Tag

Brain Imaging

All articles tagged with #brain imaging

technology13 days ago•7 min saved

Metamaterial MRI Antenna Delivers Sharper Eye and Brain Imaging on Existing Scanners

Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center and Rostock University Medical Center unveiled a metamaterial-based MRI antenna that strengthens signals from deep tissues, enabling higher-resolution images of the eye and occipital brain regions and potentially shorter scan times without new equipment. Tested at 7.0 Tesla on volunteers, the compact antenna can be adapted to different body parts, may help reduce heating near implants, and could enhance MRI-guided therapies; larger clinical studies are planned and the approach targets broader organ imaging in the future.

via SciTechDaily|

#brain-imaging #eye-imaging #medical-imaging

science23 days ago•35 min saved

Midlife clues reveal Alzheimer’s may start decades before memory loss

A Mayo Clinic study finds Alzheimer’s-related changes can begin in people’s late 50s, decades before memory problems, outlining a two-phase timeline where amyloid buildup appears first, followed by other biomarkers and cognitive changes as people age, with blood and imaging signals peaking later. The research warns that averages don’t predict an individual's onset and suggests earlier, smarter screening and planning, while noting limitations in population diversity and the need for clearer clinical guidelines.

via Earth.com|

#aging #alzheimers #amyloid-beta

health26 days ago•7 min saved

Brain scans identify a severe ADHD subtype defined by emotional dysregulation

A JAMA Psychiatry study of 1,154 brain scans finds three ADHD biotypes—predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and a severe, emotionally dysregulated subtype with widespread brain changes—pushing for biologically grounded ADHD definitions beyond current symptom criteria. While promising for targeted diagnosis and treatment, brain imaging remains impractical for routine clinical use, and clinicians note variable treatment responses, underscoring the need for tailored approaches.

via The Washington Post|

#adhd #brain-imaging #dsm-5

health1 month ago•34 min saved

Sleep Deprivation Slows Brain Signals by Thinning Myelin, New Study Finds

A study combining MRI data from 185 sleep-deprived adults with animal experiments shows sleep loss thins brain myelin and disrupts cholesterol delivery, slowing interhemispheric signal transmission and leading to attention, memory, and motor impairments. Restoring myelin-related processes in animals by boosting cholesterol suggests a biological target for intervention. To protect brain health when sleep is limited, aim for 7–9 hours of sleep, consume healthy fats to support myelin, take short naps, optimize the sleep environment, and maintain regular exercise.

via Yahoo|

#brain #brain-imaging #health

health-and-medicine1 month ago•7 min saved

Autism traits shape brain networks shared by ASD and ADHD

A Molecular Psychiatry study shows that the severity of autism-like symptoms, not the diagnostic label, is linked to specific brain connectivity patterns and gene activity shared by autism and ADHD, suggesting a common biology and supporting a dimensional, biomarker-informed approach to neurodevelopmental conditions.

via ScienceDaily|

#adhd #autism #brain-imaging

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Global Mega-Analysis Finds Common Brain Signature Across Psychedelics

An international mega-analysis pooling over 500 brain-imaging sessions from 267 participants across five countries shows that psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, DMT, ayahuasca) produce a shared brain fingerprint: weakening within-network connectivity and increasing cross-network communication, leading to a more flexible, less modular brain state. This two-part pattern explains common therapeutic and perceptual effects across diverse drugs and provides a benchmark to guide future research and regulatory considerations.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain-imaging #mental-health #meta-analysis

health2 months ago•6 min saved

Brain scans reveal three ADHD biotypes, signaling a move toward personalized care

A JAMA Psychiatry study analyzing brain scans and neurochemical data from hundreds of children with ADHD identifies three distinct neuroclinical profiles—severe-combined with emotional dysregulation, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and predominantly inattentive—suggesting ADHD isn’t a single disorder and could lead to tailored treatments in the future.

via HuffPost UK|

#adhd #biotypes #brain-imaging

health3 months ago•5 min saved

Brain Changes Tie Hearing Loss to Dementia Risk, Study Finds

A new study links age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) to cognitive decline through coupled functional and structural brain changes. Researchers introduce the Functional-Structural Ratio (FSR), derived from MRI measures, which correlates with worse hearing and poorer cognitive performance in specific brain regions, suggesting FSR could serve as a biomarker for dementia risk. While cross-sectional, the findings highlight the potential of preserving hearing health to protect brain integrity and guide early interventions.

