THE LATEST RESEARCH
New findings about the brain, behavior and mental health—with the evidence and limits in view.
TL;DR: In brain scans of 146 older adults, people with Alzheimer's dementia had weaker white matter wiring across 268 brain connections compared with healthy peers, but people with milder memory loss showed no clear difference. Wiring strength didn't line up w…
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TL;DR: In brain scans of 149 adults, people whose migraine had turned into near-daily headaches from overusing painkillers had larger fluid-filled spaces around small brain vessels and a smaller hippocampus than people without migraine. The scans were taken on…
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TL;DR: In 84 older pet dogs followed over several years, more indoor accidents went along with worse self-control on treat puzzles, while signs of urine infection were rare and not linked to the accidents. It's a hint that house soiling in old dogs may often r…
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TL;DR: Among 121 people with painful pancreatic cancer, 44% had a heightened sensitivity to pain on standardized testing, much like people with long-term pancreatitis. But in the cancer group, that sensitivity was not consistently linked to worse pain, mood or…
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TL;DR: When 22 young adults tried to recall where they had seen everyday objects, their eyes drifted toward the right spot before they answered. The closer their gaze, the more precise their memory turned out to be. Key Findings Eyes found the spot: Gaze lande…
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TL;DR: In a tiny pilot study, a few minutes on an exercise bike boosted thinking speed scores by about 7 points in healthy adults but only about 2 points in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. With 10 people per group, it is an early clue, not…
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TL;DR: In mice, a new type of gene-silencing molecule lowered levels of alpha-synuclein, the protein that clumps in Parkinson’s. Mice given it kept more dopamine-making brain cells and did better on grip and balance tests than untreated mice with the same dise…
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TL;DR: When 60 volunteers braced for a shock they could dodge with a quick button press, their brains and bodies shifted into a focused, alert state. But they remembered faces seen during those moments no better than faces seen when they felt safe. Key Finding…
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TL;DR: In a lab study of 187 UK students, a few minutes spent vividly imagining good future events made those with more low-mood symptoms feel more in control of their goals. It did not make anyone feel their goals were more likely or more important. Key Findi…
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TL;DR: Among 112 older adults in Spain with mild cognitive impairment, those who reported more physical activity and felt more supported by family and friends scored better on several thinking tests. The study took one snapshot, so it cannot show that activity…
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