Researching the Brain

#JNeurosci: Cryan et al. used multiple mouse models to reveal that the essential circadian transcription factor Bmal1 is critical for dopamine signaling and motor learning. doi.org/10.1523/JNEURO…

Intermittent #ThetaBurst stimulation targeting the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex enhanced placebo-induced mood improvement by potentiating default mode network activity in adults with depressive symptoms. ja.ma/4nsTh0T

This study accords with previous work suggesting that dementia is a common outcome of schizophrenia and may arise from the illness itself. jamanetwork.com/journals/jamap…

Glucose and vascularization regulate OPC dynamics via ACLY-mediated acetyl-CoA production. High glucose boosts OPC proliferation and histone acetylation, while OL differentiation relies on alternative metabolic pathways. nature.com/articles/s4159…

Meta-analysis of 883 incident Parkinson’s patients shows prognosis is worse than thought: postural instability and dependency ~7.4 yrs, ~50% dementia by 10 yrs, ~55% dead by 12 yrs. Age, motor severity, cognition, and genetics predict outcomes. …mentdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/md…

Psychedelics show therapeutic promise, but mechanisms are unclear. A mega-analysis of 11 fMRI datasets found shared patterns: increased connectivity between brain networks and altered subcortical coupling, with variable within-network changes. nature.com/articles/s4159…

Fascinating video showing glutamate lighting up as it’s released in synapses, visualizing the neurotransmitters of the brain, made possible with the fluorescent indicator protein iGluSnFR3. 📽: Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics

Depression affects approximately a quarter of a billion people globally, of all ages and from all walks of life. A new Seminar provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology, diagnosis, & management of depression in adults: spkl.io/6019AAkWd

EEG study (92 people) shows mental experiences form 4 types that occur in both wakefulness and sleep. Brain dynamics—not sleep stage—shape content, supporting continuity between waking and sleeping states. cell.com/cell-reports/f…

Nervous and immune systems interact bidirectionally. Type 2 immune components influence neuronal function and behavior, while neurons regulate allergy-related responses. Understanding this crosstalk may enable therapies for neuro and immunologic diseases. science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

Astrocytes form selective, plastic gap junction networks linking brain regions, distinct from neurons. Using a new in vivo labeling method, these networks were mapped, showing regional specificity and reorganization after sensory deprivation. nature.com/articles/s4158…

Intranasal hiPSC-NSC EVs reduce neuroinflammation in AD mice by modulating microglia/astrocytes, lowering NLRP3/IFN-1 signaling, plaques, and p-tau, while preserving phagocytosis and improving cognition and mood. isevjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/je…

Social media is often seen as harmful to fitness and cognition, but certain content may enhance motor skills and learning. It could be a valuable educational tool, though optimal use and age effects require further longitudinal research. eneuro.org/content/13/3/E…

S-nitrosylation of STING at Cys148 links nitrosative stress to excessive interferon signaling and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease. Targeting this switch may modulate inflammation while preserving innate immune function. cell.com/cell-chemical-…

Plasma #proteomic signatures of preclinical #AlzheimersDisease in clinically unimpaired older adults Alexandra N. Trelle, Karly A. Cody, Tran T. Nguyen...Elizabeth C. Mormino @MorminoLab @StanfordMed @StanfordBrain #biomarkers link.springer.com/article/10.118…

#eNeuro: Hobby et al. use computational approaches to identify proteins in human brain tissue that may support how neurons communicate and function during Alzheimer's disease. doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO…

Using a mouse model of a human gain-of-function GABAA receptor mutation, McKenzie et al. show that increased channel function causes excessive inhibition between inhibitory neurons, weakening feed-forward inhibition and increasing cortical excitability. shorturl.at/r35J6

Ketamine rapidly boosts cAMP signaling by increasing PDE4 binding in rats and monkeys, suggesting this pathway—especially PDE4B inhibition—may underlie its fast antidepressant effects and represent a therapeutic target. nature.com/articles/s4139…

Among people sleeping under 8h, irregular sleep timing raised risk of major cardiac events. Variability in bedtime and sleep midpoint—not wake time—drove risk, highlighting consistent bedtimes as key for health. link.springer.com/article/10.118…

Brain metastases come from cancers spreading outside the brain. New therapies help some patients, but prognosis remains poor. Better treatments require understanding tumor genetics, signaling, metabolism, and microenvironment interactions. science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…