Scientists show gut bacteria can reach the brain in mice and reveal a potential vagus nerve pathway

A new mouse study reveals that under certain dietary conditions, gut bacteria can reach the brain without entering the bloodstream, suggesting a possible vagus nerve route and raising new questions about the gut–brain connection. Study: Translocation of bacteria from the gut to the brain in mice. Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / Shutterstock In a … Read more

Exercise during chemotherapy supports physical and cognitive health

Researchers recommended a tailored, scientifically validated exercise program to individuals receiving chemotherapy for cancer, and those who were on a two-week chemotherapy schedule and followed the exercise prescription were able to maintain their walking-step goals, use resistance bands, and stay mentally sharper compared to patients who did not exercise. Led by Karen Mustian, PhD, MPH, … Read more

Gene mutation that aids high-altitude survival could repair myelin sheath damage

A genetic mutation that helps animals like yaks and Tibetan antelopes survive at high altitudes may hold the key to repairing nerve damage in conditions such as cerebral paralysis and multiple sclerosis (MS). The finding, publishing March 13 in the Cell Press journal Neuron, reveals a naturally existing pathway that promotes regeneration after nerve damage and could open new doors for treating diseases like MS by leveraging molecules that are already present in the human body.  … Read more

Stress hormones disrupt the internal GPS system of the brain

Persons under stress may have a harder time spatially orienting themselves. Researchers in Bochum have discovered why. The stress hormone cortisol disrupts the brain’s navigational system. It impairs the function of the grid cells that play a crucial role in orientation. This has been verified by researchers from Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, in an imaging … Read more

Robot-assisted system found to be feasible for diagnostic cerebral angiography

Digital subtraction angiography remains the gold standard for diagnosing cerebrovascular diseases, including intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and arterial stenosis. However, the procedure requires operators to work under fluoroscopic guidance, resulting in prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation. To address this issue, vascular interventional robotic systems have been developed to allow operators to perform procedures remotely from … Read more

Doctors warn of a deadly complication from measles outbreaks

The first sign came when Deepanwita Dasgupta was 5 and started stumbling more while playing at her home in Bangalore in southern India. The girl was always up to something, so her parents figured extra bumps and bruises were just symptoms of an active childhood. Maybe, they thought, it was ill-fitting shoes. Relatives described the … Read more

Iconeus expands U.S. presence to support growing adoption of fUS in preclinical brain imaging

Iconeus, a French neuroimaging company developing functional ultrasound (fUS) solutions for real-time brain activity imaging, today announced the creation of its U.S. entity, Iconeus Inc. – a key milestone in supporting the adoption of functional ultrasound in preclinical neuroscience research. The new U.S. presence will enable closer collaboration with American academic laboratories, research institutes, pharmaceutical … Read more

Study reveals racial differences in early Alzheimer’s brain changes

A team of researchers at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has identified important differences in how early Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes appear across racial and ethnic groups, underscoring the need for more inclusive approaches to studying and diagnosing the disease. … Read more

New study identifies specific brain cells most vulnerable to ALS and dementia

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) belong to a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases with overlapping symptoms, characterized by muscle wasting, paralysis, dementia, and other serious impairments. There are currently no effective treatments. Many patients have a common hallmark: A protein called TDP-43 clumps together in the neurons of the brain to form tiny … Read more

Study finds keto diet strengthens the brain against epilepsy

Published in The Lancet Neurology, a new review from the University of Colorado Anschutz in collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Center, offers the latest scientific explanations for why ketogenic diets reduce seizures in people with epilepsy. The paper brings together insights from both laboratory discoveries and real‑world patient outcomes, showing that ketogenic diets do far more … Read more