TL;DR: In sleeping mice, blood volume in the brain rose sharply during REM sleep, yet the energy molecule ATP inside neurons dropped. It bounced back as soon as the mice woke, suggesting REM sleep spends energy faster than blood supply alone can explain. Key Findings Imaged through the intact skull: Blood volume, support-cell fuel and …
TL;DR: Across 27 trials in older adults with mild memory and thinking problems, tai chi and qigong classes lifted overall thinking scores by a moderate amount compared with no exercise. More weekly minutes were not always better, and the dosing patterns still need testing. Key Findings 27 randomized trials, 2,034 people: All aged 60+ with …
TL;DR: In a 4-week trial of 100 stroke rehab inpatients, walking practice on a robot showed no clear advantage over regular physiotherapy for walking independence or daily activities. Both groups improved, and the robot group rated their own health higher. Key Findings 100 inpatients, 4 weeks: Half in the first 6 months after stroke, half …
TL;DR: Across 10 studies and 13,110 stroke patients, ambulances carrying their own CT scanner got clot-busting treatment started about 26 minutes sooner than regular ambulances. The review found no clear difference in recovery or safety, though it may have been too small to see one. Key Findings 10 studies, 13,110 patients: 4 randomized, 6 not, …
TL;DR: Across four small studies, adults with vestibular migraine, a type that causes dizzy spells, scored noticeably lower on thinking tests than healthy people, even between attacks. The review was small and could not rule out anxiety, poor sleep or medicines as causes. Key Findings 6 studies found; 4 pooled: 208 people with vestibular migraine, …
TL;DR: Pooling 114 brain-scan studies, researchers found that grammar and arithmetic both lit up four spots on the left side of the brain, all part of a general problem-solving network. Beyond that, each skill leaned on its own separate regions. Key Findings 114 fMRI studies: 48 on grammar, 66 on arithmetic, in healthy children and …
TL;DR: Among 183 people with Parkinson’s in Finland, daytime sleepiness, napping, restless legs, sleep talking and nightmares all became more common over five years. Insomnia stayed about the same. Key Findings Daytime sleepiness: 31% to 39%. Daily naps: 21% to 32%. Sleep talking at least weekly: 17% to 30%. Restless legs and nightmares also rose. …
TL;DR: In a review of 84 studies covering 4.1 million people, those with psychological distress or job strain had roughly 30% higher risk of a first stroke. The studies were observational, so they cannot show that stress itself causes strokes. Key Findings 84 studies, 4.1 million people: All stroke-free when first assessed. Psychological distress: 27% …
TL;DR: Across 24 studies of adults with depression, anxiety or stress, talk therapy built around getting back to work was linked to a modestly higher chance of fully returning. Its edge over other care for symptoms was small and faded by later follow-up. Key Findings 24 studies, 3,279 treated: Adults with common mental disorders, mostly …
TL;DR: In 3 large birth studies covering 5.3 million children, kids whose mothers had type 1 or type 2 diabetes before pregnancy were about a third more likely to develop epilepsy. Diabetes that first appears during pregnancy showed no clear link, and none of this proves diabetes is the cause. Key Findings 3 studies, 5.3 …
