TL;DR: In a small pilot study, immune cells from people in an untreated schizophrenia episode made more of their energy by burning sugar than cells from healthy people or from patients stable on medication. There was no sign of higher inflammation in the blood. Key Findings 23 people in 4 groups: Healthy volunteers, untreated acutely …
TL;DR: In rats trained to spot a brief flash of light, a drug that blocks one nicotine-type receptor (alpha-7) made them better at telling flash from no flash, even with distractions. Drugs that boosted the same receptor made them worse at high doses. Key Findings Alpha-7 blocker helped: Moderate doses of MLA improved detection, mostly …
TL;DR: In a small Polish trial of 22 children aged 6 to 9 with coordination problems, coordination exercises with and without moves that cross the body’s center line both improved movement planning and two-sided coordination. Final scores were about the same in both groups. Key Findings 22 children finished: Out of 32 who started, split …
TL;DR: In 159 young adults, people whose eyes were drawn to reward cues rather than to the rewards themselves glanced first at alcohol images slightly more often than one comparison group, but not the other. They did not drink more, contrary to an earlier study. Key Findings 159 volunteers aged 18 to 35: All at …
TL;DR: In 144 Norwegian tinnitus patients, an online program of retraining therapy and CBT was linked to less tinnitus distress after 6 months, most in severe cases. With no comparison group, the program can’t take full credit. Key Findings 144 patients: A 6-hour seminar, then 19 online modules over up to a year. Distress score …
TL;DR: In four online experiments with Chinese university students, a study-app assistant with a friendly face or chatty wording led to more positive feelings than a plain version. The boost was bigger in students who felt lonelier. Key Findings 4 experiments, 741 students: Each saw either a human-like or a plain study assistant. Happier with …
TL;DR: A new AI model that combines brain and muscle signals kept recognizing hand grips better than rival models when the muscle signals were artificially weakened to mimic fatigue. At the heaviest weakening, though, brain signals alone did better than any combined model. Key Findings Recordings from 25 healthy adults: Brain (EEG) and forearm muscle …
TL;DR: In female mice without ovaries, a model of menopause, the osteoporosis drug raloxifene and the hormone progesterone each protected brain dopamine from a toxin that mimics Parkinson’s. Giving both together worked no better than either alone. Key Findings Toxin cut dopamine by 57%: In the movement-control area of untreated mice. Each drug prevented the …
TL;DR: Alzheimer’s-model mice fed very salty chow for 6 months had altered gut bacteria, more brain inflammation and plaques, and more anxious behavior than mice on normal chow. It’s a mouse study, and the gut-to-brain link was not proven. Key Findings 8% vs 0.4% salt for 6 months: Male Alzheimer’s-model mice, about 40 per diet …
TL;DR: Eleven Indian children whose parents had addiction or serious mental illness all completed 8 sessions of brain-activity feedback training with no side effects. Their brain signals and thinking scores did not change clearly, and there was no comparison group. Key Findings 11 children, aged 6 to 12: 9 had a parent with a substance …
