Latest

UCL

This shows an old man with his head in his hands

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 8, 2020·5 min read

Repetitive negative thinking linked to dementia risk

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) in those aged over 55 is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and deposition of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. People who exhibited higher levels of RNT experienced more cognitive and memory problems over four years. They were more likely to have both amyloid-beta and tau protein deposits throughout the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 28, 2020·4 min read

Strong convictions can blind us to information that challenges them

People fail to process information that contradicts their convictions. A new study explains the neural processes that contribute to confirmation bias.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 26, 2020·3 min read

Dementia gene raises risk of severe COVID-19

People with the Alzheimer's associated ApoE e4e4 gene have increased vulnerability to developing severe symptoms of COVID-19 if they become infected with the virus. Findings suggest those with the dementia-related gene have double the risk of developing severe coronavirus symptoms compared to those who those with the common e3e3 form of the APOE gene.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 25, 2020·3 min read

Coronavirus mutations do not appear to increase transmissibility

Researchers have identified 6,822 mutations of SARS-CoV-2 across a global dataset. 273 mutations have occurred repeatedly and independently. Of those, researchers investigated 31 mutations that have occurred at least ten times during the current pandemic. They found no evidence that any of the common mutations are increasing the ability of the virus to be transmitted. Some common mutations are neutral, but most are mildly detrimental to the virus. New evidence also suggests the viral spike protein, D614G, is not associated with increased viral transmission.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 13, 2020·4 min read

Children with autism face higher risk of eating disorders

Children with autistic traits at age seven were 24% more likely to develop weekly eating disorders, including fasting, purging, and binge eating, by age 14.

This shows brain scans of a stroke patient

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 6, 2020·3 min read

COVID-19 may increase blood clotting and blockage of brain blood vessels

A new case study reveals a link between COVID-19 and clotting in blood vessels in the brain that results in an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Five of the six cases included in the study suffered an ischemic stroke within 8-24 days of the onset of coronavirus symptoms. Early use of anticoagulants might help reduce the risk of blood clotting and stroke in patients with COVID-19.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·May 3, 2020·4 min read

AI supported test for very early signs of glaucoma progression

A new artificial intelligence algorithm can detect the progression of glaucoma up to 18 months earlier than conventional methods.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 17, 2020·2 min read

Stress related to catching COVID-19 is highest among 30-59 year-olds

Stress and anxiety about catching coronavirus are more prevalent among the 30-59-year-old age group.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·April 8, 2020·3 min read

False memories of crime appear real when retold to others

Study reveals people are only 53% likely to identify whether someone else in recounting and accurate or false memory of a crime.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 1, 2020·6 min read

Historical coronaviruses show evidence of seasonality & immunity

Historical data from Flu Watch about other coronaviruses reveals they appear to have a seasonal pattern, with peaks occurring during winter. Only small amounts of other coronavirus infections were transmitted during the summer. The findings support the hypothesis that COVID-19 may have lower levels of transmission during the summer, but this may reverse during the winter months if there is still a large, susceptible population.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 1, 2020·3 min read

Life expectancy not improving for first time in 100 years

For the first time in 100 years, life expectancy has failed to increase in the population. For the poorest 10% of women, life expectancy has declined. Mortality rates of those aged between 45 and 49 have increased as a result of suicide and substance abuse.