Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke, epilepsy and the search for new treatments.
Neuroscience News
Does Alzheimer's start outside the brain? Gladstone Institutes researchers mapped the first atlas of 92 blood proteins that cross the blood-brain barrier, discovering that the barrier shuts down the import of protective liver proteins before it ever begins leaking toxins.
Brain disorders
Neuroscience News
Why does brain volume loss in multiple sclerosis follow distinct patterns? An MRI study of 2,187 patients reveals that atrophy originates in metabolically exhausted network hubs—including the thalamus and sensorimotor cortices—spreading outward along structural connections.
Mental health
Neuroscience News
When sleep invades wakefulness: An EEG study of 84 Parkinson’s patients reveals that sleep-like slow brain waves intrude into daytime consciousness, directly tracking with hallucinations and cognitive decline while offering a potential prodromal biomarker.
Sleep and dreams
Neuroscience News
Meet the brain's trash compactor: UVA Health researchers discovered that the CASS4 risk gene directs microglia to tightly pack and contain toxic amyloid plaques, proving Alzheimer's risk operates directly through immune defenses rather than neurons.
Brain disorders
Neuroscience News
Can an infection in youth seed Alzheimer's in old age? FAU and TUM scientists investigate a "cellular long-term memory" in neurons and microglia, where damaged long-lived RNA molecules leave brain cells primed for neurodegenerative collapse.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
A surprising discovery suggests that some early signs of Alzheimer’s disease may begin outside the brain. Using miniature laboratory systems made from human cells, scientists found that genetic mutations associated with inherited Alzheimer’s can disrupt nerve-to-muscle connections without any involvement from the brain or spinal cord. This could help explain why some patients experience changes in balance, walking…
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
Drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily was linked to a dramatically lower risk of dementia and better cognitive functioning in a study spanning up to 43 years. The benefits appeared regardless of genetic risk, but decaffeinated coffee did not show the same association.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
A surprising new study suggests that an anti-aging drug could help protect people genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that just four weeks of low-dose rapamycin improved brain blood flow in healthy middle-aged adults carrying the high-risk APOE4 gene variant, with women showing the strongest benefits. Because declining blood flow can occur years before Alzheimer's symptoms appear, the…
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
Scientists have uncovered a surprising link between Alzheimer’s-related protein buildup, disrupted brain waves during deep sleep, and fading memory. The findings suggest that hidden changes in how the brain processes memories overnight may contribute to age-related memory loss long before Alzheimer’s symptoms appear.
Memory and learning
ScienceDaily
Scientists have discovered that a drug originally developed for spinal cord injuries can tackle several key features of Alzheimer’s disease, including DNA damage and inflammation. Already tested for initial safety in humans, the experimental treatment could offer a faster path toward therapies that target the disease at its roots.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
A surprising discovery suggests that rejuvenating the liver could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease. USC researchers found that an experimental drug restored aging liver cells in rats, cutting levels of an Alzheimer’s-linked protein in half and bringing bad cholesterol down to youthful levels. The treatment also revived a previously unknown communication system that helps liver cells remove…
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
A UCLA study found that long-term exposure to a common pesticide was linked to more than 2.5 times the risk of Parkinson's disease. Scientists also uncovered how the chemical damages brain cells and identified a promising way to protect them.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
A major international study found that a simple blood test could help predict Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline years before symptoms appear, with the highest-risk individuals facing a 38% chance of impairment within five years and an estimated 78% chance within 10 years. Scientists believe the discovery could pave the way for earlier intervention and future treatments designed to prevent Alzheimer’s before…
Brain disorders
MIT News
MIT researchers showed that the APOE4 gene variant suppresses molecular signaling needed for oligodendrocytes to myelinate neurons and also demonstrated a proof-of-concept fix.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
Why do some people stay mentally sharp even when their brains show signs of Alzheimer’s disease? Scientists in the Netherlands may have uncovered an important clue hidden in a rare group of immature brain cells. Researchers discovered that these cells remain present even in people over 80, but their behavior differs dramatically between those who develop dementia and those who remain cognitively healthy.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
Scientists discovered that the thick, sticky fluid surrounding glioblastoma tumors can make brain cancer cells smaller, more flexible, and better at invading surrounding tissue. Even more troubling, some of these changes persist after the cells leave the thick fluid, revealing a previously overlooked mechanism that could help this deadly cancer spread.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
A seven-year study found that people with Parkinson’s disease who were more physically active experienced slower declines in memory, thinking, and movement abilities. Those exercising more than eight hours per week showed almost no average cognitive decline, suggesting that staying active may offer important benefits as the disease progresses.
Memory and learning
ScienceDaily
Scientists have found a promising way to protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related damage by blocking immune cells that contribute to the destruction of neurons. In mice, the treatment preserved roughly 40% more tissue in memory centers and improved memory, even without removing harmful tau protein buildup.
Memory and learning
MIT News
In six talks, researchers from across MIT described projects aimed at advancing the understanding of and interventions against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
Scientists have discovered why some people with a high genetic risk of Alzheimer’s remain mentally sharp into their 80s, uncovering a rare mutation that protects the brain from harmful protein buildup. The findings reveal a potential new way to prevent early brain damage and could pave the way for treatments that mimic this natural defense.
Brain disorders
