Neurodegeneration – News and Features

Researchers have discovered that how cells respond to stress – like toxins, mutations or starvation – is not as linear as once thought and the adaptive stress response could be exploited in cancer treatment.

Technology Networks spoke to the most productive researcher in spatial transcriptomics, Professor Joakim Lundeberg, about the field’s rapid growth.

A study by Duke University neuroscientists uncovers the role of dopamine in guiding song learning in juvenile zebra finches. Their research shows that dopamine release in the basal ganglia supports self-driven learning.

Recent studies have discovered microplastics inside human organs, the brain and the blood. But does this accumulation of plastic have any adverse effect on our health? Experts suggest that more research is still needed.

A study from Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva found that adults with ADHD have increased brain iron levels and higher neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) in their blood, markers associated with dementia.

A team developed an open-source model that simulates brain metabolism across neurons, glial cells and blood flow. It highlights how small shifts in metabolism affect brain function with age, revealing potential interventions like NAD supplementation.

Around 50–90% of brain tumor patients that survive at least 6 months after radiotherapy experience some form of cognitive decline, such as memory loss. In a systematic review, we examined damage to the normal brain tissue after brain irradiation.

A team of neuroscientists has discovered that brain waves in the alpha and beta frequency ranges predict the timing of future events. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), they identified three key brain areas responsible for this process.

Researchers have described a novel light-driven reaction that efficiently produces tetrahydroisoquinolines, a group of chemicals that play a crucial role in medicinal chemistry.

A recent trial on gantenerumab showed that the drug could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s symptoms by 50% in pre-symptomatic individuals with inherited risk. However, safety concerns remain.