How the brain grows in childhood and changes as we get older.
Neuroscience News
Words vs. numbers: A University of Tokyo study reveals that adults with autism spectrum disorder are strongly influenced by positive or negative verbal framing—such as "possible" versus "unlikely"—rather than underlying percentages when making medical decisions.
Development and aging
The Transmitter
The model provides a way to investigate genetic variation in regions of the genome whose functions have been difficult to interpret.
Development and aging
Neuroscience News
Is cannabis during pregnancy truly risk-free? A UC Merced study of over 2 million births in the Annals of Epidemiology finds women with cannabis use disorder face triple the risk of postpartum psychiatric emergencies, alongside a 40% surge in diagnoses post-legalization.
Development and aging
Neuroscience News
How does the human placenta form in the earliest, hidden days of pregnancy? Columbia University researchers created a 3D stem-cell model that self-assembles into placental tissue and lacunae, revealing the molecular triggers behind implantation and pregnancy failure.
Development and aging
The Transmitter
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 November.
Development and aging
Neuroscience News
A population-based epidemiological investigation from Trinity College Dublin finds no evidence connecting lifetime exposure to fluoridated drinking water with cognitive decline or dementia risk in older adults. Published in the Journal of Dental Research, the study analyzed 2,495 adults from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), mapping their residential histories against historic national water…
Development and aging
ScienceDaily
A surprising new study suggests that an anti-aging drug could help protect people genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that just four weeks of low-dose rapamycin improved brain blood flow in healthy middle-aged adults carrying the high-risk APOE4 gene variant, with women showing the strongest benefits. Because declining blood flow can occur years before Alzheimer's symptoms appear, the…
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
A new study suggests that ultra-processed foods may influence children's developing brains in ways that encourage weight gain. Researchers from USC studied 46 children ages 7 to 10 and found that those who ate more ultra-processed foods showed stronger activity in the brain's reward system when viewing tempting foods like cookies and French fries. These heightened brain responses were linked to greater increases in…
Development and aging
ScienceDaily
A surprising discovery suggests that rejuvenating the liver could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease. USC researchers found that an experimental drug restored aging liver cells in rats, cutting levels of an Alzheimer’s-linked protein in half and bringing bad cholesterol down to youthful levels. The treatment also revived a previously unknown communication system that helps liver cells remove…
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
A major 24-year study involving more than 8,200 adults suggests that excess body weight may accelerate brain aging, leading to faster declines in memory, concentration, and decision-making skills. The connection was particularly strong among people over 65, raising concerns about the long-term effects of obesity on brain health.
Development and aging
ScienceDaily
A study of nearly 13,000 adults found that people consuming the most artificial sweeteners experienced a 62% faster decline in memory and thinking skills, equivalent to approximately 1.6 additional years of brain aging. Six popular sweeteners were linked to faster cognitive decline, raising concerns about the long-term brain health effects of common sugar substitutes, although causation was not established.
Memory and learning
ScienceDaily
A major new study reveals that autistic children’s brains process faces differently, and those differences may begin earlier than scientists previously thought. Researchers found that brain signals associated with recognizing faces become more specialized as neurotypical children grow older, but show much less change in autistic children. The discovery could help explain why some autistic people have difficulty…
Development and aging
ScienceDaily
Mayo Clinic scientists have uncovered surprising new insights into “zombie cells,” aging cells that linger in the body and contribute to inflammation and disease. Seven studies reveal why these cells are harmful and identify new strategies for targeting them, including a natural compound found in tomatoes. In aging mice, experimental treatments reduced inflammation and improved physical and brain health. The…
Development and aging
ScienceDaily
Scientists have uncovered a surprising new clue to why the Mediterranean diet is so good for the heart, brain, and healthy aging. Researchers at USC found that older adults who closely followed the diet had higher levels of two tiny proteins, humanin and SHMOOSE, produced by the mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. These proteins have been linked to protection against heart disease…
Development and aging
ScienceDaily
The aging brain may be undergoing a remarkable transformation rather than simply losing its abilities, shifting its focus from remembering details to understanding the bigger picture. Scientists suggest this change could be an evolutionary adaptation that helps older adults develop wisdom and share decades of knowledge with younger generations.
Memory and learning
MIT News
In six talks, researchers from across MIT described projects aimed at advancing the understanding of and interventions against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS.
Brain disorders
ScienceDaily
Scientists have discovered that a protein linked to youth helps protect the brain’s immune cells from age-related decline. Restoring the protein in older mice improved the cells’ ability to clear debris and reduced signs of inflammation, raising hopes for future treatments targeting brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
Development and aging
MIT News
The brain’s language network is still evolving in adolescence. But by age 4, language processing is already handled by the left side of the brain, new research finds.
Development and aging
MIT News
Researchers find mice modeling the autism spectrum disorder fragile X syndrome exhibit the same pattern of differences in low-frequency waves as humans — a new marker for treatment studies.
Development and aging
MIT News
Somatostatin-expressing neurons follow a unique trajectory when forming connections in the visual cortex that may help establish the conditions needed for sensory experience to refine circuits.
Development and aging
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