FDA Approves Adaptive DBS for Parkinson’s People

Summary: The FDA has approved adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS), a breakthrough therapy that adjusts in real time to Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Unlike traditional DBS, which delivers constant stimulation, aDBS monitors brain activity and responds with precise electric pulses to prevent stiffness and involuntary movements.Two approved algorithms target the subthalamic...

Mental development and mental health are impacted by negative childhood experiences.

Summary: A decade-long study reveals how childhood adversity alters brain development, increasing risks for mental health disorders and substance use. Researchers found that teens who experienced early adversity showed delayed cognitive control, with unusual brain activity in regions linked to self-regulation.Connectivity between key brain regions was a stronger predictor of...

Low-Normal B12 Levels Linked to Delayed Brain Processing

Summary: Even when within the normal range, lower levels of vitamin B12 may contribute to cognitive decline, according to a new study. Researchers found that older adults with lower biologically active B12 had slower cognitive processing and more white matter lesions, despite meeting current nutritional requirements.These findings suggest that the...

Schizophrenia-related biological mutations alter brain work

Summary: Researchers identified a rare genetic mutation in two schizophrenia patients that increased schizophrenia-related behaviors in mice. The mutation led to higher levels of glycine decarboxylase (GLDC), an enzyme that degrades glycine, reducing NMDA receptor activation.Mice with extra copies of the GLDC gene exhibited schizophrenia-like behaviors, confirming its role in...

Drugs for repurposed blood pressure does help with ADHD

Summary: A new study suggests that amlodipine, a widely used blood pressure medication, could help manage ADHD symptoms. Researchers tested five potential drugs in rats bred for ADHD-like behaviors, and only amlodipine significantly reduced hyperactivity. Follow-up studies in zebrafish showed that the drug also decreased impulsivity, confirming its effect on...

Tenacity and Threat Are Shaped by Pessimism and Optimism.

Summary: Researchers examined how optimism and pessimism influenced well-being and behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing data from a large-scale study of older adults, they found that optimism was linked to lower stress and greater resilience, while lower pessimism was associated with safer health behaviors.Optimistic individuals worried less, felt less...

Every Breath You Take Alters Your Way of Looking

Summary: Researchers have discovered that breathing affects pupil size, with the pupil being smallest during inhalation and largest during exhalation. This newly identified mechanism is independent of external stimuli and could influence vision by alternating between detail enhancement and object detection.Experiments involving over 200 participants confirmed the effect across various...

How the Brain Ignores Retractions to Maintain Focus

Summary: When focusing in noisy environments, the brain adjusts not by concentrating harder but by ignoring distractions that were previously disruptive. Researchers developed a neural network model showing that people fine-tune their attention based on past experiences with distractions. Unlike traditional models that study one task with a single distraction,...

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