RSS Parrot

Experimental drug may benefit some patients with rare form of ALS

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-experimental-drug-benefit-patients-rare.html

Published: May 22, 2025 18:30

When Columbia neurologist and scientist Neil Shneider speaks to his ALS patients who volunteer for experimental therapies, he's unwaveringly honest. "Patients always ask me, 'What can I hope to get out of this?"' Shneider says. "And I always say, in most…

Potential new drug that protects blood-brain barrier shows promise against Alzheimer's

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-potential-drug-blood-brain-barrier.html

Published: May 22, 2025 14:47

Worldwide, more than 55 million people suffer from dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other conditions that destroy cells in the brain and nervous system.

Study questions precautionary measures on paternal use of valproate

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-precautionary-paternal-valproate.html

Published: May 22, 2025 14:43

A new study from researchers at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital found no increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose fathers were treated with valproate during spermatogenesis. The results have just been published in…

Got knee pain? Stimulating the vagus nerve through the ear may help

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-knee-pain-vagus-nerve-ear.html

Published: May 22, 2025 14:33

Tying shoelaces, getting into a car, picking things up off the floor and walking down stairs all involve flexing that most difficult of joints: the knee. But pain in the knee can significantly hinder those and many other routine activities.

Brain scans reveal neural mechanisms that underlie suicidal thoughts, behaviors in veterans

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-brain-scans-reveal-neural-mechanisms.html

Published: May 22, 2025 12:00

Implicit Association Tests (IATs) are computerized tests that can be used to assess the subconscious association between different concepts. A form of the IAT, the Suicide Implicit Association Test (S-IAT), can measure people's associations between the…

Tiny genetic switch found to control brain balance and behavior

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-tiny-genetic-brain-behavior.html

Published: May 22, 2025 11:24

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have identified a remarkably small but critical piece of genetic code that helps determine how brain cells connect, communicate, and function. The discovery not only deepens our understanding of how the…

Electrical stimulation offers hope for treating spinal injuries

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-electrical-spinal-injuries.html

Published: May 22, 2025 08:11

A grid of electrodes placed on the backs of study participants delivered enough low-voltage electrical stimulation through the skin to change the short-term function of spinal cord neurons, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers showed.

Study finds rugby players' brains are affected by concussion after being cleared to play

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-rugby-players-brains-affected-concussion.html

Published: May 22, 2025 06:06

Grassroots rugby concussion guidelines need to be improved as players' brains remain altered despite them being symptom-free and cleared to play, researchers have found.

Brain molecule provides new insights into migraine-related light sensitivity

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-brain-molecule-insights-migraine-sensitivity.html

Published: May 21, 2025 20:00

Scientists in the U.K., Australia and China have identified a brain molecule called NEAT1 that appears to play a central role in triggering light sensitivity (photophobia), a common and debilitating symptom of migraines. Their findings, published in The…

Tumor-related epilepsy not a strong prognostic factor in diffuse glioma, finds study

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-tumor-epilepsy-strong-prognostic-factor.html

Published: May 21, 2025 17:08

For patients with diffuse gliomas, tumor-related epilepsy (TRE) is not a strong prognostic factor, according to a study published in the May issue of Brain and Behavior.

'Groovy' brains may be more efficient

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-groovy-brains-efficient.html

Published: May 21, 2025 16:50

Many grooves and dimples on the surface of the brain are unique to humans, but they're often dismissed as an uninteresting consequence of packing an unusually large brain into a too-small skull.

Good news for people who take migraine drugs before or during pregnancy: No increase in autism, ADHD, other disorders

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-good-news-people-migraine-drugs.html

Published: May 21, 2025 16:23

There's good news for people with migraine who take common drugs before or during pregnancy—a new study found no increase in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD in their children. The study, which looked at drugs used for migraine attacks…

Nerve stimulation trial demonstrates meaningful improvements for spinal cord injuries

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-nerve-trial-meaningful-spinal-cord.html

Published: May 21, 2025 15:00

In a new clinical study, researchers from the Texas Biomedical Device Center (TxBDC) at The University of Texas at Dallas demonstrated unprecedented rates of recovery for spinal cord injuries.

