Tag

Brain Imaging

All articles tagged with #brain imaging

science3 days ago•51 min saved

Common Brain Network Disruptions Link Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry compared resting-state fMRI from 89 people with schizophrenia, 57 with bipolar I disorder, and 45 healthy controls, finding reduced coordination among distant brain regions in both patient groups—more widespread changes in schizophrenia. This suggests overlapping patterns of brain-network disruption between the two conditions, though not a single wiring fault; results cannot diagnose individuals yet and highlight the need for larger, longitudinal research.

via Yahoo|

#bipolar-disorder #brain-imaging #mental-health

science5 days ago•11 min saved

Psychedelics reshape brain networks, revealing an 'embedded' sense of self

A Nature study with 62 healthy adults shows psilocybin reorganizes brain networks across rest, mindfulness-like states, music, and cloud-watching, reducing the usual separation between self and world and revealing an 'embeddedness' signature that correlates with next-day positive changes. Using MRI/EEG and machine-learning mapped patterns, the research highlights context’s role in psychedelic experiences while noting limitations: participants were healthy volunteers, study was open-label and lacked a placebo, and results may not generalize to patients.

via theconversation.com|

#brain-imaging #embeddedness #neuroscience

science8 days ago•24 min saved

MRI reveals enduring brain changes in both long COVID patients and recovered individuals

A small multimodal MRI study (47 adults) found lasting brain tissue and neurochemical changes in people with long COVID and those who recovered, compared with never-infected controls. Using myelin-sensitive imaging, diffusion MRI, and MR spectroscopy, researchers observed elevated myelin signals in several regions for both groups, with distinct patterns (higher signals in brainstem and cerebellum for the recovered group; higher signals in the precentral gyrus and middle temporal gyrus for long COVID). Diffusion reductions were noted in various regions, and neurochemical shifts differed (long COVID: higher N-acetyl-aspartate; recovered: higher glutamine). Some myelin measures correlated with physical and cognitive impairment. However, the study is small and cross-sectional, so it cannot establish causality or track changes over time; larger longitudinal work is needed to determine whether these changes are permanent or reversible.

via PsyPost|

#brain-imaging #long-covid #mri

science25 days ago•37 min saved

Long COVID linked to dopamine nerve loss in the brain

A new eBioMedicine study finds long COVID patients show an average 18% reduction in dopamine-releasing nerve terminals in the striatum, measured by VMAT2 binding, with lower dopamine cell density correlating with apathy, slower motor speed, and memory issues; blood biomarkers did not reflect these brain changes. The authors suggest dopamine-enhancing treatments could help some patients, but note the study’s small, associative design and call for larger, longitudinal research to confirm causality and guide therapy.

via psypost.org|

#brain-imaging #dopamine #long-covid

science2 months ago•9 min saved

Low-Dopamine Teens Drive the ‘Youth Peak’ in Substance Use, Study Finds

A longitudinal study of over 800 youths tracked for up to nine years finds that early experimentation with alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine is driven by a low baseline dopamine system rather than excess dopamine. Using brain tissue iron as a proxy for dopamine, researchers identified a distinct “youth-peak” group whose low dopamine levels predicted increased substance use in early adolescence that sharply declined as dopamine networks matured into adulthood. This challenges the idea that higher dopamine drives teen risk, suggesting most teen experimentation is a normal, temporary phase, and highlighting potential prevention approaches that channel risk-taking into healthy outlets; the study also notes digital environments may provide a modern alternative reward channel.

via Neuroscience News|

#adolescence #brain-imaging #dopamine

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Teen Cannabis Use Linked to Disrupted Brain Reward Development

A Brown University-led study with 81 adolescents (14–17) found that repeated cannabis use, especially high-potency products, correlates with lower brain tissue iron in dopamine-rich regions, signaling disrupted maturation of the dopamine system and reward processing. This first-of-its-kind MRI work suggests reduced dopamine-related neurophysiology in teens who use cannabis and highlights potential increased addiction vulnerability, warranting longitudinal follow-up to assess long-term outcomes.

via Neuroscience News|

#adolescence #brain-imaging #cannabis

technology3 months 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

science3 months 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

health3 months 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

health4 months 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-medicine4 months 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

science4 months 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

health5 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

health6 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

health6 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