Tag: stroke

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: PLOS Mental Health (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000463

A recent study explores how physiological signals can reveal cognitive arousal—the level of mental alertness and emotional activation—without relying on subjective reporting.

New research reveals that women with long COVID show distinct biological disruptions — including gut inflammation, anaemia, and abnormal hormone levels — that may explain their heightened and persistent symptoms. These findings emerged from immune, biomarker, and genetic analyses in people one year after infection.

A new software enables brain simulations which both imitate the processes in the brain in detail and can solve challenging cognitive tasks. 

University of Auckland researchers report that an 8-week, twice-weekly LSD microdosing regimen for major depressive disorder was feasible and well-tolerated, with Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores reduced by 59.5% at the end of treatment and sustained to six months.

Dance styles engage the brain in different ways depending on the movements, aesthetics, and emotions associated with the dance, according to a study published in Nature Communications.

New research shows that depression beginning before age 25 has a much stronger hereditary component than depression that emerges later in life. By analysing genetic data from over 150,000 people with depression, researchers identified distinct genetic regions linked specifically to early-onset cases.

Scientists have developed an innovative, non-invasive brain stimulation therapy to significantly improve visual function in stroke patients who have suffered vision loss following a stroke.

A rare intracranial brain-recording study revealed that tirzepatide, a GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, temporarily silences craving-related neural activity in a key reward circuit of the brain. Researchers observed that the drug initially shut down signaling in the nucleus accumbens of a patient with treatment-resistant obesity. However, after five months, both the “food noise” and the corresponding neural patterns returned, suggesting the effect was short-lived. The findings highlight how these metabolic drugs influence human brain circuits and underscore the need for more durable treatments targeting impulsivity in eating disorders.

Researchers report that ketogenic diets are associated with modest reductions in depressive symptoms in adults, while evidence for anxiety remains uncertain.

An international study has uncovered similar structural changes in the brains of young people diagnosed with anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD and conduct disorder, offering new insights into the biological roots of mental health conditions in children and young people.

A randomised, placebo-controlled trial shows that cannabis with active THC reduces immediate alcohol cravings and lowers drinking levels in heavy-drinking young adults.

New research shows that the brain distinguishes between “what an odour is” and “how it feels,” processing them at different times. After smelling, the brain sends a quick signal that identifies molecular features for differentiation.

“Drains” in the brain, responsible for clearing toxic waste in the organ, tend to get clogged up in people who show signs of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a new study shows.

Researchers have discovered how the brain keeps time for precise movements, revealing a neural “hourglass” mechanism between the motor cortex and striatum. The motor cortex sends timing signals that accumulate in the striatum until they reach a threshold that triggers action.

Finally this week, a new brain imaging study reveals that music activates the same chemical system in the brain that is responsible for the pleasure associated with food and social bonding. 

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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A research collaboration has identified the specific nerve pathways responsible for relaying pain signals from the bowel to the brain, paving the way for new irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments.

Game-based training improves not only the cognitive abilities of people with initial signs of developing dementia, but also leads to positive changes in the brain, according to two new studies.

A next-generation neuroprosthetic hand that restores a sense of touch is moving into a pivotal home-use clinical trial. The “iSens” system uses implanted electrodes to read muscle intent and stimulate nerves, relaying fingertip sensations to the brain so the prosthesis feels embodied.

A new breakthrough demonstrates how robots can now integrate both sight and touch to handle objects with greater accuracy, much like humans. 

Researchers have traced a neural mechanism that explains why humans explore more aggressively when avoiding losses than when pursuing gains. Their work reveals how neuronal firing and noise in the amygdala shape exploratory decision-making.

Scientists have found a way to stop brain cancer cells spreading by essentially ‘freezing’ a key molecule in the brain.

Researchers have developed an ultrasound device that can precisely stimulate areas deep in the brain without surgery, opening up new possibilities for neurological research and the treatment of disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Artificial intelligence can detect and interpret social features between people from images and videos almost as reliably as humans, according to a new study published in the journal Imaging Neuroscience.

