Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an exciting noninvasive brain treatment technology that is revolutionizing how we approach neurological and psychiatric diseases. This incisionless technique uses precisely targeted sound waves to therapeutically stimulate or ablate brain tissue. The Big Picture: FUS uses focused, high-intensity sound waves to precisely treat diseased brain regions without incisions. It has FDA …
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior. While antipsychotic medications can help manage symptoms, their long-term effects on brain structure are not fully understood. A new study provides important insights into how long-term antipsychotic treatment may impact gray matter in chronic schizophrenia. Key Facts: Both treated and untreated …
Pesticides are chemicals commonly used worldwide to control unwanted organisms and disease vectors. However, research shows that chronic pesticide exposure may impair brain health and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Key facts: Pesticides like organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, and mitochondrial complex I inhibitors can damage neurons and brain cell function through mechanisms like …
Pineal gland calcification, the buildup of calcium deposits in the pineal gland, is surprisingly common, affecting over 60% of the population according to a new meta-analysis. This concerning condition can disrupt proper pineal gland functioning and melatonin secretion, potentially contributing to an array of health issues. Key Facts: The pineal gland regulates circadian rhythms through …
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing global health concern, but current drug therapies have shown limited effectiveness for symptom management and disease modification. Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) have emerged as a potential nutritional therapy, but evidence remains inconclusive. Key Facts: MCTs may provide an alternative brain fuel source and reduce AD biomarkers like amyloid-beta. Small …
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Dopamine plays an important role in PD development. Here are some key facts: Dopamine is a chemical messenger in the brain involved in movement, motivation, and mood. Loss of dopamine-producing neurons causes the motor symptoms of PD like tremors, rigidity, and …
A new drug recently approved for Alzheimer’s disease aims to treat the underlying cause of the condition by removing amyloid plaques in the brain. Though promising, the drug called aducanumab also comes with potential side effects that require careful monitoring. Key facts: Aducanumab is the first drug that targets and removes amyloid plaques, sticky buildups …
A new study in mice shows how the immune system may play a role in the early gastrointestinal symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, decades before movement problems develop. Researchers found that injecting a specific piece of the alpha-synuclein protein into genetically modified mice triggered inflammation and loss of nerve cells in the gut, leading to constipation …
A new study looked at how having diabetes may impact brain health in Native Americans. The researchers found that the longer someone had diabetes, the more it affected their brain. But other health issues like obesity did not appear to impact the brain as much. Key facts: The study involved 51 Native Americans with type …
Researchers have uncovered an important new mechanism that causes inflammation and damage to the brain’s white matter in Alzheimer’s disease. This discovery about how brain cells called microglia die could lead to new Alzheimer’s treatments. Key Facts: The study found that microglia, which are immune cells in the brain, die through a process called “ferroptosis” …