Insulin resistance in brain may be one of the factors linking Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-insulin-resistance-brain-factors-linking.html

Published: May 21, 2025 14:51

Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have succeeded in showing, in an animal model, that the process of insulin resistance in the brain affects both Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy and may be a linking factor between the two…

New strategy for screening anxiety and depression in epilepsy patients, study shows

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-strategy-screening-anxiety-depression-epilepsy.html

Published: May 21, 2025 13:29

A new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows an improvement in screening rates for anxiety and depression among epilepsy patients with the implementation of an electronic health record (EHR)-based strategy.

Less frequent stroke monitoring is safe, effective and frees up resources, study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-frequent-safe-effective-frees-resources.html

Published: May 21, 2025 12:28

Halving the number of times vital signs and neurological function are checked in low-risk patients after treatment for acute ischemic stroke does not compromise care or recovery, according to new findings presented at the 11th European Stroke Organization…

The Armamentarium: Scientists create next generation of tools in battle against brain disease

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-armamentarium-scientists-generation-tools-brain.html

Published: May 21, 2025 11:01

In a scientific first, researchers from around 29 universities and institutions across North America have teamed up to create a large, versatile, and effective arsenal of new biological tools that will play a critical role in the battle against brain…

How the placebo effect tricks the mind into relieving pain

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-placebo-effect-mind-relieving-pain.html

Published: May 21, 2025 09:21

The detailed mechanism of how the placebo effect reduces the perception of pain in rats has been uncovered by RIKEN neuroscientists. These findings, published in Science Advances, could potentially lead to ways to harness the placebo effect in therapy.

Advanced tools offer improved insights into brain injury patients' condition and their potential for recovery

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-advanced-tools-insights-brain-injury.html

Published: May 20, 2025 18:30

Trauma centers nationwide will begin to test a new approach for assessing traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is expected to lead to more accurate diagnoses and more appropriate treatment and follow-up for patients.

A study in stroke patients shows the brain's vision-language connection shapes object knowledge

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-patients-brain-vision-language-knowledge.html

Published: May 20, 2025 16:11

Our ability to store information about familiar objects depends on the connection between visual and language-processing regions in the brain, according to a study published in PLOS Biology by Bo Liu from Beijing Normal University, China, and colleagues.

CRISPR study reveals mitochondrial dysfunction as early marker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-crispr-reveals-mitochondrial-dysfunction-early.html

Published: May 20, 2025 15:35

Using the gene scissors CRISPR and stem cells, researchers at Stockholm University and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at King's College London have managed to identify a common denominator for different gene mutations that all cause the…

Research reveals unexpected roles of TEAD proteins in neurodevelopment

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-reveals-unexpected-roles-tead-proteins.html

Published: May 20, 2025 13:13

The fundamental processes that govern neural development are complex and, as findings by scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital demonstrate, the underlying driving forces can even appear conflicting.

MRI could replace painful spinal tap to diagnose multiple sclerosis more quickly

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-mri-painful-spinal-multiple-sclerosis.html

Published: May 20, 2025 12:52

Experts from the University of Nottingham have proven that multiple sclerosis (MS) can successfully be diagnosed using an MRI scan, meaning patients no longer need to undergo a painful lumbar puncture.

ICU delirium tests misclassify Spanish-speakers, research suggests

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-icu-delirium-misclassify-spanish-speakers.html

Published: May 20, 2025 12:48

Delirium is common in the ICU, and guidelines call for daily screening. Now a new study published at the ATS 2025 International Conference suggests that standard screening tests may result in the misclassification of the delirium status of Spanish-speaking…

Can you treat headaches with physiotherapy? Here's what the research says

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-headaches-physiotherapy.html

Published: May 20, 2025 12:07

You might've noticed some physiotherapists advertise they offer treatments for headaches and wondered: would that work?

Boredom gets a bad rap. But science says it can actually be good for us

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-boredom-bad-rap-science-good.html

Published: May 20, 2025 10:54

We have all experienced boredom—that feeling of waning interest or decreased mental stimulation. Eventually we lose focus, we disengage. Time seems to pass slowly, and we may even start to feel restless. Whether it be watching a movie that disappoints, a…

Does drawing on memory help us solve problems? Our experiment gave some surprising answers

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-memory-problems-gave.html

Published: May 20, 2025 10:23

Conventional wisdom suggests memories of past experiences can help us navigate problems in the present.

