Researchers have discovered that a gene previously seen as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, PHGDH, actually plays a causal role by disrupting gene regulation in the brain. Using AI, the team revealed that PHGDH has a hidden DNA-binding function unrelated to its known enzymatic activity. This malfunction triggers early Alzheimer’s development, offering a new target for prevention.

Humans have an exceptional ability to learn socially, but most studies have focused on overly simplified tasks. In a new study using Minecraft, researchers found that the most successful participants dynamically balanced individual exploration and social learning. Adaptability, rather than relying solely on one strategy, predicted better performance across various environments.

A large international study finds that babies living in insecure conditions, including as refugees, display key social skills on par with children raised in more stable environments. Using eye-tracking technology, researchers found that over 800 children from Sweden, Uganda, Bhutan, and Zimbabwe equally followed social cues like shared attention, regardless of poverty, trauma, or parental mental health.

New findings from the EXERT study reveal that both low and moderate-high intensity exercise may help preserve cognitive function in older adults with mild memory problems, a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Over 12 months, participants who engaged in either form of exercise showed significantly less cognitive decline and reduced brain volume loss, especially in the prefrontal cortex, compared to a usual-care group.

Serotonin neurons in the brainstem are not independent, as once thought, but interact to influence decision-making. Researchers found that clusters of serotonin neurons compete and collaborate, shaping when and how serotonin is released throughout the brain.

Not everyone remembers their dreams, and a new study reveals why. Researchers found that dream recall is most strongly influenced by a person’s attitude toward dreams, their tendency to mind-wander, and specific sleep characteristics.

A large longitudinal study found that older adults with high levels of autistic traits experience no greater decline in spatial working memory than their neurotypical peers. Researchers tracked cognitive performance over seven years in more than 10,000 UK adults aged 50 and older.

A new study challenges the belief that exposure to facts only deepens political divisions. Researchers found that when Americans were presented with balanced, credible information about gun control, and incentivized to engage with it, they retained the facts and even revised their views.

As single-child families rise in the U.S., more adults are navigating the intense responsibility of caregiving without the support of siblings. A new study reveals that only children experience greater emotional and financial stress when caring for aging parents, and support from friends or extended family doesn't offer the same relief it does for those with siblings.

A new study has uncovered the brain connectivity patterns that differentiate patients who recover from psychosis from those who do not. Using whole-brain computational models, researchers found that patients in remission show increased neural connectivity, while those with persistent symptoms show reduced connectivity.

A decades-long study in Finland reveals that smoking, heavy drinking, and physical inactivity in early adulthood are strongly linked to declining physical and mental health by age 36. Participants with all three habits showed elevated depression symptoms, higher metabolic risk, and lower self-rated health and wellbeing scores.

Researchers have developed an AI model that analyzes sequences of brain scans to accurately predict tumor recurrence in children with gliomas. By applying a method called temporal learning, the model interprets subtle changes in MR images taken post-treatment over time. The study found that using multiple images significantly outperforms traditional single-scan analysis, reaching prediction accuracy rates as high as 89%.