Summary: A novel PET imaging study has identified unique patterns of neuroinflammation in patients with progressive apraxia of speech (PAOS), a rare disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to plan speech. Using TSPO PET scans, researchers found elevated inflammation in brain regions involved in movement and speech, particularly in patients...

Summary: A study analyzing over 300,000 births in Sweden found that babies born to mothers over 40—especially those aged 45 and older—face higher risks of complications at birth. These include stillbirth, premature delivery, low birth weight for gestational age, and neonatal low blood sugar.While serious complications remain rare overall, the...

Summary: A rare genetic mutation known as APOE3-R136S, or the “Christchurch mutation,” appears to protect against Alzheimer’s disease by suppressing inflammatory signaling in the brain’s immune cells. Researchers found that this mutation dampens the cGAS-STING pathway, a key innate immune mechanism that is abnormally activated in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative...

Summary: A newly developed PET radiotracer, ¹⁸F-PDE-1905, offers high-resolution imaging of neuroinflammation by targeting a key enzyme inside microglia, the brain’s immune cells. Unlike traditional tracers that target general downstream markers, this novel tracer hones in on PDE4B, a critical regulator of inflammatory signaling.In mouse models of Parkinson’s and multiple...

Summary: Displaced aggression—redirecting frustration onto an uninvolved target—has now been studied in mice, revealing that identity and social history play key roles in shaping aggressive behavior. Male mice primed by seeing a rival behind a barrier showed increased aggression only when the rival was unfamiliar or lacked a clear social...

Summary: New research reveals that the brain may be learning even during unstructured, aimless exploration. By recording activity in tens of thousands of neurons, scientists found that the visual cortex builds internal models of the environment, preparing the brain for future tasks.This unsupervised learning occurs without any instruction, helping animals...

Summary: Scientists have mapped the molecular structure of glutamate receptors in the cerebellum for the first time using cryo-electron microscopy. These receptors are critical to how neurons in the cerebellum communicate, affecting movement, balance, and cognition.By visualizing the receptors bound to proteins at synapses, researchers hope to inform future therapies...

Summary: A new theory suggests that the order of sleep phases—non-REM followed by REM—is essential for strengthening and organizing memories. In mouse studies and computational models, researchers found that non-REM sleep reinforces new memories, while REM sleep prunes overlapping or irrelevant ones, keeping them distinct.Reversing this cycle causes memory degradation,...

Summary: Summary: A new clinical trial found that cannabidiol (CBD) is safe and potentially helpful in reducing problematic behaviors in boys with severe autism. While broad behavioral measures showed no significant differences from placebo, clinicians observed meaningful improvements in aggression, hyperactivity, and communication in many children taking CBD.Two-thirds of participants...

Summary: Music has long been used to aid memory in conditions like Alzheimer’s, but how it works on the brain has remained unclear. A new study finds that the emotional intensity a person feels when listening to music determines which aspects of a memory are strengthened.Stronger emotional reactions enhanced memory...