Category: Brain
Immune Attack on Smell Pathways May Signal Early Alzheimer’s
A fading sense of smell may be one of the earliest warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and new research reveals why. Scientists found that microglia, immune cells in the brain, mistakenly remove nerve fibers connecting the locus coeruleus and olfactory bulb—two regions essential for processing odors.
Eight New Genes Linked to Schizophrenia Revealed
The largest exome-sequencing study of schizophrenia to date has uncovered eight new genes tied to the disorder. Two genes, STAG1 and ZNF136, were strongly implicated, while six others showed moderate associations.
Having Past-Life Memories Linked To Striking Rates Of Mental Health Struggles
Having past-life memories was linked to an alarmingly high levels of psychiatric symptoms in a new Brazilian study.
The post Having Past-Life Memories Linked To Striking Rates Of Mental Health Struggles appeared first on Study Finds.
Prenatal Pesticide Exposure Linked to Lasting Brain Damage in Children
A new study provides the strongest evidence yet that prenatal exposure to the insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) disrupts brain development, leaving children with structural abnormalities and impaired motor control well into adolescence. Using brain imaging and behavioral assessments of over 270 New York City children, researchers found that higher CPF exposure levels were directly linked to widespread changes in brain structure, function, and metabolism.
Dopamine Imbalance in the Brain May Drive Trichotillomania
A new study using SAPAP3 knockout mice sheds light on the brain mechanisms that may drive trichotillomania, or hair-pulling disorder. These mice displayed compulsive grooming, heightened aggression, and stress-sensitive behaviors, mirroring human TTM traits—particularly in females.
Bipolar Mood Shifts Linked to Insulin Signaling in the Pancreas
A new study uncovers a pancreas–hippocampus feedback loop that may help explain mood swings in bipolar disorder. Using patient-derived pancreatic islets, researchers found reduced insulin secretion linked to elevated RORβ, a bipolar risk gene.
