A popular hypothesis for how the brain clears molecular waste, which may help explain why sleep feels refreshing, is a subject of debate.
Category: neuroscience – Page 85
Chewing Gum Releases Hundreds of Microplastics In Your Mouth, Study Finds
Chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic pieces straight into people’s mouths, researchers said on Tuesday, also warning of the pollution created by the rubber-based sweet.
The small study comes as researchers have increasingly been finding small shards of plastic called microplastics throughout the world, from the tops of mountains to the bottom of the ocean – and even in the air we breathe.
They have also discovered microplastics riddled throughout human bodies – including inside our lungs, blood and brains – sparking fears about the potential effect this could be having on health.
Uncovering metabolic dysregulation in schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder through untargeted plasma lipidomics
Villate, A., Olivares, M., Usobiaga, A. et al. Sci Rep 14, 31,492 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83288-5
Recovery of walking after paralysis by regenerating characterized neurons to their natural target region
Axon regeneration can be induced across anatomically complete spinal cord injury (SCI), but robust functional restoration has been elusive. Whether restoring neurological functions requires directed regeneration of axons from specific neuronal subpopulations to their natural target regions remains unclear. To address this question, we applied projection-specific and comparative single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify neuronal subpopulations that restore walking after incomplete SCI. We show that chemoattracting and guiding the transected axons of these neurons to their natural target region led to substantial recovery of walking after complete SCI in mice, whereas regeneration of axons simply across the lesion had no effect. Thus, reestablishing the natural projections of characterized neurons forms an essential part of axon regeneration strategies aimed at restoring lost neurological functions.
Human retinal stem-like cells with potential to repair vision loss discovered
Wenzhou Medical University and collaborating institutions have identified a population of human neural retinal stem-like cells able to regenerate retinal tissue and support visual recovery.
Vision loss caused by retinal degeneration affects millions worldwide. Conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration involve the irreversible loss of light-sensitive neural cells in the retina. While current treatments may slow progression, they do not replace damaged tissue.
For decades, scientists have explored whether stem cells could be used to regenerate the retina, but the existence of true retinal stem cells in humans has remained uncertain. In fish and amphibians, the outer edge of the retina houses stem cells that regenerate tissue continuously. Whether a comparable system exists in the human eye has been debated for more than two decades.
Laser Weapons: Everything You Need to Know
From Star Wars dreams to battlefield reality, laser weapons are finally here—but are they worth the hype? Here’s everything you need to know about the tech, the failures, and the future.
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Scientists reveal neuronal calcium oscillations involved in tissue communication
Mitochondria play a crucial role in maintaining energy balance and cellular health. Recent studies have shown that chronic stress in neuronal mitochondria can have far-reaching effects, not only damaging the neurons themselves but also influencing other tissues and systemic metabolic functions.
A new study led by Dr. Tian Ye’s research team at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) reveals that chronic mitochondrial stress in neurons promotes serotonin release via TMBIM-2-dependent calcium (Ca²⁺) oscillations, which in turn activates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) in the intestine. The findings are published in the Journal of Cell Biology.
The researchers found that TMBIM-2 works in coordination with the plasma membrane calcium pump MCA-3 (a PMCA homolog) to regulate synaptic Ca²⁺ balance, sustaining persistent calcium signaling oscillations at neuronal synaptic sites.
Blood test shows promise for early detection of dementia
Research findings focus on people with a sleep disorder, but could have broader implications. For people with a certain sleep disorder, a simple blood test could help predict the development of dementia years before symptoms appear, a new study indicates.
Idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) causes people to physically act out their dreams while sleeping.
The disorder is also associated with a very high risk of Parkinson’s disease and a related condition called Dementia with Lewy Bodies.