Summary: A study has shown that folic acid supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the link between maternal blood lead levels and autistic-like behaviors in children. By examining data from pregnant women and their toddlers, researchers found stronger associations between lead exposure and autism traits in cases of low folic acid...
Cannabis leaves DNA with Atomic Marks that Can Be Used to Define Illness
Summary: Frequent use of high-potency cannabis leaves unique molecular marks on DNA, particularly affecting genes related to energy and immune function. Researchers found that DNA methylation—an epigenetic modification—differed between frequent cannabis users who had experienced psychosis and those who had not, suggesting a possible genetic link to psychosis risk.This discovery...
New Tech Boosts Precision in Hand Neuroprostheses
Summary: Scientists have developed a novel approach to improve neuroprostheses, making them more precise and practical for everyday tasks. By analyzing neural signals linked to hand postures, researchers demonstrated enhanced control of virtual hands in rhesus monkeys, closely mimicking fine motor skills.This study suggests that hand postures, rather than movement...
In blood, chemical mixes produce additional toxic effects
Summary: A new study has found that even low concentrations of chemicals, when mixed, can have cumulative neurotoxic effects on human cells. Using blood samples from a cohort of pregnant women, researchers identified and analyzed the presence of over 300 chemicals.Testing these chemical mixtures revealed that they could impact nerve-like...
Post-Spinal Cord Injury: Neurons Post-Spinal Cord Injury: Microglia Found to Protect Synapses
Summary: Researchers discovered a neuroprotective mechanism in spinal cord injury (SCI) involving microglia, the brain’s immune cells, which could provide new therapeutic targets. Using advanced in vivo imaging, the team revealed that microglia form protective wraps around injured axons, preventing further damage.This interaction, regulated by P2Y12 receptors and sodium channels,...
Folks Communicate with Bullied AI Bots
Summary: People empathize with AI bots excluded from a virtual game, treating them like social beings in need of fairness. Participants favored giving the AI bot a fair chance in play, with older adults showing a stronger inclination to rectify the perceived unfairness.The researchers suggest that human-like traits in AI...
SUMO Proteins Cause Brain Stem Cell Stimulation for Restoration
Summary: SUMO proteins play a key role in activating dormant neural stem cells, vital for brain repair and regeneration. This finding, centered on a process called SUMOylation, reveals how neural stem cells can be “woken up” to aid in brain recovery, offering potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.SUMO proteins regulate neural...
” Brain on Fire”: When Antibodies Attack the Mind
Summary: Anti-NMDAR encephalitis, a rare autoimmune disease, can cause extreme psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, and memory loss, often mimicking bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. This condition, often affecting women in their 20s to 30s, results from antibodies attacking brain receptors essential for cognition and memory.New research reveals varying antibody...
Genetics and Youth Mental Health: Impacts on Youth Behavior and Health
Summary: Researchers have used an innovative approach to explore genetic links to mental health issues in youth, identifying associations with behaviors such as screen time and caffeine consumption. By focusing on polygenic scores that reflect genetic predispositions, the study highlights a range of potentially modifiable factors that may contribute to...