A new analysis method for capturing long-term brain activity in freely moving mice

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-analysis-method-capturing-term-brain.html

Published: May 20, 2025 09:43

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a novel technique for analyzing neural activity in the brain. This new approach makes it possible to track neuronal signals in freely moving animals for over 99 days—an unprecedented duration. It…

Tiny brain region found to drive motor learning in reaching movements

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-tiny-brain-region-motor-movements.html

Published: May 20, 2025 09:41

A research team at the University of Osaka has identified a crucial brain region involved in motor learning during reaching movements. The parvocellular division of the red nucleus, a small but specialized structure in the midbrain, was found to generate…

Do we see color the same way? What scientists can learn from artists

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-scientists-artists.html

Published: May 20, 2025 09:18

As many people sit at the wheel of their car, they are certain they know what color is. It's the red traffic light in front of them, the garish yellow hatchback in the next lane, or the green verge banking to their right.

Human-specific DNA enhancer linked to brain development and neuron proliferation

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-human-specific-dna-linked-brain.html

Published: May 20, 2025 06:40

Duke University Medical Center-led research has identified a human-specific DNA enhancer that regulates neural progenitor proliferation and cortical size. Small genetic changes in HARE5 amplify a key developmental pathway, resulting in increased cortical…

How neurons survive botulinum neurotoxin type A exposure

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-neurons-survive-botulinum-neurotoxin-exposure.html

Published: May 20, 2025 01:00

In a comprehensive research study, scientists have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism explaining how neurons survive botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) exposure, despite the toxin's powerful ability to block neurotransmission.

A new tool can help predict brain-damaging seizures and free up continuous EEG machines for high-risk patients

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-tool-brain-seizures-free-eeg.html

Published: May 19, 2025 17:06

In hospital intensive care units, neurologists often use a simple scorecard to quickly evaluate a critically ill patient's likelihood of having a brain-damaging seizure so they can prevent it. The scorecard saves lives, lowers costs and helps doctors make…

Common analgesic gas aids in opening of blood-brain barrier

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-common-analgesic-gas-aids-blood.html

Published: May 19, 2025 15:21

Nitrous oxide, a commonly used analgesic gas, temporarily improved the opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to allow gene therapy delivery in mouse models using focused ultrasound (FUS), UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report in a new study.…

Body's own cannabinoids may be key to reducing excessive fear responses

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-body-cannabinoids-key-excessive-responses.html

Published: May 19, 2025 13:01

Specific cannabinoids produced by the human body may help to quell excessive fear responses in people with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, according to a Northwestern Medicine-led study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Associations between auditory and visual information: Findings link brain activity to memory recall

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-associations-auditory-visual-link-brain.html

Published: May 19, 2025 13:00

When a person remembers their friend telling them a funny story, they associate the sound of that friend talking with the appearance of that friend speaking and laughing. How does the human brain form audiovisual memories like this?

How molecules can 'remember' and contribute to memory and learning

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-molecules-contribute-memory.html

Published: May 19, 2025 12:57

Researchers have discovered how an ion channel in the brain's neurons has a kind of "molecular memory," which contributes to the formation and preservation of lifelong memories. The researchers have identified a specific part of the ion channel at which…

Proteins regulating NMDA receptor function offer hope for targeted autism therapies

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-proteins-nmda-receptor-function-autism.html

Published: May 19, 2025 12:41

A research team has identified a molecular mechanism that coordinates the operation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor, which is key to regulating excitatory synapse function in the brain. This achievement paves the way for the precise…

Brain inflammation linked to repetitive behaviors in autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-brain-inflammation-linked-repetitive-behaviors.html

Published: May 19, 2025 12:34

A research team has unveiled the cause and molecular mechanism of chronic brain inflammation that results in repetitive behavioral disorders. The research team demonstrated that an inflammatory response by immune cells in the brain induces overactivity in…

Video: New film shows the hidden impact of climate change on brain health

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-video-hidden-impact-climate-brain.html

Published: May 19, 2025 12:10

A powerful new short film sheds light on the urgent need to address the impact of climate change on brain health.

