Sugar Chains in the Brain: New Pathway Behind Depression Found
Summary: Scientists have discovered that depression can be driven by abnormal sugar modifications on proteins in the brain, offering a new molecular pathway for understanding the disorder. Chronic stress was shown to reduce sialylation—a stabilizing sugar process—in the prefrontal cortex, impairing neural circuit stability and triggering depressive symptoms. Manipulating the enzyme St3gal1 revealed its central […]
Glioblastoma Found to Erode Skull and Hijack Immune System
Summary: Glioblastoma, the most lethal brain cancer, doesn’t just damage the brain—it erodes the skull and disrupts the immune system by reshaping marrow inside the skull. Researchers discovered that tumors increase skull-to-brain channels, allowing waves of inflammatory immune cells to flow to the cancer site, fueling its growth. Tests in mice and patients revealed skull […]
Motherhood Flips Brain Switch That Triggers Aggression
Summary: Researchers discovered that female mice gain access to aggression after giving birth through a brain circuit usually dormant in non-pregnant females. The same neurons drive aggression in males but only switch on in mothers, activated by oxytocin and prolactin. Silencing these neurons stopped mothers from defending against cage intruders. The findings highlight how the […]
When Mom Struggles to Bond, Babies Sleep Worse
Summary: A large Finnish study has found that mothers who struggle to bond with their infants are more likely to have children with sleep problems that persist into toddlerhood. Difficulties in bonding at eight months were linked to sleep disruptions, including frequent awakenings and trouble falling asleep, even at age two. Fathers’ bonding challenges did […]
Ultrasound Breakthrough Targets Multiple Brain Networks at Once
Summary: Researchers have developed a groundbreaking ultrasound device that can stimulate several precise points in the brain at the same time, marking a leap forward in non-invasive neuromodulation. Unlike earlier single-spot approaches, this technology uses lower-intensity ultrasound pulses that reduce risks of overheating and uncontrolled brain excitation. The method also allows scientists to simultaneously visualize […]
Long COVID Linked to Surge in POTS Cases
Summary: Researchers have found that postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) occurs in almost a third of patients with severe long COVID, making it far more common than in the general population. The study, the largest to date on the subject, showed that middle-aged women were most affected, with symptoms including dizziness, rapid heart rate, fatigue, […]
How the Brain’s GPS System Falters With Age
Summary: Spatial memory — the ability to recall “where” — is one of the first cognitive skills to decline in aging and a hallmark of dementia. Researchers found that in older mice, grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex, which act like the brain’s GPS, became unstable and less precise. This led to difficulty distinguishing […]
Tiny Fat Messengers May Link Obesity to Alzheimer’s Plaque Buildup
Summary: A groundbreaking study reveals how obesity may drive Alzheimer’s disease through tiny messengers called extracellular vesicles released from fat tissue. These vesicles carry lipids that alter how quickly amyloid-β plaques form, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Because they can cross the blood-brain barrier, they act as a direct communication line between body fat and the […]
Vision Therapy Restores Sight in Post-Concussion Eye Disorders
Summary: Concussions can leave lasting effects on vision, with nearly half of young patients experiencing disorders that disrupt daily life and delay return to normal activities. A new study shows that 12 weeks of targeted vision therapy restored normal vision in almost 90% of adolescents and young adults, compared to only 10% who improved without […]
Teen Solitude Linked to Measurable Changes in Brain Networks
Summary: Adolescents who regularly choose solitude over social connection show measurable differences in brain structure and function, according to a large neuroimaging study. Brain scans revealed altered activity and weaker connections in regions tied to social and emotional processing, with changes spanning multiple cognitive networks. These widespread differences suggest that persistent withdrawal could increase vulnerability […]