A new study using DMT as a scientific tool reveals how psychedelics alter the brain’s alpha-wave dynamics and weaken our sense of self.
Category: neuroscience
New genetic biomarker flags aggressive brain tumors
Clinicians typically classify meningiomas — the most common type of brain tumor — into three grades, ranging from slow-growing to aggressive.
But a new multi-institutional study suggests that appearances may be deceiving. If a tumor shows activity in a gene called telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), it tends to recur more quickly, even if it looks low-grade under the microscope.
Researchers discover that when meningiomas, a type of brain tumor, shows activity in the TERT gene, it tends to recur more quickly.
Preconfigured Neuronal Firing in Human Brain Organoids
In a groundbreaking study poised to reshape our understanding of brain development, researchers have unveiled the existence of preconfigured neuronal firing sequences within human brain organoids. These firing patterns, traditionally thought to arise from sensory experience and environmental stimuli, appear to be innately programmed during neurodevelopment, challenging long-held assumptions about the brain’s early information processing architecture. This revelation not only deepens our grasp of neuronal circuit formation but also elevates the value of brain organoids as faithful models for investigating the complexities of human neurobiology.
Neuronal firing sequences—the precise order and timing of action potentials within neural circuits—form the fundamental building blocks by which the brain encodes, processes, and transmits information. Until now, the developmental timeline and origins of these sequences remained largely unknown, with the prevailing hypothesis attributing their emergence to experience-dependent plasticity, shaped dynamically by sensory inputs during early life. However, the new findings presented by van der Molen et al. point to an alternative mechanism rooted in intrinsic developmental programs.
Human brain organoids, three-dimensional cellular models derived from pluripotent stem cells, have surged in popularity as cutting-edge platforms for modeling human brain development in vitro. By replicating key aspects of brain tissue organization and cellular diversity, these organoids serve as invaluable proxies for investigating neuronal circuit assembly under controlled conditions. Importantly, this study compared both unguided human brain organoids and those directed toward forebrain identity, alongside ex vivo slices from neonatal mouse somatosensory cortex, offering a robust cross-species and methodological validation of their observations.
Boosting one protein helps the brain protect itself from Alzheimer’s
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a natural process in the brain that can remove existing amyloid plaques in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease while also helping preserve memory and thinking ability. This process relies on astrocytes, star shaped support cells, which can be guided to clear out the toxic plaque buildup commonly seen in Alzheimer’s. When the team increased the amount of Sox9, a protein that influences many astrocyte functions during aging, the cells became more effective at removing amyloid deposits. The findings, reported in Nature Neuroscience, suggest that strengthening astrocyte activity could one day help slow cognitive decline linked to neurodegenerative disorders.
“Astrocytes perform diverse tasks that are essential for normal brain function, including facilitating brain communications and memory storage. As the brain ages, astrocytes show profound functional alterations; however, the role these alterations play in aging and neurodegeneration is not yet understood,” said first author Dr. Dong-Joo Choi, who conducted this work while at the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and the Department of Neurosurgery at Baylor. Choi is now an assistant professor at the Center for Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Neuroscientist finds her brain shrinks while taking birth control
A researcher who completed numerous brain scans found that her cerebral cortex volume was 1% smaller while using hormonal contraceptives.
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A researcher who underwent dozens of brain scans discovered that the volume of her cerebral cortex was 1 per cent lower when she took hormonal contraceptives.
By Grace Wade
Polygenic Contributions to Lithium Augmentation Outcomes in Unipolar Depression
Higher polygenic risk scores for bipolar disorder were associated with favorable treatment outcomes after lithium augmentation in antidepressant non-responders with unipolar depression.
Question Are polygenic risk scores (PRS) for major psychiatric disorders associated with favorable treatment outcomes after lithium augmentation (LA) in major depression?
Findings In this cohort study with 193 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who did not respond to antidepressants, the PRS for bipolar disorder (BIP) was significantly associated with response and remission after at least 4 weeks of LA. Additionally, we found an association between the MDD-PRS and LA response.
Meaning Individuals with a higher polygenic burden for BIP and lower polygenic burden for MDD are more likely to experience favorable treatment outcomes following LA, offering new opportunities for personalized medicine approaches.
Vegetarian diet and healthy aging among Chinese older adults: a prospective study
From the article:
Following a vegetarian diet can be a boon for your health, even possibly cutting your risk of certain chronic illnesses, according to the Mayo Clinic. Yet a recent study, conducted by nutrition experts and published in the Nature journal npj Aging, suggests that not everyone will experience the same benefits when they cut out meat entirely. Adults over the age of 60 may have different nutritional needs, meaning a more diverse diet could instead help them live longer… Utilizing data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, the study reviewed information from nearly 2,900 Chinese older adults who were considered to be healthy. Participants’ diets were categorized four ways:
- vegan (avoiding any animal products, including eggs, seafood, or dairy) — ovo-vegetarian (vegetarian plus the inclusion of eggs) — pesco-vegetarian (vegetarian plus the inclusion of fish and seafood) — omnivorous (eating both plant-and animal-based products)
After an average follow-up period of six years, “Individuals who maintained omnivorous diets from age 60 years had higher odds of achieving healthy aging” versus those who “consistently” followed vegetarian eating patterns. When the team further analyzed the health data of those who survived to age 80, omnivorous eaters were more likely than vegetarians to avoid major chronic disease, physical function impairment, and cognitive impairment.
“Given age-related physiological changes in digestive and metabolic systems” in aging adults, the study specifically flagged the potential for muscle loss and bone fracture for those adhering to vegetarian diets. Another interesting discovery: older adults following a vegan diet were “most strongly associated with adverse effects on healthy aging,” which the text attributes to an increased risk of protein deficiency.”
npj Aging — Vegetarian diet and healthy aging among Chinese older adults: a prospective study. npj Aging 11, 25 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41514-025-00213-4