Experimental painkiller could outsmart opioids—without the high

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-experimental-painkiller-outsmart-opioids-high.html

Published: May 19, 2025 11:00

An experimental drug developed at Duke University School of Medicine could offer powerful pain relief without the dangerous side effects of opioids.

Why your migraine might be making you crave a large Coke and fries

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-migraine-crave-large-coke-fries.html

Published: May 19, 2025 10:05

Whether it's one or two coffees to get us going in the morning or a bar of chocolate after a stressful day, many of us self-medicate when we're tired, stressed or sad. But when we have a headache, most of us head straight for the painkillers.

Oveporexton shows promise in improving wakefulness in narcolepsy type 1

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-oveporexton-narcolepsy.html

Published: May 19, 2025 09:24

Research led by Gui de Chauliac Hospital in Montpellier, France, and the University of Bologna in Italy reports that oveporexton improves wakefulness and reduces cataplexy episodes in patients with narcolepsy type 1. Findings suggest a potential…

On the sidelines no more: New research shows astrocytes are active players in neuromodulation

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-sidelines-astrocytes-players-neuromodulation.html

Published: May 18, 2025 11:30

Once thought to play a supporting function in the brain, new research published in Science shows non-neuronal astroglial cells perform a leading role in regulating the activity of neurons and their connections.

Glial cells may play key role in managing sleep and metabolism, fruit fly study suggests

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-glial-cells-play-key-role.html

Published: May 18, 2025 09:40

Homeostasis is the ability of living organisms to maintain stable internal conditions, such as temperature, hydration and blood sugar levels, irrespective of any changes in their surroundings. Homeostatic mechanisms also regulate behaviors that are central…

Matching mindfulness methods to anxiety symptoms may boost mental well-being, study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-mindfulness-methods-anxiety-symptoms-boost.html

Published: May 18, 2025 06:12

If you're anxious about work, finances, the state of the world, or anything else, you might try a moment of mindfulness. Paying close attention to the present moment without judgment—the basic idea behind all mindfulness techniques—can help calm anxiety…

Dopamine and noradrenaline linked to hippocampal activation during light exercise

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-dopamine-noradrenaline-linked-hippocampal.html

Published: May 17, 2025 12:30

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba investigated whether monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, are involved in hippocampal activation even during light exercise. Dopamine secreted from the ventral tegmental area of the brainstem and…

Psychological treatment linked to physical brain changes that ease chronic pain

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-psychological-treatment-linked-physical-brain.html

Published: May 16, 2025 13:12

Back pain, migraines, arthritis, long-term concussion symptoms, complications following cancer treatment—these are just a few of the conditions linked to chronic pain, which affects 1 in 5 adults and for which medication is not always the answer.

Movement disorders tremor and myoclonus can be well distinguished using machine learning

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-movement-disorders-tremor-myoclonus-distinguished.html

Published: May 16, 2025 12:25

In a pioneering study from the Expertise Center for Movement Disorders in Groningen, machine learning, a core area of artificial intelligence (AI), was successfully used for the first time to distinguish different types of movement disorders from each…

New discovery about how acetaminophen works could improve understanding about pain relievers

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-discovery-acetaminophen-pain-relievers.html

Published: May 16, 2025 11:41

A new study from Indiana University scientists may aid the pharmaceutical industry in better understanding a popular over-the-counter pain reliever: Tylenol.

Fruit fly study links Alzheimer's proteins to widespread organ changes and sensory decline

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-fruit-fly-links-alzheimer-proteins.html

Published: May 16, 2025 11:09

While Alzheimer's disease is mostly considered a disorder of the brain, emerging evidence suggests that the condition also affects other organs of the body. Working with the laboratory fruit fly, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the Jan and Dan…

Vitamin B1 derivative enhances wakefulness, study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-vitamin-b1-derivative.html

Published: May 16, 2025 10:23

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have found that thiamine (vitamin B1) tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD), a common thiamine derivative, can induce arousal. TTFD is chemically modified to improve tissue penetration and absorption and is recognized…

Study links inflammation to reduced motivation and brain circuit changes in schizophrenia

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-links-inflammation-brain-circuit-schizophrenia.html

Published: May 16, 2025 09:27

A new study from Emory University has identified a biological connection between inflammation and deficits in motivation in individuals with schizophrenia, offering new hope for treating symptoms that have long been resistant to existing therapies.