A large study of nearly 13,000 adults found that consuming high levels of certain artificial sweeteners is associated with faster declines in memory and cognitive function over an eight-year period. The effect was particularly strong in people with diabetes and those under 60.  While the study does not prove causation, it raises concerns about the long-term brain health risks associated with common sugar substitutes.

Experiments have shown that AI can develop in-context learning abilities after extensive incremental practice, much like humans do.

A new study suggests that autism may be linked to the rapid evolution of brain cell types unique to humans. Researchers have found that outer-layer neurons in the human brain evolved significantly faster than in other apes, with notable changes in autism-associated genes.

A new study shows that brain iron levels, measured using a specialized MRI technique, can predict cognitive decline years before symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear.

People with chronic insomnia may experience faster declines in memory and thinking skills as they age—along with brain changes that can be seen on imaging scans—than people who do not have chronic insomnia, according to a study published in Neurology.

Researchers have discovered how the brain develops reliable visual processing once the eyes open.

Scientists discovered how the brain uses objects to anchor our sense of direction, solving part of the mystery of spatial navigation. Experiments in mice showed that cells in the postsubiculum fired strongly when facing an object, while cells in other directions were suppressed, sharpening orientation.

In adults aged 60 years and older, tinnitus, especially severe and prolonged tinnitus, is significantly associated with cognitive impairment, according to a study published in Brain Sciences.

A more precise and personalized form of electric brain stimulation may be a more effective and faster treatment for people with moderate to major depression compared to other similar treatments, according to a UCLA Health study.

Finally this week, researchers may have found a way to limit the debilitating damage strokes can cause.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Example atlases included in the Network Correspondence Toolbox (NCT). Credit: Nature Communications (2025)

UCLA Health researchers have helped to develop a new digital toolbox to create a “common language” for brain network studies, potentially accelerating new discoveries and treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions.

New research published in The Journal of Neuroscience suggests that relieving psychological stress by targeting specific neurons in the brain can lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.

People who have early signs of heart problems may also have changes in brain health that can be early signs of dementia, such as loss of brain volume, according to a meta-analysis published online in Neurology. The meta-analysis does not prove that early heart problems cause loss of brain cells; it only shows an association.

Scientists have gained greater clarity in the brain regions and neurons that control metabolism, body temperature and energy use. 

A recent study published in Science challenges assumptions about infant memory, showing that young minds do indeed form memories. The question remains, however, why these memories become difficult to retrieve later in life.

The brain’s appetite signalling pathways can be disrupted by consuming non-caloric sweeteners, according to new research.

Analysis of stroke patients from 1971 to 2019 showed college graduates exhibited stronger overall cognitive abilities immediately post-stroke. However, stroke survivors with any higher education saw a more rapid deterioration of executive functions, such as working memory and problem-solving, compared to those with lower levels of education.

New research suggests that psychopaths have a distinct pain experience, which can differ from what their bodies register.

A study published in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that virtual reality (VR) may offer a promising avenue for pain management in cancer patients. By immersing patients in realistic underwater environments using VR headsets, researchers observed a significant reduction in self-reported pain. This subjective improvement was further corroborated by real-time brain imaging, which revealed notable alterations in the neural pathways associated with pain perception.

A new review highlights how unpredictable sensory experiences, beyond traditional stressors like abuse and neglect, can disrupt brain development.

Scientists have uncovered a fundamental principle of how brain cells stay connected, and their discovery could change how we understand Alzheimer’s disease. Published in Cell Reports, this study reveals that neurons—the cells that make up our brain—use simple physics to maintain their connections, and that these processes change in Alzheimer’s patients.

New research shows that the brain’s numerical processing involves both absolute and relative quantity, with relative size processing increasing as information moves from the back to the front of the brain.

A pilot study of a post-stroke population has revealed some potential benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on attention and fatigue. Study findings are published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

Finally this week, marathon runners experience a temporary decline in brain myelin during races, with levels returning to normal after recovery, according to a study published in Nature Metabolism.

