Neuroscience & Health explores how the nervous system protects and sustains us - and what happens when it breaks down. From viral infections and pain pathways to therapies that restore brain function, this section connects lab discoveries with clinical advances to improve human well-being.
A new longitudinal study in Neurology examines whether everyday physical and cognitive activities can influence the brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Drawing on more than 1,000 adults from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, researchers assessed how activity levels related to multi-year trajectories of amyloid accumulation, tau burden, and glucose metabolism measured by PET imaging. The findings suggest modest protective associations, adding clarity to an area where human evidence has long been inconsistent. The results highlight both the promise - and the limits - of lifestyle-based interventions.
A new open-access study in Brain Communications examines how genetics influence the brain's intrinsic functional connectivity related to general intelligence. Using resting-state fMRI data from identical and fraternal twin pairs in the Human Connectome Project, researchers tested whether one twin's brain connectivity patterns could predict the other's cognitive performance. The results showed successful prediction only among genetically identical twins, suggesting that certain connectivity signatures - especially within the default mode network - may reflect inherited contributions to intelligence.
A new open-access systematic review published in Age and Ageing analyzes more than 100 million adults to examine whether routine vaccinations are associated with subsequent dementia risk. The study reviewed observational data across multiple countries and vaccine types, reporting several correlations between vaccination history and lower dementia incidence. While these associations do not establish causation, they highlight possible links between infection prevention, inflammation, and long-term brain health. The findings contribute to ongoing research exploring modifiable factors that may influence cognitive ageing.
A new study published in Brain Communications investigates how individuals with Tourette syndrome process predictions about upcoming movements, revealing notable disruptions in how the brain adapts to changing sensorimotor cues. Using EEG and computational modeling, researchers found that participants with Tourette syndrome show reduced behavioral adjustment and altered neural responses when predictability shifts. These findings highlight fundamental differences in how the brain updates stimulus - response relationships, offering deeper insight into the mechanisms underlying tics and premonitory urges.
A new Open Access study in Chemical Senses reports that people can strengthen their ability to detect and distinguish different sweet substances through brief taste recall training. In an experiment involving glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, and lactose, participants who practiced recalling and matching the tastes for three consecutive days showed marked improvements in sensitivity across all five sugars. The findings shed light on how perceptual learning shapes taste discrimination and point to potential applications in nutrition, sensory rehabilitation, and taste-related health challenges.
Weight management is one of the toughest challenges for people living with psychiatric conditions. Many mood-stabilizing and antipsychotic medications cause weight gain and metabolic imbalance, increasing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A new meta-analysis in the Journal of the Endocrine Society shows that GLP-1 receptor agonists - drugs such as semaglutide and liraglutide - can safely reverse this trend. Across ten clinical trials, patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and binge-eating disorder lost about five kilograms and improved glucose control, while side effects were mild and temporary. Beyond their metabolic effects, GLP-1 drugs appear to influence brain pathways tied to appetite and reward, hinting at a deeper connection between emotional stability and physiological balance.
Four new studies in the European Heart Journal expand our understanding of how deeply the heart and brain interact - from congenital conditions to cardiac arrest recovery. Researchers show that while aging with heart disease may not always accelerate frailty, chronic heart failure and hypertension cause measurable neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Meanwhile, large-scale programs like the REVIVE Project are redefining recovery to include mental, emotional, and cognitive well-being, suggesting that modern cardiology must now also be neuropsychological.
A recent perspective in the journal The Journal of Sexual Medicine by Gal Saffati MD and Mohit Khera MD MPH MBA argues that beyond the role of reproduction, consensual sexual activity - comprising intercourse, arousal and orgasmic capacity - may serve as a meaningful indicator and contributor to overall health. The authors review data linking sexual experience and satisfaction with cardiovascular, psychological and relationship outcomes, and propose that the sexual dimension merits integration into health-check frameworks.
A new open-access study in Brain Communications reveals how persistent stress and long-term alcohol consumption combine to reshape the brain's structure and functional networks. Using a longitudinal rat model, researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico tracked behavioral changes and MRI-based alterations across development. They found that while stress did not increase alcohol intake, the two factors produced additive and sex-dependent disruptions in brain volume and connectivity - evidence that chronic exposure progressively erodes the brain's integrative balance.