How do middle-aged folks get dementia? These proteins provide a clue

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-middle-aged-folks-dementia-proteins.html

Published: May 16, 2025 05:00

Dementia usually affects older people, so when it occurs in middle age, it can be hard to recognize. The most common form is frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which is often mistaken for depression, schizophrenia, or Parkinson's disease before the correct…

Can the brain be targeted to treat type 2 diabetes?

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-brain-diabetes.html

Published: May 15, 2025 17:22

Successfully treating type 2 diabetes may involve focusing on brain neurons, rather than simply concentrating on obesity or insulin resistance, according to a study published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

An overlooked cell type orchestrates brain rewiring during states of heightened attention

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-overlooked-cell-orchestrates-brain-rewiring.html

Published: May 15, 2025 17:15

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have upended the decades-old dogma of how connections between brain cells are rearranged during states of heightened vigilance or attention. The team found that a brain chemical…

A key neural pathway reveals how the brain forms fear memories from psychological threats

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-key-neural-pathway-reveals-brain.html

Published: May 15, 2025 16:49

Fear memories can form in the brain following exposure to threatening situations such as natural disasters, accidents, or violence. When these memories become excessive or distorted, they can lead to severe mental health disorders, including post-traumatic…

Study reveals impact of oft-overlooked cell in brain function

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-reveals-impact-oft-overlooked-cell.html

Published: May 15, 2025 14:00

An often-ignored type of cell in the brain plays a dynamic and surprisingly complex role in our ability to process information, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University.

Scientists find two brain biomarkers in long COVID sufferers that may be causing cognitive issues

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-scientists-brain-biomarkers-covid-cognitive.html

Published: May 15, 2025 14:00

A new study that is the first to compare inflammation and brain stress responses in long COVID-19 patients with individuals who have fully recovered shows that those with continued brain fog and other cognitive issues have a lower ability to adapt to…

Researchers uncover how the brain's different cells react to threats and social opportunities

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-uncover-brain-cells-react-threats.html

Published: May 15, 2025 13:29

Scientists at McMaster University have uncovered new insights into the complex interactions between different kinds of brain cells and their responses to social and stress stimuli.

Study finds that patients with glioblastoma who received gabapentin lived longer

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-patients-glioblastoma-gabapentin-longer.html

Published: May 15, 2025 13:27

A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham suggests that gabapentin, a relatively common anti-seizure/pain medication, is linked to improved survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM)—the most common and deadly form of brain cancer in adults.…

Deep brain regions link all senses to consciousness, study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-deep-brain-regions-link-consciousness.html

Published: May 15, 2025 13:26

A Yale-led study shows that the senses stimulate a region of the brain that controls consciousness—a finding that might inform treatment for disorders related to attention, arousal, and more.

Updated seizure classification for epilepsy aims for simplicity and inclusion

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-seizure-classification-epilepsy-aims-simplicity.html

Published: May 15, 2025 13:23

The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) has updated the operational classification of epileptic seizures, building upon the framework published in 2017 to establish a common language for all health care professionals involved in epilepsy care.

Well-designed gardens promote relaxation by guiding rapid eye movements, study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-gardens-rapid-eye-movements.html

Published: May 15, 2025 11:13

When was the last time you sat in a garden and simply let your gaze wander? Observation gardens are built especially for this purpose, but can also fulfill other functions, such as providing aid for meditation.

Focused ultrasound halts growth of debilitating brain lesions in early testing

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-focused-ultrasound-halts-growth-debilitating.html

Published: May 15, 2025 11:09

A new, incision-free technique developed at UVA Health to treat debilitating brain lesions called cerebral cavernous malformations, or cavernomas, has shown great promise in early testing, halting the growth of the lesions almost entirely.

Research reveals how the brain's 'dimmer switch' fine-tunes arousal and attention

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-reveals-brain-dimmer-fine-tunes.html

Published: May 15, 2025 09:48

A small cluster of cells deep within our brains, called the locus coeruleus, affects how awake and attentive we are, how we respond to stress, how we cope with anxiety and fear, and how we create memories and learn.

