Summary: Researchers developed a new PET tracer capable of measuring synapse loss after spinal cord injury, offering insights into both spinal and brain changes. In rat models, the tracer revealed…
Tag: Neurology
Artificial Sweeteners Tied to Faster Cognitive Decline
Summary: A large study of nearly 13,000 adults found that consuming high levels of certain artificial sweeteners is linked to faster declines in memory and thinking over eight years. The…
New Drug Aims to Block Pain Without Addiction Risks
Summary: Chronic pain affects millions, but opioid medications bring high risks of dependence and side effects. Researchers have now pinpointed specific neurons in the amygdala that make pain feel unpleasant,…
Neuron Discovery Could Help Restore Breathing After Spinal Injuries
Summary: Scientists have discovered a specialized group of spinal cord interneurons that help regulate breathing when the body faces challenges like high carbon dioxide levels. Blocking these neurons impaired the…
When Gut Rhythms Over-Sync With the Brain, Mental Strain Rises
Summary: A large-scale study has found that unusually strong coordination between brain activity and the stomach’s slow, rhythmic waves may signal greater mental distress. Using fMRI and electrogastrography on more…
Tiny Brain Region Orchestrates How We Segment and Remember Life Events
Summary: Our memories don’t flow like a continuous stream—they’re divided into meaningful events, thanks to a tiny brain region called the locus coeruleus. New research shows this region acts like…
Study Challenges Link Between Football and Brain Protein Buildup
Summary: A new study questions whether playing youth football leads to harmful protein buildup in the brain. Researchers examined 174 donated brains, including former high school and college players, and…
Brain Criticality May Hold Key to Learning, Memory, and Alzheimer’s
Summary: New research proposes a unified theory of brain function based on criticality—a state where the brain teeters between order and chaos, allowing it to learn, adapt, and process information…
Pain Perception in Babies Develops in Stages After Birth
Summary: A new study shows that the networks responsible for processing pain in infants develop gradually, with emotional and cognitive pain responses maturing only after birth. Researchers scanned the brains…
