Genetic Variant in ITSN1 Linked to Higher Parkinson’s and ASD Risk

Summary: A new study has identified genetic variants in the ITSN1 gene that significantly increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Researchers analyzed nearly 500,000 genetic profiles and found that…

Alzheimer’s Study Identifies 16 Risk Genes

Summary: A large whole-genome sequencing study has uncovered 16 new genes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, expanding genetic research beyond European ancestry. Researchers analyzed data from 49,149 individuals, nearly half of…

Brain Bleeds Double Dementia Risk

Summary: Researchers have found that intracranial hemorrhages, or “brain bleeds,” double the risk of developing dementia later in life. While ischemic strokes caused by blood clots have long been linked…

Imaging Reveals Gut-Brain Connection in Alzheimer’s Disease

Summary: Scientists have used advanced X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) to uncover how gut health may influence Alzheimer’s disease. The study found structural changes in the gut of Alzheimer’s-affected mice, revealing…

Long COVID Impairs Exercise Capacity and Cognition for Years

Summary: A study of nearly 1,000 people with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) revealed that two-thirds still experienced significant symptoms, including reduced exercise capacity and cognitive performance, two years after infection. Persistent…

Red Light Therapy May Reduce Deadly Blood Clots

Summary: Exposure to long-wavelength red light significantly reduced blood clot formation in both mice and human studies. Red light was associated with lower inflammation, reduced immune system activation, and fewer…

Men Are Three Times As Likely to Die From Brain Injuries

Summary: A 2021 analysis of U.S. mortality data highlights disparities in traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related deaths, which disproportionately affect older adults, men, and certain racial and ethnic groups. Suicides remain…

Structural Sexism Tied to Faster Memory Decline in Older Women

Summary: Women born in states with higher structural sexism experience faster memory decline later in life, with effects equivalent to nine years of cognitive aging. Structural sexism encompasses societal inequities…

Empathy Loss in Dementia Linked to Brain Activity Changes

Summary: Frontotemporal dementia, affecting about 3% of dementia patients in Sweden, is characterized by a loss of empathy that challenges patients and their families. Using functional MRI, researchers found that…

Spike Protein Lingers in Brain, Fuels Long COVID

Summary: A new study reveals that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein remains in brain-protective tissues and skull bone marrow for years after infection, potentially driving long COVID’s neurological symptoms. Using advanced…