FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·June 30, 2025·6 min readMimicking Exercise in the Brain Could Slow Cognitive DeclineWhile physical activity is known to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease, many patients are unable to exercise due to frailty or advanced symptoms. A new study identifies a specific gene, ATPPIF1, that is reactivated through exercise and supports neuroplasticity in the brain.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 30, 2025·6 min readAlzheimer’s May Disrupt Nerve Insulation Without Reducing MyelinNew research reveals that Alzheimer's disease may impair nerve function not by reducing myelin, but by altering the proteins at the critical interface between axons and their myelin sheath. Scientists found structural abnormalities in the paranode region, where myelin attaches to axons, including clogged nutrient channels and protein buildup that could block signal transmission.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·June 29, 2025·8 min readBrain Criticality May Hold Key to Learning, Memory, and Alzheimer’sNew research proposes a unified theory of brain function based on criticality—a state where the brain teeters between order and chaos, allowing it to learn, adapt, and process information optimally. When the brain strays from this delicate balance, cognitive performance weakens, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s may begin to take hold.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 26, 2025·3 min readRobotic Heart Transplant Marks Surgical BreakthroughSurgeons have performed the first fully robotic heart transplant in the U.S., using advanced robotic tools to avoid opening the chest. This technique involved precise incisions and accessing the heart through the preperitoneal space, preserving the chest wall.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 26, 2025·3 min readNeighborhood Disadvantage Linked to Alzheimer’s Biomarkers and InflammationLiving in disadvantaged neighborhoods may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by elevating biomarkers associated with inflammation and neurodegeneration. A long-term study of 334 older adults found higher levels of tau and YKL-40, biomarkers linked to Alzheimer’s and brain inflammation, in people from less advantaged areas.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 26, 2025·4 min readStaying Active Slows Cognitive DeclineRegular physical activity isn’t just good for the body—it protects the brain as we age. A 16-year study of over 13,000 adults found that sustained physical activity significantly slowed cognitive decline.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·June 25, 2025·5 min readShared Genetic Roots of Autism and Heart Disease FoundNew research reveals that autism and congenital heart disease may share a common biological basis—tiny cellular structures called cilia. Scientists found that mutations in genes affecting cilia formation disrupt both brain and heart development, helping explain why the two conditions often co-occur.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·June 25, 2025·5 min readNewborns and Alzheimer’s Patients Share a Brain Protein SpikeA new study has revealed that newborn babies and Alzheimer’s patients both have elevated levels of the same protein, p-tau217, in their blood. While this protein is a key marker of brain degeneration in Alzheimer’s, in newborns it appears to support healthy brain growth and development.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 24, 2025·3 min readGLP-1 Drug Cuts Migraine Days in HalfA new study finds that the diabetes drug liraglutide significantly reduced monthly migraine days in patients with obesity and chronic migraine. Participants reported an average of 11 fewer headache days per month, alongside improved disability scores and quality of life.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 24, 2025·3 min readPET Imaging Maps Brain Inflammation in Progressive Speech DisorderA novel PET imaging study has identified unique patterns of neuroinflammation in patients with progressive apraxia of speech (PAOS), a rare disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to plan speech. Using TSPO PET scans, researchers found elevated inflammation in brain regions involved in movement and speech, particularly in patients who also showed signs of Parkinson-plus syndromes.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·June 24, 2025·5 min readRare Mutation Shields Brain from Alzheimer’s by Silencing InflammationA rare genetic mutation known as APOE3-R136S, or the “Christchurch mutation,” appears to protect against Alzheimer’s disease by suppressing inflammatory signaling in the brain’s immune cells. Researchers found that this mutation dampens the cGAS-STING pathway, a key innate immune mechanism that is abnormally activated in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·June 24, 2025·3 min readNeuroimaging Pinpoints Brain InflammationA newly developed PET radiotracer, ¹⁸F-PDE-1905, offers high-resolution imaging of neuroinflammation by targeting a key enzyme inside microglia, the brain’s immune cells. Unlike traditional tracers that target general downstream markers, this novel tracer hones in on PDE4B, a critical regulator of inflammatory signaling.Read More
