Primate auditory prototype in the evolution of the arcuate fasciculus

The human arcuate fasciculus pathway is crucial for #language, interconnecting posterior temporal and inferior frontal areas. Whether a monkey homolog exists is controversial and the nature of human-specific specialization unclear. Using monkey, ape and human auditory functional fields and diffusion-weighted MRI, we identified homologous pathways originating from the auditory cortex. This discovery establishes a primate… Continue reading Primate auditory prototype in the evolution of the arcuate fasciculus

α-Synuclein-specific T cell reactivity is associated with preclinical and early #Parkinson’s disease

..diagnosis of motor Parkinson’s disease (PD) is preceded by a prolonged premotor phase with accumulating neuronal damage. Here we examined the temporal relation between α-synuclein (α-syn) T cell reactivity and PD. A longitudinal case study revealed that elevated α-syn-specific T cell responses were detected prior to the diagnosis of motor PD, and declined after. The… Continue reading α-Synuclein-specific T cell reactivity is associated with preclinical and early #Parkinson’s disease

Emotional #stress induces structural #plasticity in Bergmann glial cells via an AC5-CPEB3-GluA1 pathway

Stress alters brain function by modifying the structure and function of neurons and astrocytes. The fine processes of astrocytes are critical for the clearance of neurotransmitters during synaptic transmission. Thus, experience-dependent remodeling of glial processes is anticipated to alter the output of neural circuits.. ..Significance statement Astrocytes play important roles in synaptic transmission by extending… Continue reading Emotional #stress induces structural #plasticity in Bergmann glial cells via an AC5-CPEB3-GluA1 pathway

Central sensory-motor crosstalk in the neural gut-brain axis

The neural gut-brain axis consists of viscerosensory and autonomic motor neurons innervating the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Sensory neurons transmit nutrient-related and non-nutrient-related information to the brain, while motor neurons regulate GI motility and secretion. Previous research provides an incomplete picture of the brain nuclei that are directly connected with the neural gut-brain axis, and no… Continue reading Central sensory-motor crosstalk in the neural gut-brain axis

#Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, part 2

..ASPREE study suggests no benefit from aspirin in primary prevention ASPREE randomized 19,114 healthy people 70 or over (65 or over for African Americans and Hispanics) to receive either 100 milligrams of enteric-coated aspirin or placebo. After an average of almost five years, there was no significant difference in the rate of fatal coronary heart… Continue reading #Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, part 2

BrainAGE and regional volumetric analysis of a Buddhist monk: a longitudinal MRI case study

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (YMR) is a Tibetan Buddhist monk, and renowned meditation practitioner and teacher who has spent an extraordinary number of hours of his life meditating. The brain-aging profile of this expert meditator in comparison to a control population was examined using a machine learning framework, which estimates “brain-age” from brain imaging. YMR’s brain-aging… Continue reading BrainAGE and regional volumetric analysis of a Buddhist monk: a longitudinal MRI case study

#Diet modulates brain network stability, a biomarker for brain #aging, in young adults

..One cohort was scanned under standard diet, overnight fasting, and ketogenic diet conditions. To isolate the impact of fuel type, an independent overnight fasted cohort was scanned before and after administration of a calorie-matched glucose and exogenous ketone ester (D-β-hydroxybutyrate) bolus. Across the life span, brain network destabilization correlated with decreased brain activity and cognitive… Continue reading #Diet modulates brain network stability, a biomarker for brain #aging, in young adults

#Vegetarian diet and incidence of total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic #stroke in 2 cohorts in Taiwan

To determine how a vegetarian diet affects stroke incidence in 2 prospective cohorts and to explore whether the association is modified by dietary vitamin B12 intake.. ..Vegetarians had lower serum vitamin B12 and higher folate and homocysteine than nonvegetarians. In cohort 1, 54 events occurred in 30,797 person-years follow-up. Vegetarians (vs nonvegetarians) experienced lower risk… Continue reading #Vegetarian diet and incidence of total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic #stroke in 2 cohorts in Taiwan

Practice guideline: Treatment for insomnia and disrupted sleep behavior in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Major recommendations (Level B) For children and adolescents with ASD and sleep disturbance, clinicians should assess for medications and coexisting conditions that could contribute to the sleep disturbance and should address identified issues. Clinicians should counsel parents regarding strategies for improved sleep habits with behavioral strategies as a first-line treatment approach for sleep disturbance either… Continue reading Practice guideline: Treatment for insomnia and disrupted sleep behavior in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder