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Columbia University

·July 2, 2025·5 min read

Aging May Not Equal Chronic Inflammation

A new global study challenges the long-held belief that chronic inflammation is a universal marker of aging. Researchers compared industrialized populations with Indigenous groups and found that "inflammaging" is strongly tied to lifestyle and environmental exposures.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 25, 2025·9 min read

ALS Drug Shows Unprecedented Recovery in Patients With Rare Mutation

A groundbreaking experimental therapy for a rare, aggressive form of ALS caused by FUS gene mutations has produced surprising clinical improvements in some patients, including restored mobility and extended survival. The treatment uses antisense technology to silence the FUS gene, reducing toxic protein buildup in motor neurons. Two patients in a recent case series showed remarkable responses—one regained the ability to walk and breathe unassisted, while another has remained symptom-free for three years.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 7, 2025·8 min read

SSRI Exposure in the Womb May Rewire Brain Circuits

New research suggests that prenatal exposure to SSRIs may alter brain development in ways that increase the risk of depression and anxiety later in life. Using mice and human data, scientists found that early-life SSRI exposure heightened activity in brain fear circuits, a pattern not observed in offspring of depressed mothers who did not take SSRIs.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 21, 2025·6 min read

Early Alzheimer’s Clues Found in Adults as Young as 24

A new study reveals that cognitive changes tied to Alzheimer's risk factors begin far earlier in life than previously thought, some as early as age 24. Researchers found associations between memory performance and cardiovascular risk factors, immune markers, and Alzheimer’s biomarkers (amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration) in individuals aged 24–44.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 3, 2025·6 min read

Sleep Brain Waves Linked to Consciousness in Coma

A new study finds that sleep spindles—bursts of brain activity during sleep—may predict recovery in unresponsive patients with recent brain injuries. Researchers analyzed EEG recordings of 226 comatose patients and found that those with sleep spindles were significantly more likely to regain consciousness and functional independence.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 10, 2025·5 min read

How the Brain Detects Novelty to Predict the Future

A new study shows that the cerebral cortex acts as a "memory machine," constantly detecting novel stimuli to refine its predictions of the future. By imaging the auditory cortex of mice, researchers found that neurons track sensory inputs over time, forming "echoes" that help distinguish new information.

This shows computer generated versions of human cells.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 8, 2025·7 min read

AI Reveals Gene Activity in Human Cells

Researchers have developed an AI model that accurately predicts gene activity in any human cell, providing insights into cellular functions and disease mechanisms. Trained on data from over 1.3 million cells, the model can predict gene expression in unseen cell types with high accuracy. It has already uncovered mechanisms driving a pediatric leukemia and may help explore the genome's "dark matter," where most cancer mutations occur.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 4, 2025·6 min read

New Insight into Genetic Disease Variability

New research reveals that certain cells inactivate one parent’s copy of a gene, leading to a bias in gene activity that may explain why some individuals with disease-causing mutations remain symptom-free. This selective gene inactivation, known as monoallelic expression, affects about 1 in 20 genes and varies between cell types.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 20, 2024·5 min read

Structural Sexism Tied to Faster Memory Decline in Older Women

Women born in states with higher structural sexism experience faster memory decline later in life, with effects equivalent to nine years of cognitive aging. Structural sexism encompasses societal inequities like unequal labor force participation and underrepresentation in government, which create systemic barriers to health. The impact is particularly pronounced among Black women, highlighting the intersection of sexism and racism.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 19, 2024·5 min read

70 Is the New 60: Age Related Declines Slowing in Older People

study highlights significant improvements in the physical and mental functioning of older adults in England compared to previous generations. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, researchers found that advancements in education, nutrition, sanitation, and medical care have likely contributed to better health outcomes. For instance, a 68-year-old born in 1950 exhibited similar capacities to a 62-year-old born a decade earlier.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 4, 2024·4 min read

AI Admissions Essays Align with Privileged Male Writing Patterns

Researchers analyzed AI-generated and human-written college admissions essays, finding that AI-generated essays resemble those written by male students from privileged backgrounds. AI essays tended to use longer words and exhibited less variety in writing style than human essays, particularly resembling essays from private school applicants. The study highlights concerns about the use of AI in crafting admissions essays, as AI may dilute a student’s authentic voice. Students are encouraged to use AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, their personal narrative in writing.

This is an illustration of a brain in a shopping mall.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 3, 2024·6 min read

Your Brain Divides the Day Into “Chapters” Based on Priorities

New research shows that the brain divides the day into "chapters" based on what a person focuses on. These mental boundaries aren't solely prompted by changes in surroundings but also by internal goals and priorities. In experiments using audio narratives, participants' brains organized events differently depending on whether they focused on specific details. This study suggests that how we experience and remember events is influenced by both context and what matters most to us at the time.