Learn about brain health and nootropics to boost brain function
Key Brain Cell Mechanism Tied to Sensory Selectivity Discovered
Summary: Neuroscientists have discovered how the CP-AMPA receptor in brain cells influences neuron selectivity in response to sensory stimuli. This receptor type makes neurons less selective, which may help explain certain brain disorders like autism and epilepsy. By manipulating these receptors in mice, researchers…
Top 6 Natural Ways to Improve Memory
If you’re relatively young and healthy, improving your memory may not be the health goal you’re currently most focused on. However, memory impairment is an issue that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Considering that memory is tied to many other brain functions and serves as…
Exploring the effect of low sodium concentrations on brain microglial cells
In a new study, scientists investigated the impact of low sodium concentrations and its rapid correction on nitric oxide production dependent on expression of Nfat5 in microglial cells. Credit: Yoshihisa Sugimura from Fujita Health University Low serum sodium concentrations in the blood are called…
Research suggests neurons protect and preserve certain information through a dedicated zone of stable synapses
A layer 5 pyramidal neuron imaged in vivo with two-photon microscopy. The oblique dendritic domain (pink) contains stable synapses, and the basal dendritic domain (blue) contains plastic synapses. The cell body and part of the dendritic trunk are white. Credit: Courtney Yaeger and Mark…
Alzheimer’s Breakthrough: New Drug Shows Promise in Reversing Memory Loss and Cognitive Decline
Researchers at Auburn University have found that the drug troriluzole can intervene early in Alzheimer’s disease progression in mice, maintaining normal brain function and improving memory, signaling hope for effective treatment strategies. New research reveals a potential breakthrough in Alzheimer’s treatment, showing that the…
Novel Drug Shows Promise in Preventing Early Alzheimer’s Brain Changes
Summary: A recent study has shown that troriluzole can prevent early-stage brain changes in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. The research demonstrated that troriluzole reduces harmful glutamate levels, preserving memory and cognitive function. This breakthrough suggests that early intervention with troriluzole could slow…
Brain Scientists Finally Discover the Glue that Makes Memories Stick for a Lifetime
6 min read A long-running research endeavor reveals key chemical players that cement memories in place—and still more have yet to be discovered By Simon Makin Synapse Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library/Getty Images The persistence of memory is crucial to our sense of identity, and…
THC Could Protect Brain From Aging, Study Finds
Two senior girlfriends 83 years old smoke medicinal marijuana together. One of them shows the other A promising new study suggests that long-term, low-dose THC intake may protect the brain from aging, improve cognitive function in older age, and promote overall longevity. A group…
Low-dose THC reverses brain aging and enhances cognition in mice, research suggests
Abstract. Credit: ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00002, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00002 Bonn researchers have clarified the influence of treatment with tetrahydrocannabinol on the metabolic switch mTOR: A low-dose long-term administration of cannabis can not only reverse aging processes in the brain, but also has…
Synaptic Quality Key to Age Related Memory Preservation
Summary: A recent study reveals that the quality, not the quantity, of synapses in the brain is crucial for preserving memory in older adults. Researchers found that larger dendritic spine head diameters in the temporal cortex correlate with better episodic memory performance, challenging the…
Light and Sound Therapy Maintains Myelin in Alzheimer’s
Summary: A new study finds that 40Hz light and sound therapy helps maintain myelin, a crucial brain structure, in Alzheimer’s patients. This therapy, which protects neurons and supports brain function, could offer new treatment avenues for neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers discovered that this stimulation enhances…
Study reveals ways in which 40Hz sensory stimulation may preserve brain’s ‘white matter’
Early-stage trials in Alzheimer’s disease patients and studies in mouse models of the disease have suggested positive impacts on pathology and symptoms from exposure to light and sound presented at the “gamma” band frequency of 40 Hz. A new study zeroes in on how…
Study reveals ways in which 40Hz sensory stimulation may preserve brain’s ‘white matter’
by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Green staining indicates myelination in these mouse brain cross sections. The brain that received 40Hz light and sound stimulation (right) shows significantly more myelin in four brain regions (insets): the cortex (CTX), the anterior commissure (AC), the corpus callosum…
Epigenetics Unlocks Secrets of Memory Formation
Summary: A new study reveals that the epigenetic state of neurons determines their role in memory formation. Neurons with open chromatin states are more likely to be recruited into memory traces, showing higher electrical activity during learning. Researchers demonstrated that manipulating these epigenetic states…
One-dose nasal spray clears toxic Alzheimer’s proteins to improve memory
A nasal spray clears away toxic tau tangles and improves memory One dose of a new treatment, delivered by nasal spray, clears away build-ups of the toxic tau protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease from inside brain cells, improving memory, according to new research. It…
Neuropeptides, Not Neurotransmitters, Drive Brain’s Fear Response
Summary: Researchers have discovered that neuropeptides, not neurotransmitters, are the primary messengers in the brain’s fear circuit. This finding could lead to better painkillers and treatments for fear-related conditions. Using innovative tools, scientists observed neuropeptide release during fear responses in live mice. The study…
Are These Plant Molecules the Secret to Brain Health?
Key points Polyphenols, found in fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine, boost brain health and cognitive function. Flavonoids and phenolic acids are key polyphenol groups with diverse health benefits, including brain support. Polyphenols have anti-inflammatory, epigenetic and neuroprotective properties that may enhance brain vitality. Consuming…
Trying Harder Increases Cognitive Effort and Enhances Memory
Key points To successfully complete a hard task requires more cognitive effort. In visuomotor tasks, more cognitive effort enhances working memory allocation. Enhanced working memory allocation leads to improved recall and memory. “It just got too hard,” says Geena Davis as Dottie Hinson in…
Discovery of cellular mechanism to maintain brain’s energy could benefit late-life brain health
A key mechanism which detects when the brain needs an additional energy boost to support its activity has been identified in a study in mice and cells led by UCL scientists. The scientists say their findings, published in Nature , could inform new therapies…
New insights into brain energy metabolism may lead to neurodegenerative disease therapies
A key mechanism which detects when the brain needs an additional energy boost to support its activity has been identified in a study in mice and cells led by UCL scientists. The scientists say their findings, published in Nature , could inform new therapies…