Neuroscience

Researchers have uncovered a neural signal involving the TRPV4 molecule that tells the brain when scratching an itch has provided enough relief. Experiments in mice showed that without this signal, scratching episodes become prolonged even as overall frequency drops.

8 Mwezi wa tano, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

A new study shows that slowing breathing rates can reduce anxiety-like behaviors even without any conscious effort or belief in its effects. Researchers used mice to demonstrate that the benefits come from physiological changes rather than placebo. The findings were presented at a summit in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have pinpointed a brain region called the caudal granular insular cortex, or CGIC, that acts as a switch turning acute pain into chronic pain. In animal studies, disabling this circuit prevented chronic pain from developing or reversed it once established. The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, open paths to new treatments beyond opioids.

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Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina have found that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a key omega-3 in fish oil supplements, may hinder brain recovery in cases of repeated mild traumatic brain injuries. The study, published in Cell Reports, shows EPA weakening blood vessel stability and contributing to harmful protein buildup. Lead investigator Onder Albayram emphasized that effects depend on biological context.

People who reported more mentally stimulating experiences from childhood through older age were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and tended to develop symptoms years later than peers with the lowest enrichment, according to an observational study published in Neurology.

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A team of researchers led by Professor Yan-Jiang Wang has published a review arguing that Alzheimer's disease requires integrated treatments targeting multiple factors, not single causes. New drugs like lecanemab and donanemab offer modest benefits by slowing decline, but fall short of reversal. The paper, in Science China Life Sciences, emphasizes genetics, aging, and systemic health alongside amyloid-beta and tau proteins.