic defect for Alzheimer’s, remained cognitively healthy into her 70s. The key lies in her possession of two copies of the rare Christchurch mutation in the APOE gene, which they replicated in a mouse study.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 28, 2023·4 min readHoliday Stress: Embracing Unpleasant Emotions for Better HealthDecember's festive season often brings stress and disappointment, challenging the societal expectation of only positive emotions. A new study shows how we respond to negative emotions is crucial for our mental health.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·August 8, 2023·6 min readWhy Do We Like Certain Scents?Researchers delved into understanding why certain smells appeal to us and others don't by studying locusts. Through a series of experiments, they analyzed how locusts' brains reacted to various odors and the behavior exhibited in response.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·July 11, 2023·4 min readBrain’s Sugar Detectives: Uncovering Neurons that Monitor Blood GlucoseA new study uncovers a subset of neurons in the hypothalamus that sense and respond to changes in blood sugar levels, akin to insulin-secreting pancreatic cells. The research brings forth crucial insights into our understanding of the body's blood sugar regulation.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·June 27, 2023·8 min readChildhood Poverty’s Impact: Reshaping the Brain’s Communication PathwaysGrowing up in poverty may impact a child’s brain development, specifically in the white matter tracts which facilitate communication between different brain regions. The research, part of the large-scale Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, links neighborhood and household poverty to these crucial aspects of brain structure.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·June 26, 2023·4 min readSense of Purpose May Shield Against LonelinessA sense of purpose in life, irrespective of its nature, can be a robust defense against loneliness. A new study, involving over 2,300 Swiss adults, found fewer instances of loneliness among individuals who led a purposeful life.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 14, 2023·6 min readGut Microbiome Shifts: An Early Warning for Alzheimer’s Disease?The composition of gut bacteria in individuals at the earliest stage of Alzheimer's disease is notably different from those in healthy people. The finding paves the way for the potential use of gut bacterial composition as a means to identify individuals at a higher risk of developing dementia.Read More