mRNA Vaccine Targets Vision Loss in AMD
Summary: A new mRNA vaccine developed in Japan has been shown to suppress abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina of mice, offering hope for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Current treatments require repeated injections directly into the eye, but this vaccine can be delivered intramuscularly, making it less invasive and easier to administer. […]
DMT Shows Promise in Protecting the Brain After Stroke
Summary: New research shows that DMT, a natural psychoactive compound found in plants and the human brain, can protect against stroke damage in animal and cell models. Treatment with DMT reduced infarct size, brain swelling, and inflammation, while also repairing blood-brain barrier function. The compound acted through Sigma-1 receptors to limit microglial activation and support […]
Lifelong Social Bonds Can Slow Biological Aging at the Cellular Level
Summary: A new study shows that lifelong social advantages—from early parental warmth to adult friendships and community support—can slow biological aging. Researchers analyzed over 2,100 participants and found that those with stronger, more consistent social connections had younger biological ages according to epigenetic clocks GrimAge and DunedinPACE. They also had lower inflammation, with reduced levels […]
Prozac May Rewire the Brain by Loosening Rigid Neural Circuits
Summary: A new study shows that fluoxetine, better known as Prozac, does more than increase serotonin—it changes how brain cells handle energy and rebuild connections. After two weeks of treatment, parvalbumin interneurons in the prefrontal cortex became less rigid, with mitochondrial energy genes reduced and plasticity genes upregulated. The protective perineural nets that normally limit […]
Infant Brain Gene Regulator May Predispose Adults to Dementia
Summary: A new study reveals that the brain’s vulnerability to disorders like multiple sclerosis and dementia may begin in early life. Researchers identified a developmental “switch” in astrocytes, the brain’s support cells, governed by the NR3C1 gene. This switch epigenetically programs astrocytes to restrain inflammation in adulthood; without it, immune genes stay primed, making the […]
Dopamine Links Social Isolation to Brain Myelin Damage
Summary: A new five-year study explores how dopamine may drive changes in brain myelin during social isolation. Researchers will track how dopamine interacts with oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for producing myelin and supporting neuron function. The project aims to uncover whether dopamine regulates myelin plasticity, potentially linking isolation, addiction, schizophrenia, and other conditions. The findings […]
Postpartum Depression and Psychosis Risks Surge After Childbirth
Summary: A large Swedish study of 1.8 million pregnancies found that mental ill health around pregnancy has risen in recent years, with risks spiking after childbirth. While depression and psychosis rates drop during pregnancy, postpartum depression is 20% more likely within weeks 5–15, and psychosis risk is up to seven times higher in the first […]
Healthy Habits Can Make Your Brain Up to 8 Years Younger
Summary: A new study shows that brain health is closely tied to lifestyle choices, with positive habits making brains appear years younger than their chronological age. Researchers followed adults, many with chronic pain, and found that optimism, restorative sleep, social connections, and stress management strongly protected against accelerated brain aging. MRI scans revealed that participants […]
Sugary Drinks Linked to Depression Through Gut Microbiome
Summary: A new study shows that sugary drinks don’t just affect physical health—they may also raise the risk of depression in women by disrupting the gut microbiome. Researchers found that high consumption of soft drinks was linked to both a greater likelihood of major depressive disorder and more severe symptoms, particularly among women. The effect […]
Severe Flu in Pregnancy Lets Harmful Molecules Reach Fetal Brain
Summary: A new study shows that severe flu infections in pregnant mice compromise both placental and brain barriers, allowing large molecules and fibrinogen to reach the fetal brain. These molecules accumulated in critical regions like the subventricular zone, where neural stem cells develop, raising concerns about long-term impacts on neurodevelopment. Researchers emphasize that not every […]