via Medical News Today|

#brain-imaging #cognitive-decline #functional-structural-ratio

health3 months ago•6 min saved

Moderate cannabis use linked to larger brain regions and better cognition in middle-aged and older adults

A UK Biobank analysis of 26,362 adults aged 40–77 finds that greater lifetime cannabis use is generally associated with larger regional brain volumes and better cognitive performance, especially with moderate use; some measures peak at high use, but one region (posterior cingulate) shows lower volume with more use, and sex differences appear but are not consistent. The study emphasizes nuance, cautions against causal conclusions, and notes context (patterns, products, timing) matters, with future work on brain connectivity and other substances like psilocybin.

via CU Anschutz newsroom|

#aging #brain-imaging #cannabis

science3 months ago•12 min saved

When the mind’s eye goes dim: what aphantasia reveals about imagination

Most people can visualize details from daily life, but about 4% have little to no mental imagery (aphantasia). The article traces its discovery, how researchers measure imagery (e.g., binocular rivalry) and brain activity, and suggests aphantasia may involve both lack of conscious access and difficulty in voluntary generation. Despite variability and possible genetic links, many with aphantasia function normally in memory and creativity, making it a valuable window into how the brain constructs inner experiences and consciousness.

via Nature|

#aphantasia #brain-imaging #consciousness

technology3 months ago•9 min saved

New 3D Color Imaging Joins Ultrasound and Photoacoustics to See Inside the Body

Caltech and USC researchers have developed RUS-PAT, a hybrid rotational ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography system that produces fast, three-dimensional color images showing both tissue structure and blood-vessel function. Demonstrations across multiple body regions suggest wide medical potential, including enhanced breast tumor imaging, monitoring nerve damage from diabetes, and concurrent brain structure and blood flow visualization. The technique reaches about 4 cm depth and can complete a scan in under a minute, with ongoing translational development for clinical use.

via SciTechDaily|

#3d-imaging #biomedical-imaging #brain-imaging

science4 months ago•8 min saved

Flawed Brain Mapping Casts Doubt on Targeted Neuromodulation

A Nature Neuroscience study reveals a mathematical flaw in lesion network mapping, producing nearly identical brain networks across diverse conditions and challenging the validity of disease-specific targets, prompting calls for revised methods and cautious clinical application.

via The Transmitter|

#brain-imaging #brain-mapping #connectome

neuroscience4 months ago•19 min saved

Lasting brain changes found in recovered COVID-19 patients, MRI study shows

A multimodal MRI study comparing Long COVID, recovered (symptom-free), and never-infected groups (47 participants) found distinct brain changes in tissue microstructure and neurochemistry associated with Long COVID and footprints in those who have fully recovered. Differences include altered myelin proxies (T1w/T2w) in motor and memory regions, diffusion changes in the cerebellum and brainstem, and metabolic shifts (lower glutamine, higher N-acetyl-aspartate) that correlated with physical function and cognitive scores. The study suggests SARS-CoV-2 may leave a brain footprint even after apparent recovery, but its cross-sectional design and small sample size mean longitudinal research is needed to determine permanence and timeline.

via PsyPost|

#brain-imaging #covid-19 #long-covid

health4 months ago•55 min saved

Sudoku Triggers Reflex Seizures in Hypoxia-Linked Brain Case

After surviving an avalanche that caused hypoxia, a 25-year-old German man later developed rhythmic jerks in his left arm specifically while solving Sudoku. EEG showed a right centroparietal seizure pattern; MRI was normal, but functional MRI revealed widespread brain activation with fewer inhibitory fibers in the centroparietal region, linking the hypoxia‑induced brain damage to reflex seizures triggered by visual‑spatial tasks. He was treated with anti‑epileptic medication and rehab, and remained seizure‑free for years, even giving up solving Sudoku.

via Live Science|

#brain-imaging #health #hypoxia

health-and-medicine4 months ago•8 min saved

Widespread brain shrinkage drives aging-related memory decline, mega-analysis finds

An international mega-analysis of over 10,000 MRI scans and 13,000 memory tests from thousands of healthy adults shows that memory decline with age stems from broad structural brain changes across many regions—especially, but not exclusively, the hippocampus—with nonlinear acceleration in later life and not fully explained by Alzheimer's risk genes like APOE ε4. This points to a distributed brain vulnerability that could help identify at-risk individuals and guide personalized cognitive health interventions.

via ScienceDaily|

#aging #brain-imaging #health-and-medicine