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neurobiology

This shows a researcher holding a card with blood on it, a brain is in the background.

·November 18, 2024·3 min read

Finger-Prick Test Brings Alzheimer’s Detection Closer to Everyone

A new Alzheimer’s test collects just a few drops of blood from a finger prick, which can be mailed to a lab for analysis. The test measures biomarkers like pTau217 and has shown similar accuracy to traditional venous blood sampling.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 18, 2024·5 min read

Ancient Gene Reprograms Stem Cells to Create a Living Mouse

Scientists have reprogrammed mouse cells into pluripotent stem cells using a gene from choanoflagellates, single-celled organisms related to animals. This breakthrough demonstrates that key genes driving stem cell formation existed in unicellular ancestors nearly a billion years ago.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 18, 2024·7 min read

Parkinson’s Tremor Linked to Dopamine in Caudate Nucleus

Rest tremor in Parkinson’s disease is linked to dopamine activity in the caudate nucleus, challenging conventional beliefs about dopamine loss and motor symptoms. Surprisingly, patients with stronger tremor preserved more dopamine in the caudate, highlighting a complex relationship between tremor severity and neural circuits.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 18, 2024·5 min read

Robots Help Unlock the Mystery of Human Sense of Self

A new study explores how robots can model and test aspects of the human sense of self, offering new insights into this complex phenomenon. Robots can simulate processes like body ownership and agency, or be used in experiments to study how humans perceive robots as social entities.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 18, 2024·4 min read

Unique Brain Plaques Linked to Alzheimer’s Mutation Decoded

Researchers have identified the structure of amyloid beta fibrils linked to a rare inherited form of Alzheimer’s disease caused by the Arctic mutation. Using cryo-electron microscopy and NMR, they revealed a W-shaped fibril structure that explains the formation of cottonwool plaques—large, spherical brain structures unique to this mutation.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 18, 2024·5 min read

Body Image Impacts Motor Skill Learning

Self-consciousness about one’s body affects the ability to learn and perform movement tasks, according to new research. Participants recalling body-related embarrassment performed worse on motor tasks compared to those recalling pride, with the negative impact being stronger in men than women.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 18, 2024·5 min read

Dual-Gene Therapy Shows Promise for Hearing and Vision Loss

Researchers have developed a dual-gene therapy approach to treat Usher syndrome type 1F, a rare condition causing deafness and progressive blindness. By splitting the large PCDH15 gene into two halves, delivering them via adeno-associated viruses, and reassembling them in cells, the therapy restored hearing and balance in mice. Tests in human retinal organoids and primate retinas showed increased levels of protocadherin-15 in light-sensing cells, offering hope for vision preservation.

This shows AI generated representations of astrocytes.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 18, 2024·5 min read

Astrocyte Transplantations Offer Hope for Treating Brain Disorders

Astrocytes, critical brain cells, are often lost in neurodegenerative diseases, but recent research highlights the promise of astrocyte transplantation to restore brain function. These transplanted cells integrate into the host brain, forming normal synaptic connections and promoting regeneration, though factors like donor cell type and transplantation timing influence success.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 18, 2024·3 min read

Study Debunks Heart Rate Variability as Predictor of Aggression

New research has found no evidence linking heart rate variability (HRV) to reactive aggression, overturning previous theories. HRV measures the variation between heartbeats and has been associated with stress resilience, but this study shows it is not a reliable biomarker for aggression.

This shows a diagram of HACE gene editing.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 17, 2024·6 min read

New Gene-Editing Tool Targets Mutations with Unmatched Precision

A breakthrough tool called Helicase-Assisted Continuous Editing (HACE) allows scientists to create precise genetic mutations in specific genes without affecting the rest of the genome. By combining helicase enzymes with CRISPR technology, HACE introduces mutations into targeted DNA sequences, advancing our ability to study gene functions and disease mechanisms. The tool has already identified drug resistance mutations in cancer-related genes and splicing defects in blood cancers, showcasing its potential for therapeutic discovery.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 16, 2024·8 min read

Alzheimer’s Linked to Key Proteins via Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis

Using cerebrospinal fluid from living patients, researchers have identified specific proteins and genetic pathways involved in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. This proteomic analysis revealed 38 proteins likely to play causal roles in Alzheimer’s, 15 of which are potential drug targets.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 16, 2024·3 min read

How Depression Alters Stress, Health, and Lifespan

Depression disrupts the body's stress systems, causing physical health risks like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, and reducing life expectancy by 7-10 years. The condition triggers brain structure changes, such as a 40% reduction in subgenual prefrontal cortex volume, and disrupts hormone systems involving CRH, norepinephrine, and cortisol.