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immune system

This shows a man, immune cells and a bed.

·February 24, 2025·5 min read

Poor Sleep Alters Immune Cells, Increasing Risk for Inflammatory Diseases

A new study reveals that even a single night of sleep deprivation can alter immune cell profiles to resemble those seen in obesity, a condition linked to chronic inflammation. Researchers found that sleep-deprived individuals had increased levels of non-classical monocytes, immune cells associated with inflammatory responses, similar to patterns observed in obese participants.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 10, 2024·5 min read

Skull Marrow and Sinuses Hold the Key to Brain-Body Immune Link

The dural sinuses and skull bone marrow serve as key communication hubs between the brain's central immune system and the body's peripheral immune system. These regions may act as "traffic lights," allowing immune signals to flow between the brain and body, challenging the traditional view of the blood-brain barrier as an absolute divide.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 9, 2024·5 min read

Fetal Immunity Defends the Brain Before Birth

New research reveals that fetuses can mount immune responses against infections long before birth, challenging the assumption that they rely solely on maternal immunity. A study on Zika virus infections found that immune cells like microglia protect the developing brain, while others, like monocytes, can cause damaging inflammation.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·November 21, 2024·4 min read

Immune System Gene Linked to Hyperactivity, ADHD and Autism

Researchers have uncovered a link between the immune gene regulator STAT1 and hyperactive behaviors in mice, offering new insights into neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. STAT1, vital for infection response, also influences brain cell activity, particularly dopamine neurons involved in motivation and learning. In mice with prolonged STAT1 signaling, hyperactivity and reduced neural activity in key brain regions were observed. The study opens the door to targeting STAT1 for potential therapies to address neurobehavioral disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 12, 2024·5 min read

Chronic Inflammation Linked to Depression

Emerging research suggests that chronic inflammation, rather than neurotransmitter deficiencies alone, may be a major factor behind depression, reshaping traditional views of the condition. This insight links inflammation, both in the body and brain, to depressive symptoms, explaining why some patients don't respond to conventional antidepressants. Studies reveal that stress can trigger immune responses that activate and later damage microglial cells in the brain, worsening depressive symptoms over time.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 21, 2024·4 min read

Vitamin D Deficiency in Childhood Linked to Higher Autoimmune Risk

A recent study found that vitamin D deficiency during childhood accelerates the aging of the thymus, a crucial organ in training immune cells. As the thymus ages, it becomes less effective at filtering out cells that could mistakenly attack the body's own tissues, increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 17, 2024·4 min read

“Brain on Fire”: When Antibodies Attack the Brain

Anti-NMDAR encephalitis, a rare autoimmune disease, can cause extreme psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, and memory loss, often mimicking bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. This condition, often affecting women in their 20s to 30s, results from antibodies attacking brain receptors essential for cognition and memory.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 8, 2024·4 min read

Immune Response Linked to Lewy Body Formation

New research reveals that immune responses play a crucial role in the formation of Lewy bodies, protein aggregates that mark Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions. Using human stem cells, scientists recreated Lewy bodies in dopaminergic neurons by combining alpha-synuclein protein buildup with immune stimulation.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·October 5, 2024·5 min read

Gene Activity in Depression Linked to Immune System and Inflammation

A new study reveals that inflammation and immune system activation are closely linked to major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly in those resistant to standard antidepressants. Researchers analyzed gene expression in people with depression, finding increased immune-related gene activity, especially in those with higher inflammation.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 7, 2024·5 min read

Epstein-Barr Virus Plays Critical Role in Multiple Sclerosis

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) may cause multiple sclerosis (MS) through higher levels of immune cross-reactivity than previously thought. Researchers found that T-cells targeting EBV can also recognize brain proteins, a misdirection seen in both MS patients and healthy individuals.

This shows a brain, RNA and cancer cells.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 1, 2024·8 min read

Novel mRNA Vaccine Shows Promise Against Deadly Brain Cancer

Researchers introduced a new mRNA cancer vaccine that rapidly activates the immune system against glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain tumor. This new vaccine technology, which mimics the structure of COVID-19 vaccines but incorporates personalized tumor cells and a complex cluster delivery system, has shown promising results in preclinical models and an initial human trial involving four adult patients.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 14, 2024·5 min read

Persistent Impact of Smoking on the Immune System

Smoking not only affects immune responses in the short term but also leaves a lasting imprint on the body's defense mechanisms. Through the Milieu Intérieur cohort of 1,000 healthy volunteers, the study identified smoking, alongside latent cytomegalovirus infection and body mass index, as a key factor influencing immune responses.