Development of the nervous system, including neurogenesis, axon guidance, synapse formation, neural plasticity, and developmental disorders of the nervous system
9 papersThis pilot study in rhesus macaques found differences in amygdala growth and opioid binding between vaccinated and unvaccinated infants. However, the small sample size (12 vaccinated, 4 control) limits the conclusions, and primate studies don't perfectly translate to humans.
This mouse study showed that microglia in the frontal cortex promote new connections in response to dopamine during adolescence, and that this process requires a specific receptor on microglia (P2RY12). Blocking this receptor, or interfering with dopamine signaling, prevented the formation of new connections, suggesting a key role for microglia in adolescent brain plasticity.
This cross-sectional study found a correlation between higher screen time use (above AAP recommendations) and lower structural integrity in brain areas related to language and literacy in 3-5-year-olds. Corresponding cognitive test scores were also lower in higher screen time users. It's important to note that this is a correlation, not proof of causation, and the sample was limited in socioeconomic diversity.
This study used high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to track changes in the human cortex across the lifespan (ages 5-74). Cortical thickness followed the expected pattern of decreasing with age, while other DTI measures like fractional anisotropy and diffusivity followed U-shaped trajectories, with minimum values in adulthood. Radiality, a measure specific to cortical diffusion, showed a unique cubic trajectory, decreasing in both childhood and old age.
Deep convolutional neural networks, particularly VGG-19, achieved high accuracy (over 90%) in identifying Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS) based on facial photographs, exceeding the performance of human experts. This automated approach could facilitate early diagnosis and improve clinical workflow, especially in regions with limited access to genetic testing.
General anesthesia (GA) disrupts iron homeostasis in the brain, leading to iron overload and triggering ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death. Chelating excess iron with deferiprone or blocking iron uptake through DMT1 can prevent neuronal damage and improve cognitive outcomes after GA exposure, indicating potential therapeutic strategies for GA-induced cognitive deficits.
This study found that SIRT3 expression decreases in the hippocampus of aged mice after anesthesia and surgery, leading to cognitive decline. Overexpression of SIRT3 was shown to protect against this cognitive decline by suppressing neuroinflammation and improving synaptic plasticity.
Anesthesia and surgery can trigger neuroinflammation, leading to overactivation of NMDARs and calpain, which in turn messes with BDNF/TrkB signaling, causing memory problems in older mice. Luckily, blocking NMDARs or calpain seemed to protect the mice's brains and memories!
Researchers created a "fusion" brain organoid model with integrated blood vessels and microglia, the brain's immune cells. These vascularized organoids exhibited enhanced neural progenitor proliferation and developed functional blood-brain barrier properties, offering a promising new tool for studying brain development and disease.