Post-sepsis syndrome: When the body recovers but the brain doesn't

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-sepsis-syndrome-body-recovers-brain.html

Published: May 15, 2025 09:26

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition triggered by the body's extreme response to infection. It causes widespread inflammation, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.

Marfan syndrome linked to increased brain inflammation and neurological risk

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-marfan-syndrome-linked-brain-inflammation.html

Published: May 15, 2025 09:23

A study by the Institut de Neurociències of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (INc-UAB) reveals that inflammation associated with Marfan syndrome increases vulnerability to neurological diseases and complications following strokes, as demonstrated in…

Research suggests reading can help combat loneliness and boost the brain

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-combat-loneliness-boost-brain.html

Published: May 15, 2025 09:08

Loneliness has become such a widespread problem that Silicon Valley billionaires are now highlighting it to market AI companions, with Mark Zuckerberg recently stating "the average American has fewer than three friends."

How hunger pangs push back the onset of puberty in mice

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-hunger-pangs-onset-puberty-mice.html

Published: May 15, 2025 08:26

The neural circuit responsible for delaying the onset of puberty in underfed mice has been discovered in a study by neuroscientists at RIKEN. The same circuit is expected to play a similar role in humans too.

Ajovy clinical trial shows little improvement over placebo in migraine and depression

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-ajovy-clinical-trial-placebo-migraine.html

Published: May 15, 2025 06:55

Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Teva Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with multiple international institutions, report findings on the efficacy of fremanezumab (sold as Ajovy by Teva) in reducing migraine frequency and depressive symptoms among…

Psilocybin better preserves depressed patients' emotional response to music than standard drug, study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-psilocybin-depressed-patients-emotional-response.html

Published: May 15, 2025 06:30

Depression is among the most widespread mental health disorders worldwide, typically characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, a lack of interest in daily activities and dysregulated sleep and/or eating habits. There are now a wide range of…

Brain scans reveal what happens in the mind when insight strikes

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-brain-scans-reveal-mind-insight.html

Published: May 14, 2025 17:20

Have you ever been stuck on a problem, puzzling over something for what felt like ages without getting anywhere, but then suddenly the answer came to you like a bolt from the blue?

Could a mini-stroke leave lasting fatigue?

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-mini-fatigue.html

Published: May 14, 2025 16:00

A transient ischemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke, is typically defined as a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes symptoms that go away within a day, but a new study finds that people who have this type of stroke may also have…

Famous film helps reveal brain region biased towards drug cues in individuals with heroin use disorder

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-famous-reveal-brain-region-biased.html

Published: May 14, 2025 15:08

Mount Sinai researchers have found that a brain region that is implicated extensively in value-based decision-making and craving in people with heroin use disorder—known as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)—shows synchronized responses biased toward drug…

Air pollution may increase epilepsy risk

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-air-pollution-epilepsy.html

Published: May 14, 2025 14:26

A new study reveals that air pollution may contribute to the development of epilepsy, a brain condition that causes seizures.

Real-time imaging shows how neuron energy balance changes during stroke-like conditions

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-real-imaging-neuron-energy-conditions.html

Published: May 14, 2025 11:59

A research team at the Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology at Leipzig University has, for the first time, demonstrated how the energy levels of individual neurons in the brain change during so-called spreading depolarizations—waves of activity that occur…

The key to spotting dyslexia early could be AI-powered handwriting analysis

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-key-dyslexia-early-ai-powered.html

Published: May 14, 2025 11:48

A new University at Buffalo–led study outlines how artificial intelligence–powered handwriting analysis may serve as an early detection tool for dyslexia and dysgraphia among young children.

Speaking more than one language can add layers to stroke recovery

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-language-layers-recovery.html

Published: May 14, 2025 11:30

You might not put a lot of thought into what it takes to speak, but speaking keeps your brain busy. In every conversation, multiple regions activate to process sounds, give words meaning and control the muscles that move your mouth.

