Lifeboat Foundation

Researchers have developed a method to recreate the formation of Lewy bodies in human neurons, shedding light on the essential roles of alpha-synuclein and immune responses in their development. This breakthrough offers new insights into Parkinson’s disease, showing that Lewy bodies form only under specific conditions and highlighting the potential…

A widely available and inexpensive antidepressant drug may soon save lives from an altogether different kind of disease.

The growth of the most aggressive and deadly brain cancer, glioblastoma, was effectively suppressed in both ex vivo human tissue samples and in living mice by an FDA approved serotonin modulator currently used to treat major depression.

It’s not a cure, but it may offer some relief and constitute an effective part of a treatment regime for glioblastoma patients. Human clinical trials are the next step; patients are cautioned against self-medicating at this stage.

Summary: A new study has shown that conscious thought relies on synchronized brain rhythms to maintain communication between sensory and cognitive brain regions. Under general anesthesia, this rhythm-based communication breaks down, disrupting the brain’s ability to detect and process surprising stimuli.

The research provides evidence that specific brain frequencies enable conscious awareness by linking the front and back of the brain, where cognitive and sensory functions reside. This finding sheds light on the neural mechanisms of consciousness and offers insights into how anesthesia disrupts our ability to perceive and respond to unexpected events.

A novel peptide could provide a more targeted approach to Alzheimer’s treatment by inhibiting two key Tau protein regions.

Summary: A new study has discovered that ophthalmic acid, a molecule in the brain, acts like a neurotransmitter to regulate motor function, similar to dopamine. In Parkinson’s mouse models, this molecule improved movement for over 20 hours—far longer than the effects of the current treatment, L-dopa.

This finding challenges the long-held belief that dopamine is the only key player in motor control. Researchers are now exploring how to use ophthalmic acid as a potential treatment for movement disorders, offering hope for more effective therapies.

Scientists have discovered that cosmic filaments, the largest known structures in the universe, are rotating. These massive, twisting filaments of dark matter and galaxies stretch across hundreds of millions of light-years and play a crucial role in channeling matter to galaxy clusters. The finding challenges existing theories, as it was previously believed that rotation could not occur on such large scales. The research was confirmed through both computer simulations and real-world data, and it opens up new questions about how these giant structures acquire their spin.

After reading the article, a Reddit user named Kane gained more than 100 upvotes with this comment: “What if galaxy clusters are like neuron and glial clusters in a brain. And dark matter is basically the equivalent of a synapse. It connects galaxies and matter together and is responsible for sending quantum information back and forth like a signal chain.”

Summary: Researchers have developed a molecule called LaKe that mimics the metabolic effects of strenuous exercise and fasting. This molecule increases lactate and ketone levels in the body, providing similar benefits to running 10 kilometers on an empty stomach, without physical exertion or dietary changes.

Currently being tested in human trials, LaKe shows promise for helping people with limited physical ability maintain health, and may also aid in treating brain conditions like Parkinson’s and dementia. The discovery offers a potential new path for those unable to follow strict exercise or fasting routines.

The researchers also gathered behavioral data, asking participants how strongly they felt the emotions described in each story and how similar these feelings were across different objects of love. This helped the team link subjective emotional experiences to the observed brain activity.

“We use state-of-the-art technology to measure what happens in the brain when a person feels love,” Rinne told PsyPost. “We studied many different types of love and were able to show how different types of love activate the brain in different ways. Our results help explain why the word ‘love’ is used in so many different contexts. Our research also offers insights into why we feel stronger affection for those we are close to compared to strangers, even though the underlying brain processes of affection are the same for all types of interpersonal relationships.”

The study found that different types of love engage both shared and distinct regions of the brain. At a general level, all types of love activated areas associated with social cognition, including the medial prefrontal cortex, the temporoparietal junction, and the precuneus. These regions are involved in understanding others’ thoughts and emotions, a process known as theory of mind. This suggests that even when we experience love for non-human objects, like nature, our brain still engages these neural pathways.

While the benefits of music therapy are well known, more in-depth research explores how music benefits children with autism.