One in Two Americans Have Neurological Disorders
Summary: A comprehensive national analysis shows that over 180 million Americans—more than half the U.S. population—are living with a neurological disease or disorder. These conditions span the lifespan, from neurodevelopmental disorders to migraines to age-related diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. While mortality from neurological illness has declined by 15% since 1990, the years lived […]
AI Reveals Lions Don’t Just Roar, They Have a Second Call
Summary: A new study reveals African lions produce two types of roars, overturning long-held assumptions and opening the door to more precise wildlife monitoring. Using machine learning, researchers automatically distinguished between full-throated and newly identified intermediary roars with over 95% accuracy, eliminating much of the human bias in vocal identification. This breakthrough greatly enhances conservation […]
What Triggers Tantrums? Sensory Overload May Be To Blame
Summary: New research reveals a distinct brain activity signature in children who become overwhelmed by sensory input such as noise, touch, or bright lights. Using functional MRI, scientists found that overly sensitive children show reduced activation in outward-facing sensory and motor networks while increasing activation in inward-focused networks tied to cognition and impulse control. This […]
Brain Circuit That Forces Behavior Into “Repeat Mode” Identified
Summary: A new study has identified a specific brain circuit that can push behavior into a compulsive “repeat mode,” forcing mice to continue digging and sniffing even when rewards are available. The circuit links the nucleus accumbens to the hypothalamus and then to the lateral habenula, a region involved in processing negative experiences. Repeated activation […]
Genetics Plus Heart Health Markers Sharpen Dementia Risk
Summary: New research shows that dementia risk is best predicted by combining genetic vulnerability with cardiovascular disease markers, revealing a more precise and actionable way to identify who is most likely to develop the condition. While genes such as APOE4 and family history contribute heavily, equally powerful are modifiable factors like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. […]
Supplement Shows Promise in Blocking Amyloid in Alzheimer’s
Summary: A new study shows that oral arginine, a naturally occurring amino acid, can significantly suppress amyloid-β aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease models. Researchers found that arginine not only prevented Aβ42 from clumping but also reduced plaques and inflammation in mouse and fruit fly models carrying Alzheimer’s-related mutations. Treated mice showed improved cognitive performance alongside reduced […]
Early Brain Activity Differences Predict Addiction Risk in Boys vs Girls
Summary: A large-scale analysis of nearly 1,900 children found that those with a family history of substance use disorder show early differences in how their brains transition between activity states, long before any drug exposure. Girls with family history showed increased transition energy in introspective networks, suggesting greater difficulty shifting out of internal, stress-linked states. […]
Screen Time in Tweens Predicts ADHD, Slower Brain Growth
Summary: A large, two-year study of nearly 12,000 children found that higher screen time at ages 9–10 predicts an increase in ADHD symptoms, independent of a child’s starting symptom level. Brain imaging revealed that heavy screen use is associated with smaller cortical volume and disrupted development in regions critical for attention, cognition, and reward processing. […]
Thrill Fatigue: How Dopamine Devalues Repeated Rewards
Summary: New research shows that the same dopamine receptor mechanism responsible for drug addiction also governs the natural decline in motivation when we repeat rewarding behaviors. By studying male fruit flies, researchers found that dopamine acting through the D2 receptor promotes persistence during mating, but repeated experiences cause these receptors to desensitize. Once desensitized, dopamine […]
AI Interviews Outperform Standard Mental Health Rating Scales
Summary: A new study demonstrates that an AI assistant can conduct psychiatric assessment interviews with greater diagnostic accuracy than widely used mental health rating scales. In a sample of 303 participants with confirmed psychiatric conditions, the AI assistant Alba provided DSM-based diagnostic suggestions after a brief conversational interview, outperforming rating scales in eight of nine […]