Weekly Neuroscience Update

Scientists have shown that the hypothalamus, a key region of the brain involved in controlling appetite, is different in the brains of people who are overweight and people with obesity when compared to people who are a healthy weight.

Researchers have shown in lab-based experiments that variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can affect the blood-brain barrier and damage brain cells in different ways.

Unlike previously thought, speech production and singing are supported by the same circuitry in the brain. Observations in a new study can help develop increasingly effective rehabilitation methods for patients with aphasia.

Scientists have discovered an additional potential cause of the genetic mutations that result in rare conditions such as Huntington’s disease (HD).

Neuroscientists report the first results from experimental tests designed to explore the idea that “forgetting” might not be a bad thing, and that it may represent a form of learning—and outline results that support their core idea.

The largest-ever study of the genetics of the brain—encompassing some 36,000 brain scans—has identified more than 4,000 genetic variants linked to brain structure.

A first-in-human trial of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for post-stroke rehabilitation patients has shown that using DBS to target the dentate nucleus—which regulates fine-control of voluntary movements, cognition, language, and sensory functions in the brain—is safe and feasible.

New research finds that genetic risk for higher blood pressure even in those in their 40s and 50s may contribute to poorer cognitive function.

An obscure class of molecules, part of the vast system that helps the human body distinguish “self” from “non-self,” may also hold the key to stopping SARS-CoV-2 from commandeering healthy cells, scientists have found in a series of experiments.

Scientists have discovered how HIV hijacks intracellular processes to proliferate and contribute to neurodegeneration, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Researchers have discovered a potential breakthrough for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), marked by extreme exhaustion, post-exertional malaise and cognitive issues.

Finally this week, in a small, exploratory study, levels of certain types of microbes in babies’ guts have been shown to be associated with performance in tests of early cognitive development.

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