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During an EEG test, technicians normally use rulers and pencils to mark up a person’s head before gluing electrodes across the scalp. These electrodes are then connected via long wires to a machine that records brain activity. Alternatively, a cap with electrodes can be directly placed on the head.

However, this whole process is time-consuming and inconvenient, say the developers of the new technology. It generally takes around one to two hours to set up an EEG test, said co-developer Nanshu Lu, a professor of engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. The electrodes then need to be monitored about every two hours because the glue that attaches them to the scalp dries up, she told Live Science in an email.

A cancer therapy that prompts the body’s immune defenses against viruses and bacteria to attack tumors can make patients more vulnerable to heart attack and stroke. A possible explanation for this side effect is that the treatment interferes with immune regulation in the heart’s largest blood vessels, a new study suggests.

Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, the new work focused on a potent class of cancer-fighting drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors. These medications work by blocking molecules embedded on the surface of cells—immune checkpoints—which normally serve as “brake pedals” that prevent excess immune activity, or inflammation. Some tumors are known to hijack these checkpoints to weaken the body’s defenses, so by blocking the checkpoints, the treatments enable the immune system to kill tumor cells.

However, this treatment type may also trigger damaging levels of inflammation in the heart, brain, stomach, and other organs, the researchers say. For example, past studies have shown that about 10% of those with atherosclerosis, the buildup of hardened fatty deposits (plaques) within artery walls, have a heart attack or stroke following cancer treatment. However, the specific mechanisms behind this issue had until now remained unclear.

Summary: Researchers identified specific plant compounds that provide antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, contributing to brain health beyond basic nutrition. By analyzing plant-based foods like lemon balm, sage, and elderberry, scientists linked compounds such as phenolics and terpenes to benefits like reducing oxidative stress and scavenging harmful reactive species.

Quercetin-rich foods, such as Queen Garnet plum and clove, showed strong potential to prevent neuron-like cell damage. This study sheds light on how plant-based diets and supplements could support brain health and manage neuroinflammation-related conditions.

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Advances in Neurostimulation in Aging: From Basic Science to Clinical Applications

Guest Editors Dr. Orestis Stylianou and Dr. Gianluca Susi and Associate Editors Dr. Peter Mukli and Dr. Frigyes Samuel Racz and the editorial team of GeroScience (Official Journal of the American Aging Association, published by Springer) invite submission of original research articles and review articles related to basic and clinical research focused on neurostimulation in aging.

Continue reading “GeroScience: 📢 #CallForPapers focusing on #neurostimulation in #aging! 📢” »

“An Unscientific American” discusses the resignation of Laura Helmuth from her position as editor-in-chief at Scientific American. The author, Michael Shermer, argues that her departure exemplifies the risks of blending facts with ideology in scientific communication.

Helmuth faced backlash after posting controversial remarks on social media regarding political views, which led to public criticism and her eventual resignation. Shermer reflects on how the magazine’s editorial direction has shifted towards progressive ideology, suggesting this has compromised its scientific integrity. He notes that had Helmuth made disparaging comments about liberal viewpoints, her outcome would likely have been more severe.

Continue reading “The Scientific American Goes Woke + Laura Helmuth’s Resignation. By Michael Shermer” »

Researchers have linked a specific type of body fat to the abnormal proteins in the brain that are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease up to 20 years before the earliest symptoms of dementia appear, according to a study being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

The researchers emphasize that lifestyle modifications targeted at reducing this fat could influence the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

“This crucial result was discovered because we investigated Alzheimer’s disease pathology as early as midlife—in the 40s and 50s—when the disease pathology is at its earliest stages, and potential modifications like weight loss and reducing visceral fat are more effective as a means of preventing or delaying the onset of the disease,” said lead study author Mahsa Dolatshahi, M.D., M.P.H., post-doctoral research associate at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.

Recent research found that mindfulness meditation creates a unique state of relaxed alertness, marked by specific brainwave changes linked to focus and awareness, distinct from simple relaxation, and unrelated to changes in physiological arousal.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center-led research reveals subtle changes in the visual pathways of individuals with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), even when standard eye examinations show no abnormalities. These findings include structural and functional deficits despite participants showing normal visual acuity during clinical examination.

Mild TBI accounts for approximately 3 million cases in the U.S. each year. Up to 85% of TBI patients, regardless of injury severity, report visual disturbances such as light sensitivity, blurred vision, or difficulty reading. Persistent symptoms including memory problems, irritability, or slowed thinking often impact quality of life. Despite these symptoms, many individuals display no abnormalities during routine clinical evaluations such as fundus examinations.

In a case-control study, “Primary Visual Pathway Changes in Individuals With Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury,” published in JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers reported that 78% of participants with mild TBI exhibited visual deficits when evaluated with a comprehensive battery of tests.

Long thought to be sterile, our brains are now believed to harbour all sorts of micro-organisms, from bacteria to fungi. How big a part do they play in Alzheimer’s and similar diseases?