Evidence for neuroplasticity into advanced age speaks to the lifelong adaptability of the human brain

A cancer drug could enhance how patients respond to chemotherapy even in treatment-resistant tumors. The drug works by disarming a key defense mechanism that tumors use to protect themselves from treatment. In preclinical models, it has already shown promise in making chemotherapy-resistant cancers more responsive to therapy.

The search for new ways to treat malaria—a disease that kills some 600,000 people a year, most of them children in Sub-Saharan Africa—may have just gotten a boost.

Sensitive teeth need tough toothpaste, but technology can also help. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in collaboration with deep-tech startup Theranautilus have now engineered CalBots—magnetic nanobots that can penetrate deep into dentinal tubules, which are tiny tunnels in teeth that lead to nerve endings. These CalBots can then form durable seals for worn enamel, offering lasting relief from sensitivity in just one application. The study is published in Advanced Science .

Yale University School of Medicine reports that cysteinyl leukotrienes released by intestinal mast cells are essential for anaphylaxis after food ingestion in mice, while responses to intravenous allergen challenge proceed without that requirement.

Treatment with interferon or with glatiramer acetate? This question arises for many patients who receive a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) for the first time. Until now, the choice between the two could practically be made at random: both preparations are considered established basic therapies, both have relatively low side effects and both are relatively well tolerated. And, as with all immunomodulatory therapies, both do not help all people equally well. However, thanks to a study led by the University of Münster, there is now a clear criterion for choosing the medication.

Cornell researchers have developed an implant system that can treat type 1 diabetes by supplying extra oxygen to densely packed insulin-secreting cells, without the need for immunosuppression. The system could also potentially provide long-term treatment for a range of chronic diseases.

If the brain no longer responds properly to insulin (insulin resistance), this can lead to weight gain, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) in Potsdam and Tübingen have discovered small chemical modifications to genetic material (epigenetic changes) in the blood that indicate how well the brain responds to insulin. These markers could help to detect insulin resistance in the brain by means of a simple blood test. The findings are published in Science Translational Medicine.

Building upon the success of the first in utero brain surgery for vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) reported in 2023, new data published in JAMA provides further evidence for the potential use of fetal embolization for this condition.

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London in partnership with the Mayo Clinic and UNEEG medical, has found that an electronic device placed under the scalp is an effective and feasible means of accurately tracking epilepsy.

Research by sports scientists reveals that high-performance athletes face unique mental health challenges despite the well-established benefits of physical activity for depression prevention and treatment.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help emergency department (ED) teams better anticipate which patients will need hospital admission, hours earlier than is currently possible, according to a multi-hospital study by the Mount Sinai Health System.

Approximately 70% of incarcerated youth in the United States have a mental disorder. The challenges in this population are profound—about 30% report suicidal thoughts, 12% have attempted suicide and 25% experience solitary confinement, a condition strongly associated with increased suicide risk. Depression is also widespread, affecting 10% to 25% of youth with moderate to severe symptoms.

Among the many wonders of the brain is its ability to master learned movements—a dance step, piano sonata, or tying our shoes—acquired through trial-and-error practice. For decades, neuroscientists have known that these tasks require a cluster of brain areas known as the basal ganglia.

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered a new pathway by which cells counteract the action of alovudine, an important antiviral and anticancer drug. The paper is published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research.

Large language models (LLMs), used by more than half of England's local authorities to support social workers, may be introducing gender bias into care decisions, according to new research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

What infectious disease is deadliest worldwide? HIV? COVID-19? Malaria?

A research team led by Virginia Commonwealth University has gained new insights into the molecular mechanisms that cause cocaine use disorder, identifying a potential therapeutic strategy to inhibit the drug's addictive effect.

Many people are familiar with the saying that a woman is "eating for two" during pregnancy. Although this is an exaggeration, nutritional needs do certainly increase during pregnancy to support the growing baby.