Brain News & Research Breakthroughs - SciTechDaily

Scientists Uncover Hidden Mechanism Behind Opioid Addiction – Discovery Could Revolutionize Addiction Treatment

Medical University of South Carolina — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 08:21:50 +0000

Opioid receptors located in the dorsal peduncular nucleus uniquely contribute to the rewarding effects of opioids. Opioids, such as the widely prescribed painkiller oxycodone, are notorious for their high addiction potential. In 2022, opioid overdoses claimed the lives of nearly 85,000 people in the U.S., as reported by the Centers for Disease Control. Despite this, [...]

Scientists Uncover How Cocaine Tricks the Brain Into Feeling Good – Breakthrough Could Lead to New Substance Abuse Treatments

University of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 01:20:45 +0000

A new study reveals how cocaine interferes with the brain’s dopamine regulation by binding to the dopamine transporter, offering insights crucial for developing treatments for cocaine and other addictions. You’ve likely heard of dopamine, often referred to as the “feel-good hormone.” Drugs like cocaine trigger a spike in dopamine levels in the brain. Under normal [...]

Revolutionary Two-Photon Microscope Captures Brain Activity in Real-Time

Optica — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 14:00:33 +0000

Researchers have developed a revolutionary two-photon fluorescence microscope that captures neural activity at high speed and cellular resolution, offering unprecedented insights into brain function. This new approach, which images faster and with less harm to brain tissue than traditional methods, could transform our understanding of how neurons communicate in real-time, potentially leading to breakthroughs in [...]

The Real Cause of Alzheimer’s Might Not Be Amyloid: Groundbreaking Discovery Challenges Decades-Old Theories

Emory Health Sciences — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 12:20:24 +0000

New research from Emory University suggests that proteins accumulating around amyloid-beta deposits, rather than the deposits themselves, may play a crucial role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, offering new directions for treatment. Recent research from Emory University is prompting a reevaluation of current theories on the origins of Alzheimer’s disease, a major cause of [...]

Scientists Capture Thought in Stunning New Detail

Columbia University — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Recordings from thousands of neurons reveal how a person’s brain abstractly represents acts of reasoning. Researchers have identified how the brain forms cognitive maps during inferential reasoning by analyzing neurons in epilepsy patients. The hippocampus, traditionally linked to physical space mapping, also structures cognitive processes. This study highlights how experiential and verbal learning impact neural [...]

Decoding Visual Deceptions: How the Brain Predicts and Rewrites Reality

Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 15:00:39 +0000

Experience shapes neural connectivity: Our brain interprets visual information by combining what we see with what we already know. Researchers at the Champalimaud Foundation have uncovered how our brains blend visual stimuli with prior knowledge to enhance perception, a key process that could have implications for treating mental health disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Their [...]

Groundbreaking Study Identifies Universal Blueprint for Mammalian Brains

eLife — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 05:32:52 +0000

New research reveals that the cerebral cortex follows the same folding patterns across mammalian species, adhering to a universal fractal shape. Researchers have developed a novel method for describing the shape of the cerebral cortex, providing evidence that cortices across mammalian species exhibit a universal, fractal pattern. The study, published as a Reviewed Preprint in [...]

Rewiring the Aging Brain: Key Enzyme Could Be the Secret to Sharper Memory in Old Age

Penn State — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 21:31:39 +0000

Penn State researchers discovered that blocking the enzyme HDAC3 improves memory updating in older mice, potentially offering new treatment avenues for age-related cognitive decline and memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. As we age, occasional forgetfulness becomes more common. However, it’s not just about struggling to recall new information—older adults also find it challenging to [...]

Unveiling the Hidden Complexities of the Human Brain

Brian Doctrow, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 10:45:10 +0000

Researchers used high-resolution electron microscopy to image a small piece of human brain tissue, generating a 3D map of over 57,000 cells and nearly 150 million synapses. Their findings reveal intricate details about cell types and connections, highlighting the complexity of the brain and advancing the field of connectomics. Researchers generated a high-resolution map of [...]

Reviving Brain Circuits: UCLA Scientists Discover Memory-Restoring Molecule for Alzheimer’s Disease

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 08:28:25 +0000

UCLA researchers suggest that a compound could improve brain electrical rhythms and potentially treat schizophrenia and depression, pending human trials. In a recent study, UCLA Health researchers identified and synthesized a molecule that successfully restored cognitive functions in mice exhibiting Alzheimer’s disease symptoms by reactivating the brain’s memory circuitry. If this compound demonstrates similar effects [...]

Breakthrough Parkinson’s Treatment Enters Human Trials After Primate Success

University of Wisconsin-Madison — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 10:45:51 +0000

A clinical trial has begun to offer a new treatment to people with Parkinson’s disease, following a study by University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists. This study, conducted on non-human primates, confirmed that the therapeutic delivery method is safe and feasible. Parkinson’s disease damages neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, a brain chemical that transmits signals [...]

Age-Related Cognitive Decline Linked to Blood Vessel Health

Penn State — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 05:53:17 +0000

Researchers pinpoint regions in the mouse brain susceptible to blood vessel degeneration, shedding light on the link between vasculature and neurodegenerative diseases. Maintaining healthy blood vessels is important not only for heart health but also for brain health. According to a new study led by Penn State researchers, vascular well-being is crucial in addressing age-related [...]

