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inflammation

This shows the outline of a person and a brain.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·May 2, 2025·4 min read

Immune System Tied to Mental Health Disorders

New 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.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 29, 2025·3 min read

New Biomarker Predicts MS Progression

Researchers 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.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 28, 2025·3 min read

Immune Dysfunction May Drive Alzheimer’s Progression

A 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.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 13, 2025·5 min read

The Body Remembers: Trauma Leaves Lasting Biological Imprints

Survivors 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.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 10, 2025·8 min read

Brain Circuit Discovery Links Cancer Fatigue to Inflammation

New 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.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 7, 2025·8 min read

Immune Signals Shape Social Behavior and Anxiety in the Brain

New 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.

This shows a man, immune cells and a bed.

Featured Neuroscience

·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 Genetics Neuroscience

·January 17, 2025·7 min read

Mapping IL-1’s Role in Mood, Memory, and Sensory Circuits

A 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.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 18, 2024·4 min read

Circadian Clock Influences Inflammation and Disease

New research reveals how the body’s circadian clock regulates macrophage activity, influencing immune system inflammation throughout the day. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key component in the immune response, peaks during the morning when macrophages are most efficient.

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 Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 29, 2024·5 min read

Spike Protein Lingers in Brain, Fuels Long COVID

A new study reveals that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein remains in brain-protective tissues and skull bone marrow for years after infection, potentially driving long COVID's neurological symptoms. Using advanced imaging, researchers discovered elevated spike protein levels in these regions, leading to chronic brain inflammation and increased risks of neurodegenerative conditions.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 21, 2024·5 min read

Maternal Inflammation May Shape Offspring’s Alzheimer’s Risk

Maternal immune activity during pregnancy influences memory circuitry in offspring, with sex-specific effects extending into midlife. Elevated immune markers like IL-6 and TNF-a in mothers were linked to adverse brain activity in memory regions, particularly in postmenopausal women, and lower cognitive performance in children.