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Cortical Resting-State Networks defined by Gordon’s Parcellation. Credit: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2025).

Exposure to high ambient temperatures is associated with lower connectivity in three brain networks in preadolescents, suggesting that heat may impact brain function. 

A new study reveals that consuming high-calorie, highly processed foods for just five days can reduce the brain’s sensitivity to insulin, a key factor in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that even in healthy individuals, short-term unhealthy eating altered brain function, mimicking effects seen in people with obesity.

Scientists are exploring the role of gut-brain axis in Parkinson’s, anxiety and long COVID.

New research highlights that optimal brain health is strongly linked to cardiovascular wellness. The study underscores that dementia and cognitive decline share risk factors with heart disease, suggesting these conditions are largely preventable by managing diet, exercise, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.

Approximately 40 percent of adults with chronic pain experience depression or anxiety, according to a review published in JAMA Network Open.

A multidisciplinary team of researchers has discovered how lateral inhibition helps our brains process visual information, and it could expand our knowledge of sensory perception, leading to applications in neuro-medicine and artificial intelligence.

Brain changes may remain visible in brain scans after recovery from concussion, a new study shows.

Researchers are using photoacoustic imaging to observe brain activity and, in the process, discovering more about how it responds to different types of learning and experiences. Photoacoustic imaging uses optics and acoustics to generate a signal in biological tissues—in this case, the brain—where the signal provides structural and functional data and allows researchers to track factors such as brain activity. 

A study exploring a new brain imaging technique is bringing stroke experts a step closer to better tailoring rehabilitation.

Scientists have uncovered new insights into how neurofilaments act like Velcro in neurodegenerative diseases, clogging up the brain and preventing normal function, according to a study published in the journal JCI Insight.

Poor sleep could have an impact on brain health, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) published in the journal Sleep Medicine.

Mayo Clinic researchers have found a new way to more precisely detect and monitor brain cell activity during deep brain stimulation, a common treatment for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and tremor. This precision may help doctors adjust electrode placement and stimulation in real time, providing better, more personalized care for patients receiving the surgical procedure.

A new neuroimaging study has revealed that viewing nature can help ease how people experience pain, by reducing the brain activity linked to pain perception.

An international team of scientists has revealed new clues about the neural mechanisms underlying memory formation and recognition in the developing human brain, according to a study published in Science Advances.

Poor sleep among older adults is linked to disruptions in the brain’s “waste removal system,” according to a recent study.

Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences  reveals that brain aging isn’t a steady decline, but rather a series of shifts with key turning points. These transition points follow an S-shaped statistical curve with clear transition points, rather than either the late-life clinical onset or gradual linear decline previously assumed, suggesting there are specific windows when intervention could be most impactful.

Finally this week, new research reveals that our brains simplify complex social interactions by using basic mental “building blocks” or shortcuts.

Weekly Neuroscience Update

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Credit: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (2025). DOI: 10.1177/13872877251319742

Researchers have developed an AI tool that analyzes brain wave activity recorded during sleep using electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique that measures electrical activity in the brain through sensors placed on the scalp.

An encoding study reveals how the brain uses past experiences to predict the unfolding of similar events over time.

A new brain-computer interface (BCI) has enabled a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm by simply imagining movements. Unlike previous BCIs, which lasted only a few days, this AI-enhanced device worked reliably for seven months. The AI model adapts to natural shifts in brain activity, maintaining accuracy over time.

Learning to think more about specific events in the future appears to reduce impulsivity, improve decision-making, and shows potential as a therapy for alcohol use disorder, a recent study has found.

Repeated sessions of electrical stimulation to brain networks associated with memory improved verbal learning in some Alzheimer’s disease patients for up to eight weeks in a preliminary trial led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers. The findings, published in The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease, indicate that while future trials are needed, neurostimulation shows early promise as a treatment for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Lewy body dementia.

