huntingdon’s

Scientists have identified how depression alters the brain’s response to positive and negative stimuli, particularly in the amygdala, a key emotional processing center. The study found that depression reduces neural activity linked to positive perceptions while increasing it for negative perceptions.

People with atrial fibrillation (AF) who have a stroke could benefit from blood thinning treatments, known as anticoagulants, at an earlier stage than is currently recommended, finds a new study.

Researchers from the University of Oxford have identified a key biochemical mechanism relevant to the development of Huntington’s disease. This discovery opens up the possibility of studying the disease before its clinical onset and eventually stopping its progression.

Childhood attention issues, coupled with genetic predispositions, increase the likelihood of experiencing psychotic-like symptoms in adolescence.

UCLA Health researchers have found that people who experienced discrimination had pro-inflammatory bacteria and gene activity in their gut microbiome that was different from those who did not experience discrimination. The researchers could also predict with 91% accuracy which study participants faced discrimination by only analyzing their gut microbiome using stool samples.

A new study links hundreds of brain proteins to differences in how brain regions communicate, revealing how microscale molecules can influence macroscale brain connectivity.

Lifetime cannabis use is associated with several changes in brain structure and function in later life, suggests an observational study, but these associations may not be causal, finds a genetic analysis of the same data, published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health. Meanwhile, new research shows that prenatal exposure to cannabis can negatively impact children’s thinking and behavioral skills, including impulse control, attention, and aggression.

A type of therapy that involves applying a magnetic field to both sides of the brain has been shown to be effective at rapidly treating depression in patients for whom standard treatments have been ineffective. The treatment—known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)—involves placing an electromagnetic coil against the scalp to relay a high-frequency magnetic field to the brain.

Scientists have identified new cell clusters in the amygdala for anxiety treatment.

Just one or two sessions of physical activity at the weekend may be just as likely to lower the risk of cognitive decline, which can often precede dementia, as more frequent sessions, concludes research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

A new study finds a link between genetic markers and neuropathic pain.

Finally this week, ultrasound, once used almost exclusively to take images of the body, is quickly developing into a targeted therapy that can have a potentially life-changing impact on our brains, according to the authors of a new article.

*Study summary graphic. Credit: Mount Sinai Health System*

A team of researchers has created the first “multiome” atlas of brain cell development in the human cerebral cortex across six broad developmental time points from fetal development into adulthood, shedding new light on their roles during brain development and disease.

A new study links rhythmic oscillations in ovarian hormone levels in women during the menstrual cycle to changes in brain structure.

Researchers at Monash University have identified a new way of mapping ‘phosphenes’—the visual perception of the bright flashes we see when no light is entering the eye—to improve the outcome of surgery for patients receiving a cortical visual prosthesis (‘bionic eye’).

A newly published atlas offers the most detailed maps yet of the location, structure, and, in some cases, function of more than 3,000 types of brain cells.

Researchers have analyzed more than a million human brain cells to produce detailed maps of gene switches in brain cell types and revealed the links between specific types of cells and various common neuropsychiatric disorders.

A new study shows that teenagers with OCD experience deficits in decision-making and behavioral control. This is linked to abnormal activity in an area of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).

Severe inflammation in early childhood is a clinically known risk factor for developing autism and schizophrenia. Now, for the first time, scientists have discovered that inflammation alters the development of vulnerable brain cells, and this could have mechanistic links to neurodevelopmental disorders. This finding could lead to treatments for many different childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorders.

Scientists have discovered widespread differences in metal levels in the brains of patients with Huntington’s disease, a type of dementia, compared to a control group with healthy tissue.

In two parallel projects, researchers have been involved in creating the most comprehensive atlases of human brain cells to date. The two studies provide clues on different brain diseases and give hope for medical advancements in the future, such as new cancer drugs.

In a suite of new studies, a large consortium of researchers shares new knowledge about the cells that make up our brains and the brains of other primates.

The brains of people who reduce their drinking, as well as of people who quit drinking entirely, have greater volume in certain regions than people who drink more heavily, according to a new study of adults treated for alcohol use disorder.

Sleeping patterns and stress hormones could be the key to understanding how and when people with epilepsy are likely to experience seizures, a new study reveals.

New research has found molecular evidence highlighting important sex differences in the brains of people with major depressive disorder, with evidence of changes occurring specifically in the female brain, but not in males.

Finally this week, new research has found that MRI scans can reveal the parts of the brain that are involved in responding to fatty foods.