Summary: A recent study found that vitamin D deficiency during childhood accelerates the aging of the thymus, a crucial organ in training immune cells. As the thymus ages, it becomes less effective at filtering out cells that could mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues, increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases...

Summary: Researchers developed an AI algorithm, ARC-SV, to detect complex structural variants in the human genome that previous methods missed. Analyzing over 4,000 genomes, researchers discovered thousands of complex variants, many affecting brain-related genes and linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.These variations, often located in regions critical to brain function,...

Summary: Researchers have created a 3D atlas of the developing mouse brain, offering a dynamic, high-resolution view of brain structures during embryonic and post-natal stages. This new tool allows scientists to explore how brain cells, such as GABAergic neurons linked to neurological disorders, emerge and interact during development.By integrating MRI...

Summary: A new study reveals that ancient viral DNA embedded in the human genome is associated with genetic risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers found specific human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) that influence susceptibility to these neurodegenerative diseases.By analyzing brain samples, they identified viral sequences linked...

Summary: A large-scale study identified 254 genetic variants that shape the volume of key brain regions responsible for memory, motor control, and behavior. Researchers analyzed DNA and brain scans from nearly 75,000 people, uncovering links between these variants and conditions like ADHD and Parkinson’s disease.The findings offer valuable insights into...

Summary: How parents and toddlers play together can predict children’s future social interactions. By observing over 120 mother-child pairs, researchers found that responsive and assertive behaviors during play were linked to better social competence with peers.Children whose mothers balanced sensitivity and responsiveness in play were more likely to show the...

Summary: A new study demonstrates that home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and effective method for treating depression. Participants in the study who used tDCS at home showed significant improvements in depressive symptoms compared to those in a control group.The treatment, which delivers a mild electrical current...

Summary: Fear memories initially form broad associations, but over time, they shift to become episodic memories tied to specific timelines. This process involves the hippocampus early on, with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex integrating the event sequence later.However, people with high anxiety may struggle with this integration, leading to persistent fear...