Alcohol use leads to earlier brain aging and impaired behavioral flexibility, with those effects detectable even among adults in their 20s and 30s, according to an innovative study.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a new mechanism that may improve the treatment of ischemic stroke. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, shows that the growth factor PDGF-CC and its receptor PDGFRα play a crucial role in scar formation in the brain after an ischemic stroke.

An abnormal form of the tau protein found to accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients also accumulates in the eyes of patients with the condition, according to a recent study.

Scientists have observed for the first time how neurons in the human brain store memories independent of the context in which they are acquired. Published in Cell Reports, the study confirms that neurons can distinguish objects or people regardless of their context, enabling the formation of higher and more abstract relationships, which constitute the basis of human intelligence.

Higher fish consumption is associated with slower disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

Using sophisticated neuroimaging techniques, researchers have mapped the brain’s activity during natural conversations, revealing how we seamlessly process speech and sound. These insights not only deepen our understanding of human connection but also pave the way for transformative advancements in speech technology and communication tools.

Finally this week, a recent study in Computers in Human Behavior, researchers observed that staying away from smartphones can even change one’s brain chemistry.

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Scientists have highlighted the most effective treatments for neurological diseases by overcoming one of medicine’s most difficult challenges: the blood–brain barrier. The findings offer new hope for patients with conditions including Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, and epilepsy.

A study conducted in Finland showed that changes in the functioning of opioid neurotransmitters in the brain may underlie anorexia.

Poorer cardiovascular health in childhood and adolescence may be linked to early differences in brain structure, particularly in areas of the brain known to be affected in dementia in later life, according to a new scientific study.

Researchers have uncovered how specific patterns in brain activity can predict an individual’s sensitivity to pain, expanding opportunities for improved pain management strategies.

Delayed rapid eye movement (REM) sleep may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that participants with delayed REM sleep had higher levels of toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s and reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports memory.

The microbial ecosystems in our mouths may impact cognitive function as we age, with pathogenic bacteria linked to cognitive decline.

New research suggests that mood swings in bipolar disorder are regulated by two clocks: the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythm and a dopamine-based clock that influences alertness. When these clocks align at specific intervals, they may trigger shifts between mania and depression.

A study in the Journal of Neuroscience reveals a new mechanism for how brain cells transmit signals from their tips to their nucleus, triggering gene activation crucial for learning and memory.

Investigators have discovered that activity in two widely distributed brain networks previously considered separate are actually correlated with each other and together play a key role in recognition memory, according to a study published in Cell Reports.

Cannabinoids offer new hope for safe and effective pain relief.

Researchers analyzed the genetic connection of retinal cells and several neuropsychiatric disorders. By combining different datasets, they found that schizophrenia risk genes were associated with specific neurons in the retina. The involved risk genes suggest an impairment of synapse biology, so the ability of neurons to communicate with each other. This impairment might also be present in the brains of schizophrenia patients.

Researchers at the University of Barcelona have identified a deficit in contrast perception in people with schizophrenia.

A study of nearly 1,000 people with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) revealed that two-thirds still experienced significant symptoms, including reduced exercise capacity and cognitive performance, two years after infection. Persistent symptom clusters included fatigue, neurocognitive disturbances, and post-exertional malaise, with worse outcomes in individuals with obesity, lower education, or severe initial infections.

Finally this week, new research shows diets high in processed meat, fast food, and sugary drinks accelerate biological aging, even in young adults.

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Cortical gray matter volume trajectories based on the functional location of the changes in gestational mothers (N = 179). Credit: Nature Communications (2025).

A new study has analyzed the brains of women during pregnancy for the first time using neuroimaging techniques. The research shows that there is a reduction and partial recovery of almost 5% of gray matter in 94% of the total gray matter volume of the brain, especially in regions linked to social cognition.

An international team has shown the relationship of activity of neurotransmitters to how humans process the emotional content of language.

More than half of 23-year-olds in a European study show restrictive, emotional or uncontrolled eating behaviours, according to new research led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London. Structural brain differences appear to play a role in the development of these eating habits.

A new framework links brainwaves to individual cognitive states.

