Summary: New research reveals how oxytocin profoundly influences social behavior and emotional responses in the brain. Animal models have shown how this hormone impacts social fear and how chronic stress or early life experiences shape behavioral patterns.These findings suggest oxytocin’s potential as a treatment for psychiatric conditions like social anxiety,...

Summary: Lithium, a drug widely used for bipolar disorder, may also treat autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to new research. The study found that lithium restored brain function and reduced behavioral symptoms in mice with Dyrk1a gene mutations, a known ASD risk factor.Administered during the juvenile period, lithium normalized brain...

Summary: Researchers have created a 3D atlas mapping brain regions that connect to V1 spinal interneurons, which shape motor output. By using a genetically modified rabies virus, they pinpointed connections from the brain to these diverse “switchboard operator” cells in the spinal cord.The atlas highlights how brain signals regulate movement...

Summary: A study reveals how brain cell interactions influence aging, showing that rare cell types either accelerate or slow brain aging. Neural stem cells provide a rejuvenating effect on neighboring cells, while T cells drive aging through inflammation. Researchers used advanced AI tools and a spatial single-cell atlas to map...

Summary: Women born in states with higher structural sexism experience faster memory decline later in life, with effects equivalent to nine years of cognitive aging. Structural sexism encompasses societal inequities like unequal labor force participation and underrepresentation in government, which create systemic barriers to health.The impact is particularly pronounced among...

Summary: Researchers have linked chronic intestinal infections caused by cytomegalovirus (HCMV) to a unique subtype of Alzheimer’s disease. The virus may travel from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve, altering immune responses and contributing to hallmark Alzheimer’s changes like amyloid plaques and tau tangles.While HCMV infection is...

Summary: Researchers used AI to analyze brain images from 70-year-olds, estimating their biological brain age and uncovering connections to lifestyle and health factors. Diabetes, inflammation, and high glucose levels were linked to older-looking brains, while regular exercise and healthy habits were associated with younger-looking brains.The study highlights the importance of...

Summary: A new study has revealed how brain circuits and neurotransmitters regulate meal initiation, offering insights into obesity management.Researchers identified serotonin neurons in the midbrain’s dorsal Raphe nucleus (DRN) as key players, inhibited by GABA and dopamine when hunger strikes. This inhibition lowers serotonin levels, triggering feeding behavior, while satiety...

Summary: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) disrupts cognitive flexibility, crucial for learning and adapting to change. New research reveals that chronic alcohol exposure alters the firing patterns of cholinergic interneurons (CINs), key neurons in the brain’s striatum that regulate dopamine and influence reward-driven learning.Normally, CINs fire in a burst-pause pattern vital...

Summary: A study highlights significant improvements in the physical and mental functioning of older adults in England compared to previous generations. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, researchers found that advancements in education, nutrition, sanitation, and medical care have likely contributed to better health outcomes.For instance, a...