Stra8 links neuronal activity to inhibitory circuit protection in the adult mouse brain.
Huang et al. show that Stra8, a gene previously thought to be germline specific, is expressed in the adult mouse hippocampus in an activity-dependent manner. Stra8 protects neuronal integrity and cognition by regulating neuromodulator genes and preserving inhibitory circuit function.
A Nature analysis of a major Norwegian study challenges existing estimates of Alzheimer’s prevalence, finding that 25% of people aged 85–89 have dementia with Alzheimer’s pathology — far higher than previous 7–13% estimates — while preclinical Alzheimer’s in younger seniors (70−74) occurs at only 8% versus earlier 22% estimates. Using blood biomarker pTau217 in 11,486 participants, researchers identified that 10% of over-70s had dementia, 10% had mild cognitive impairment, and 10% had preclinical Alzheimer’s, but warn that blood tests alone are insufficient for widespread screening due to potential harm from false positives. The discrepancies highlight how previous studies may have been skewed by selection bias, while demonstrating that blood-based biomarkers require careful interpretation and comprehensive clinical assessment.
A survey of Alzheimer’s disease prevalence in Norway confirms earlier estimates and might show how education level relates to risk.
Eating more high-fat cheese and high-fat cream may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published in Neurology. This study does not prove that eating high-fat cheese and high-fat cream lowers the risk of dementia, it only shows an association.
High-fat cheeses contain more than 20% fat and include varieties such as cheddar, Brie and Gouda. High-fat creams typically contain 30–40% fat and include whipping cream, double cream and clotted cream. These are commonly labeled as “full-fat” or “regular” versions in stores.
“For decades, the debate over high-fat versus low-fat diets has shaped health advice, sometimes even categorizing cheese as an unhealthy food to limit,” said Emily Sonestedt, Ph.D., of Lund University, Sweden.
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Some physicists believe that human consciousness is somehow linked to the indeterministic element of quantum physics. But according to a surprising new argument that just appeared on the arXiv, a world where everything is ruled by quantum physics is incompatible with the idea of free will. Let’s take a look.
Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.
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Neuroscientists have been trying to understand how the human brain supports numerous advanced capabilities for centuries. The cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain, is now known to be responsible for many of these capabilities, including reasoning, decision-making, the processing of sensory information and voluntary movement.
Neurons in the cerebral cortex often become active consecutively or simultaneously for brief periods of time, following recurrent patterns of activity. These recurring neuron firing patterns have been linked to sensorimotor coordination, the brain’s ability to link sensory inputs (i.e., the information collected via the senses) to movements.
For decades, repeating neuronal activity has been described in the context of attractor dynamics theory, a physics-based framework that frames recurring neuron firing patterns as so-called attractors. Attractors are stable states or activity patterns toward which a system naturally returns to.
Cells may generate their own electrical signals through microscopic membrane motions. Researchers show that active molecular processes can create voltage spikes similar to those used by neurons. These signals could help drive ion transport and explain key biological functions. The work may also guide the design of intelligent, bio-inspired materials.
Steven L. Spitalnik & team report on a double-blind randomized trial for iron-deficient blood donors, finding treatment appears to affect brain function, brain iron, and myelin levels:
The heatmap images highlight the trend for increased iron in most brain regions.
1Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and.
2Cognitive Neuroscience Division in Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
3Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.