In a recent study, scientists have shown neurotransmitters in the human brain are active during the processing of the emotional content of language, providing new understanding into how people interpret the significance of words.

A new study shows stem cell therapy ‘jump-start’ brain repair after stroke.

Researchers have developed a flexible, biodegradable electrode capable of stimulating neural precursor cells in the brain, offering a safer and more precise alternative for neural repair. The electrode dissolves naturally after seven days, eliminating the need for surgical removal while promoting tissue regeneration.

Music supports babies in neonatal intensive care units, according to a recent neuroimaging study.

A study analyzing data from over 130 million individuals found that antibiotics, antivirals, vaccines, and anti-inflammatory medications are associated with a reduced risk of dementia. This supports the idea that infections and inflammation contribute to dementia and highlights the potential of repurposing existing drugs for prevention or treatment.

New research has uncovered psychological profiles associated with mental and brain health in middle-aged and older adults.

An experimental treatment for depression that triggers seizures with magnets significantly improved mental health in patients without some cognitive effects associated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), according to a clinical trial led by UT Southwestern Medical Center.

A research team has gathered new insight into the neural underpinnings of human cooperation.

A new study has identified three psychological profiles that influence brain health, cognitive decline, and dementia risk in aging adults. Profiles with high protective traits, like purpose and openness, show better cognition and brain integrity, while those with low protective traits or high negative traits face accelerated brain atrophy and mental health issues.

Stanford Medicine scientists are generating a periodic table of sorts for psychiatric disorders, providing a better understanding of these conditions and paving the way toward targeted treatment.

A study analyzing data from over 2 million veterans found that GLP-1 receptor agonists, popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, provide significant neurological and behavioral health benefits, including reduced risks of addiction, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. However, they also pose risks for pancreatitis and kidney conditions.

Finally, this week, a brain signal that lights up when we anticipate rewards may hold the secret to helping people overcome depression, and researchers are working to unlock its potential.

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A new way of mapping activity and connections between different regions of the brain has revealed fresh insights into how higher-order functions like language, thought and attention, are organized.

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have demonstrated that the brain’s ability to learn certain skills can be significantly enhanced if both the brain and nervous system are primed by carefully-calibrated, precisely-timed electrical and magnetic stimulations. This new research has the potential to open entirely new perspectives in rehabilitation and possibly elite sports.

A study of patients with epilepsy shows how making new neurons benefits cognition.

New AI software can read the brain scans of patients who have had a stroke to more accurately pinpoint when it happened and help doctors work out whether it can be successfully treated. It is hoped that the new technology will ultimately enable faster and more accurate emergency treatment of patients in a hospital setting.

Researchers have discovered the structural details of a brain receptor called GPR6, which could lead to new treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

Living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods is associated with higher blood pressure and lower cognitive performance, even in individuals without mild cognitive impairment. Researchers analyzed over 500 adults, finding that poor social and economic resources in neighborhoods exacerbate cardiometabolic health issues and reduce brain function.

Scientists have developed a new approach to learning through noninvasive manipulation of brain activity patterns.

A new study is helping solve the mystery as to why the brain shrinks in a unique pattern, known as atrophy, in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Published in Acta Neuropathologica, this research provides novel evidence that cumulative repetitive head impacts are driving the specific patterns of brain degeneration found at the base of the folds of the surface of the brain, known as the cortical sulcus.

A global research collaboration has revealed a hidden cause of a rare intellectual disorder associated with severe language delay, epileptic seizures, motor impairment and brain abnormalities.

A multi-sensory digital treatment protocol, incorporating sensory integration, sensory substitution, and sensory masking (e.g., blindfolding), significantly improved participants’ performance on spatial memory tasks. Resting-state fMRI analysis showed that these improvements were associated with enhanced connectivity between memory-related brain regions, executive frontal areas, and the default mode network (DMN).

People with high blood pressure who also lack sleep may be at increased risk of reduced cognitive performance and greater brain injury, new research has found.