Reversible method breaks brain circuits with molecular precision

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-reversible-method-brain-circuits-molecular.html

Published: May 14, 2025 11:08

Scientists have developed a powerful new method for selectively and reversibly breaking connections between brain cells—a leap forward that could transform how we study brain processes and, one day, how we treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy,…

Neuroscientists reveal insights into how the brain forms habits and why they are so hard to break

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-neuroscientists-reveal-insights-brain-habits.html

Published: May 14, 2025 11:00

Neuroscientists at the Sainsbury Wellcome Center (SWC) at UCL have discovered that the brain uses a dual system for learning through trial and error. This is the first time a second learning system has been identified, which could help explain how habits…

How the brain allows us to infer emotions

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-brain-infer-emotions.html

Published: May 14, 2025 11:00

Xiaowei Gu and Joshua Johansen at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan have discovered key circuitry in the rat brain that allows the learning of inferred emotions. The study reveals how the frontal part of the brain coordinates with the amygdala—a…

Experts highlight key steps to reduce stroke risk during awareness month

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-experts-highlight-key-awareness-month.html

Published: May 14, 2025 10:50

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and as part of everyday awareness, Mayo Clinic health care professionals suggest reducing stroke risk and knowing the signs. A stroke happens every 40 seconds in the U.S., and the likelihood of stroke increases with…

Long working hours may alter brain structure, preliminary findings suggest

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-hours-brain-preliminary.html

Published: May 13, 2025 18:30

Long working hours may alter the structure of the brain, particularly the areas associated with emotional regulation and executive function, such as working memory and problem solving, suggest the findings of preliminary research, published online in…

Psychedelics may induce right-brain dominance, researcher proposes

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-psychedelics-brain-dominance.html

Published: May 13, 2025 16:18

The secret to psychedelic drugs' links to greater empathy and insight may lie in their ability to coax the right hemisphere of the brain into a position of dominance over the left, according to a proposed new theory.

Sex-based brain differences: Structure of a single neuron in C. elegans provides new insights

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-sex-based-brain-differences-neuron.html

Published: May 13, 2025 15:39

Is there a difference in brain structure between men and women? If we were to find such a difference in a single neuron, would it matter?

Mouse memory hinges on a nine-letter protein fragment exclusive to neurons

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-mouse-memory-hinges-letter-protein.html

Published: May 13, 2025 15:36

Cells have a trick called splicing. They can cut a gene's message into pieces and decide which fragments to keep. By mixing and matching these fragments, a single gene can produce many different proteins, giving tissues and organs more options to thrive…

Hormone cycles shape the structure and function of key memory regions in the brain, researchers find

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-hormone-function-key-memory-regions.html

Published: May 13, 2025 14:49

Hormone levels fluctuate like the tides, ebbing and flowing according to carefully orchestrated cycles. These hormones not only influence the body, but can cross into the brain and shape the behavior of our neurons and cognitive processes.

Mapping the brain's naming network: New insights into how people retrieve words during speech

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-brain-network-insights-people-words.html

Published: May 13, 2025 12:22

How are we able to recall a word we want to say? This basic ability, called word retrieval, is often compromised in patients with brain damage. Interestingly, many patients who can name words they see, like identifying a pet in the room as a "cat,"…

ALS drug testing in patient-derived cells provides personalized window into nervous system

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-als-drug-patient-derived-cells.html

Published: May 13, 2025 11:45

Unlike other pathologies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cannot be reproduced accurately in animal models, complicating the development of effective drugs. Faced with this challenge, a group of researchers from IMDEA Nanociencia Institute (Madrid),…

Can AI help prevent the next stroke? Study uses brain scans to detect hidden heart risk

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-ai-brain-scans-hidden-heart.html

Published: May 13, 2025 11:21

A study recently published in the journal Cerebrovascular Diseases shows that artificial intelligence (AI) may help physicians detect a common, but often hidden, cause of stroke by analyzing brain scans. The technology could make stroke care faster, more…

Distinct neuron populations in the hypothalamus encode states associated with predator-related threats

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-distinct-neuron-populations-hypothalamus-encode.html

Published: May 13, 2025 06:30

The ability to detect imminent threats and execute behaviors aimed at protecting oneself, such as hiding, running away or defending oneself, is central to the survival of most animal species. A region of the mammalian brain known to play a key role in…