AutismFeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·May 19, 2025·4 min readInflammation Triggers Repetitive Behaviors in ASD and OCDNew research reveals that chronic brain inflammation can directly lead to repetitive behaviors, often seen in conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In mice with a mutated NLRP3 gene, inflammation activated microglia to release IL-1β, overstimulating NMDA glutamate receptors responsible for excitatory brain signals.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·May 17, 2025·5 min readInflammation Tied to Motivation Loss in SchizophreniaA new study has uncovered a biological link between inflammation and motivational deficits in people with schizophrenia, identifying a promising treatment target for symptoms that current medications fail to address. Higher levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein were associated with reduced activity in brain regions involved in reward and motivation, such as the ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·May 17, 2025·6 min readBabies Fight COVID Differently Than Anyone ElseInfants hospitalized with severe COVID-19 mount an immune response that looks entirely different from that of adults or older children. Researchers found both interferon responses and inflammation were elevated simultaneously—something never before observed in other viral infections.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·May 15, 2025·4 min readLong COVID Brain Fog Linked to Inflammation and Stress MarkersA new study comparing long COVID patients with fully recovered individuals has found that those with persistent cognitive symptoms, like brain fog, show higher brain inflammation and reduced capacity to handle stress. The study revealed lower levels of nerve growth factor and elevated inflammatory markers in the long COVID group.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·May 2, 2025·4 min readImmune System Tied to Mental Health DisordersNew research reveals that immune system activity may play a causal role in conditions like schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. Using Mendelian randomisation, scientists linked 29 immune-related proteins to seven neuropsychiatric disorders, suggesting the brain is not the only organ involved in mental health.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·April 29, 2025·3 min readNew Biomarker Predicts MS ProgressionResearchers have identified a new biomarker in multiple sclerosis (MS): the thickness of the inflammatory rim surrounding brain lesions predicts how quickly and severely the disease progresses. By combining PET imaging and post-mortem brain analysis, the study showed that thicker rims lead to more aggressive brain damage.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·April 28, 2025·3 min readImmune Dysfunction May Drive Alzheimer’s ProgressionA new study highlights a potential role for immune system dysfunction in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that neuroinflammation, trained innate immune memory, and cellular reprogramming may interact with amyloid and tau proteins to drive disease pathology.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 13, 2025·5 min readThe Body Remembers: Trauma Leaves Lasting Biological ImprintsSurvivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing continue to carry hidden biological imprints of trauma, even decades after the event and in the absence of visible mental health issues. A new study reveals subtle yet significant changes in stress biomarkers, including cortisol levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and inflammatory interleukins.Read More
Brain CancerFeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·April 10, 2025·8 min readBrain Circuit Discovery Links Cancer Fatigue to InflammationNew research shows that apathy and fatigue in advanced cancer are driven not by physical decline, but by inflammation-sensing neurons that suppress motivation. Scientists discovered that inflammation triggers a brainstem-to-reward-center pathway that reduces dopamine, the brain’s key motivation chemical.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 7, 2025·8 min readImmune Signals Shape Social Behavior and Anxiety in the BrainNew research reveals that the immune molecule IL-17 can influence behavior by acting directly on specific regions of the brain. IL-17 reduces neuron excitability in the cortex to enhance sociability, while in the amygdala, it increases excitability and induces anxiety.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·February 24, 2025·5 min readPoor Sleep Alters Immune Cells, Increasing Risk for Inflammatory DiseasesA 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.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 17, 2025·7 min readMapping IL-1’s Role in Mood, Memory, and Sensory CircuitsA comprehensive study mapped neuronal IL-1R1 (nIL-1R1) expression in the mouse brain, highlighting its role in sensory processing, mood, and memory regulation. Researchers found that neurons expressing IL-1R1 integrate immune and neural signals, revealing connections between inflammation and brain disorders like depression and anxiety.Read More