Researchers have uncovered a groundbreaking mechanism called Electro-Calcium (E-Ca) coupling that integrates electrical and calcium signaling in brain capillaries. This process ensures precise blood flow delivery to active neurons, crucial for brain health and cognitive function.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki have made a breakthrough in understanding what neural mechanisms allow the extreme sensitivity of human vision in darkness. 

New research reveals that music can do more than trigger memories—it can alter their emotional tone. When participants recalled neutral stories while listening to emotionally charged music, they later remembered the stories as matching the music’s mood. These findings hint at music’s potential for therapeutic interventions, like reframing negative memories in depression or PTSD.

Finally this week a recent study has found that high blood sugar may impair brain health even in people without diabetes. 

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Large-scale functional networks are embedded along two principal gradients. Credit: Nature Neuroscience (2024).

Scientists have uncovered how different types of brain cells work together to form large-scale functional networks in the human brain—interconnected systems that support everything from sensory processing to complex decision-making—paving the way for new insights into brain health and disease.

A new neuroimaging marker of cerebral small vessel disease is related to general cognition and may serve to identify persons at risk of dementia in future clinical trials, a landmark study has found.

A recent study reveals that the genetic mutation causing Huntington’s disease (HD) enhances brain development and intelligence in early life, but leads to degeneration in adulthood. Children with the HD gene exhibit larger brains and higher IQs than those without the mutation.

In what could one day become a new treatment for epilepsy, researchers have used pulses of light to prevent seizure-like activity in neurons.

A team of researchers has found that certain factors are linked to faster brain shrinkage and quicker progression from normal thinking abilities to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with type 2 diabetes and low levels of specific proteins in their cerebrospinal fluid showed more rapid brain changes and developed MCI sooner than others.

A new study explores how brain waves reflect melody predictions while listening to music.

Neuroscientists have identified the binding site of low-dose ketamine, providing critical insight into how the medication, often described as a wonder drug, alleviates symptoms of major depression in as little as a few hours with effects lasting for several days.

New research indicates that cannabis use causes cellular damage that increases the risk of highly cancerous tumors by disrupting mitochondria and damaging DNA. 

Fampridine, used for improving walking in multiple sclerosis, may also enhance working memory in individuals with schizophrenia or depression. A study found that the drug significantly improved working memory in participants with initially poor performance, but had no effect on those with strong baseline memory.

A recent study links satellite and brain imaging data to identify how environmental factors can impact mental health, cognition and brain development in young people.

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.

Children born to mothers who take antiseizure medications during pregnancy may face increased risks of neurodevelopmental conditions, according to new data.

Researchers have shed light on the puzzling relationship between dopamine and rest tremor in Parkinson’s disease, finding that preserved dopamine in certain brain regions may actually contribute to tremor symptoms, challenging common beliefs.

New research has revealed the diverse assembly and regulation of Type-A GABA receptors (GABAARs), which are crucial for balancing brain activity. 

A recent study has found fascinating similarities in how the human brain and artificial intelligence models process language. The research, published in Nature Communications, suggests that the brain, like AI systems such as GPT-2, may use a continuous, context-sensitive embedding space to derive meaning from language, a breakthrough that could reshape our understanding of neural language processing.

A team of researchers has investigated the composition and communication of cells in so-called subcortical lesions, tissue damage to deep brain structures at different stages of multiple sclerosis.

Care for stroke survivors urgently needs to focus on non-motor skill outcomes such as fatigue, anxiety and reduced social participation to improve survivors’ quality of life and minimize care needs, according to a new study.

An international research collaboration has discovered how unusual spherical structures form in the brains of people with a mutation that causes a form of inherited Alzheimer’s disease. 

A new study identifies previously hidden brain network patterns in schizophrenia by focusing on nonlinear connectivity, offering potential biomarkers for early diagnosis. Traditional imaging methods often overlook these patterns, but researchers developed advanced statistical tools to uncover this new dimension of brain organization.

Finally this week, research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has identified several community-level factors that may increase people’s risk of experiencing cognitive impairment.

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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.