Scientists Uncover Alarming Rise in Early-Onset Dementia

University of Eastern Finland — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 04:35:54 +0000

Recent research shows an unexpectedly high rate of early-onset dementia in adults under 65, with particularly significant findings for Alzheimer’s, challenging previous data on the condition’s prevalence. A recent extensive study conducted by the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Oulu, and Neurocenter Finland investigated early-onset dementia among the working-age population in Finland. This [...]

Dog Brains Decoded: New Study Challenges Old Beliefs

Hun-Ren Ökológiai Kutatóközpont — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 23:01:09 +0000

Researchers Garamszegi and Kolm have found that domestication isn’t the sole factor in reducing brain size in canids. By examining 25 species, they show that ecological adaptations like hibernation in raccoon dogs also play a crucial role, urging a reconsideration of domestication’s evolutionary impact. A recent study by László Zsolt Garamszegi from the Institute of Ecology and [...]

Melting Away Alzheimer’s: How Dopamine Dissolves Harmful Brain Plaques

RIKEN — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 18:00:37 +0000

Japanese researchers have discovered that dopamine treatment could alleviate Alzheimer’s symptoms by promoting the production of neprilysin, an enzyme that breaks down harmful brain plaques. This breakthrough in mice models offers potential for a new treatment approach if replicated in human trials, emphasizing the importance of dopamine in managing the disease and opening new avenues [...]

Unlocking Alzheimer’s Mysteries: Insights From Mapping 1.3 Million Brain Cells

University of Pittsburgh — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 23:39:36 +0000

Researchers created an annotated library of gene readouts from 1.3 million brain cortex cells, focusing on individuals with and without Alzheimer’s disease. This comprehensive atlas, intended to enhance molecular understanding of cognitive resilience and vulnerability, reveals potential strategies for inducing cognitive resilience artificially. Less than a decade ago, when Dr. Hansruedi Mathys launched an ambitious [...]

Time’s Secrets Unveiled: Study Challenges How We Perceive Time

Keyonna Summers, University of Nevada, Las Vegas — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 10:03:59 +0000

Our brain measures time by counting experiences, not by following a strict chronological order. A new study by a team of UNLV researchers suggests that there’s a lot of truth to the trope “time flies when you’re having fun.” In their study, recently published in the journal Current Biology, the researchers discovered that our perception [...]

New Research Reveals That Fish Oil Could Help Prevent Alzheimer’s in Certain High-Risk Individuals

Oregon Health & Science University — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:21:13 +0000

Clinical trial at OHSU demonstrates significant benefits for individuals with genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s. A clinical trial at Oregon Health & Science University indicates that fish oil supplements may benefit certain older adults who have a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease. The study was recently published in the journal JAMA Network Open. The results come [...]

Size Doesn’t Matter for Mammals With More Complex Brains, According to New Study

University of Bath — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 09:01:57 +0000

New research led by the University of Bath in the UK suggests that mammals with more advanced brain development tend to exhibit smaller size differences between males and females within the species. In many mammal species, males are often larger than females (or vice versa), a characteristic known as sexual size dimorphism (SSD). For instance, [...]

Young Adult Health Habits Linked to Midlife Cognitive Decline

University of California - San Francisco — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 10:08:34 +0000

A UCSF study reveals that higher inflammation levels in young adults are associated with poorer cognitive performance in midlife, underscoring the importance of lifestyle choices in reducing inflammation and preventing cognitive decline. Higher levels of inflammation in young adults, associated with factors like obesity, physical inactivity, chronic illness, stress, and smoking, are linked to decreased [...]

Alzheimer’s Imaging Breakthrough: Fluorescent Sensors Penetrate Blood-Brain Barrier

American Chemical Society — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:00:16 +0000

Researchers have developed a novel method for delivering fluorescent sensors across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to monitor neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which could significantly advance Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and treatment. The method involves encapsulating ATP aptamer sensors in exosomes, which are able to cross the BBB and provide real-time imaging of neurotransmitter levels. Initial [...]

Mayo Clinic AI Uncovers Hidden Brain Patterns to Spot Early Dementia

Mayo Clinic — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:01:56 +0000

Mayo Clinic researchers are using AI to improve the analysis of EEG tests, aiding early dementia detection. By analyzing brain wave patterns more precisely, AI reveals subtle signs of cognitive decline that experts may miss. This development, based on data from over 11,000 patients, shows potential for EEGs to become a more accessible diagnostic tool [...]

Is Consciousness Continuous? A New Study Challenges Old Notions

Ruhr-University Bochum — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 06:05:11 +0000

Researchers have long studied how consciousness forms in the brain. Professor Ekrem Dere proposes defining conscious phases via behavioral observations and learning curves, using sudden insights to identify conscious processing times. Consciousness varies by task, and studying these phases can reveal brain mechanisms through imaging. For generations, researchers have pondered the origins and mechanisms of [...]

Breathing Visualization Boosts Mental Health and Interoception

Reichman University — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 19:19:37 +0000

A new research study shows that enhancing interoception — the ability to perceive and interpret signals from within the body, such as breathing — by making them tangible improves internal balance. New research demonstrates how the external representation of physiological signals (interoception) can affect our perception of them and teach us how to improve them [...]