COVID Pandemic Hastened Brain Aging in Teens
.The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated brain maturation in adolescents, particularly girls, with their brains aging by an average of 4.2 years. The study links this acceleration to the stress of reduced…
How Propofol Disrupts Consciousness Pathways
Researchers have mapped how propofol, a widely used anesthetic, alters brain connectivity to induce unconsciousness. Using fMRI, they found that propofol disrupts connections in the thalamus, reducing complex information processing…
Unlocking the Brain’s “Neural Code” Could Lead to Superhuman AI
Researchers believe that cracking the brain's "neural code" could lead to AI surpassing human intelligence in capacity and speed. This neural code refers to how the brain processes sensory information…
Are Smokers Really Less Likely to Develop Parkinson’s?
Low doses of carbon monoxide, similar to levels experienced by smokers, can protect against neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease models. Researchers discovered that carbon monoxide reduced the accumulation of the Parkinson’s-associated…
Brain Activity in Craving Shown to Vary Rapidly
Researchers have developed a dynamic method to track rapid brain activity changes, especially related to craving. Unlike traditional neuroimaging, which captures only a snapshot of brain activity, this approach provides…
Tau Levels Predict Memory Loss in Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression varies based on the presence of tau and amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins in the brain. Patients with high levels of both tau and Aβ experience rapid memory…
Role of Serotonin Release in Depression Uncovered
Researchers developed a highly selective fluorescent probe to image serotonin in cells and animal models, shedding light on its role in depression. The study revealed that while serotonin levels in…
Upper GI Damage Linked to 76% Higher Parkinson’s Disease Risk
People with a history of upper gastrointestinal (GI) damage have a 76% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The research highlights how conditions like GERD, peptic ulcers, and NSAID use…
Robot Deception: Some Lies Accepted, Others Rejected
A new study examined how humans perceive different types of deception by robots, revealing that people accept some lies more than others. Researchers presented nearly 500 participants with scenarios where…
Neurodevelopmental Disruptions Behind Schizophrenia Cognitive Deficits
A recent review of genetic and population studies reveals that premorbid cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, such as lower IQ, are largely due to neurodevelopmental disruptions rather than inherited genetic variants…