All articles tagged with #neuroinflammation
New research shows harmful sugars produced by gut bacteria trigger immune responses that damage brain cells in ALS and frontotemporal dementia; elevated levels were found in a majority of patients studied, and experiments reducing these sugars improved brain health and lifespan, pointing to gut-targeted therapies and biomarkers to slow disease progression—especially in carriers of the C9orf72 mutation.
A new study suggests brain immune cells (microglia) can actively initiate amyloid plaques by reshaping amyloid-beta into fibers and promoting tau tangles, challenging the view that microglia only clear plaques and implying that early inflammatory responses may set the stage for Alzheimer’s progression; this could influence timing and targets of future therapies.
Preclinical study in a mouse model of Alzheimer's found inhaled cannabidiol (CBD) reduced key inflammatory pathways (IDO and cGAS), lowered proinflammatory cytokines, and improved recognition memory, suggesting CBD may exert a multitarget anti-inflammatory effect that could complement other approaches. However, results are early and in animals, and human studies are needed to assess safety and efficacy.
A review of 100+ studies links microplastics and nanoplastics to brain pathways involved in Parkinson's disease, suggesting these pollutants can enter the body via ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact and reach the brain to promote alpha-synuclein clumps and neuroinflammation, as well as disrupt gut-brain communication and ferry metals; however, most evidence comes from animal/cell studies and human data are limited, so more research is needed alongside reducing plastic pollution and improving waste management.
A systematic review of 17 rodent experiments finds caffeine consistently lowers brain inflammation and improves anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, likely via adenosine receptor blockade, increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress; caffeine's effects are comparable to some antidepressants in animals, but most data come from adult male rodents with varied dosing, so human studies are needed to determine safety and applicability.
In two mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, researchers found that very low-dose THC improved memory and reduced brain inflammation, and when combined with celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor anti-inflammatory) it led to even stronger benefits, including reduced beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles and healthier gene activity. THC alone offered limited benefits and increased inflammation; the combo reversed that trend and showed greater cognitive improvement. With both drugs already approved for other uses, the team hopes to move toward human trials to see if the benefits translate to slowing or reversing disease progression.
Researchers identify LilrB2 as a shared receptor that Reacts to amyloid beta and the inflammatory fragment C4d to trigger neurons to prune their own synapses, linking two major Alzheimer's theories. This neuron-autonomous mechanism suggests therapies should aim to protect synapses rather than solely dismantle plaques to preserve memory.
Research suggests that high levels of the oral bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum may be linked to increased disability in multiple sclerosis patients, indicating a possible MS-specific oral–brain inflammatory pathway and highlighting the importance of oral health in disease progression.
Scientists from Northwestern University developed a promising drug called NU-9 that effectively stalls Alzheimer's in mouse models by reducing toxic amyloid beta oligomers and calming brain support cells, potentially enabling early preventative treatment before symptoms appear.
A natural experiment in Wales found that a routine shingles vaccine given to 79-year-olds was associated with a 20% reduction in dementia risk, suggesting that the vaccine may have protective effects on brain health by reducing viral reactivation and neuroinflammation, with potential therapeutic benefits even for those already with dementia.
This study used molecular profiling and innovative proteomics techniques to explore how brain endothelial cells communicate with astrocyte endfeet in mice and humans, revealing dynamic ligand-receptor interactions that are modulated during peripheral inflammation and are conserved across species, with implications for understanding neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists discovered that people with multiple sclerosis have an imbalanced oral microbiome characterized by a loss of beneficial bacteria and lower levels of the protective metabolite hypotaurine, suggesting that oral bacteria may influence immune dysregulation in MS. These findings could lead to saliva-based diagnostic tools and new treatments aimed at restoring healthy oral bacteria to support neurological health.
Researchers discovered a rare brain cell type called DARGs that are highly prevalent in progressive MS, contribute to chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration by releasing inflammatory signals, and could be targeted for new treatments to slow or halt disease progression.
A study using ultra-high-resolution 7T MRI scanners found that severe Covid-19 can cause lasting damage and inflammation in the brainstem, which may explain long-term physical and psychiatric symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and anxiety, highlighting the importance of brain health in Covid-19 recovery.
Researchers from FIU discovered that elevated levels of the brain protein TSPO in mice and human tissue could serve as an early biomarker for Alzheimer's disease, potentially allowing for diagnosis years before symptoms appear and enabling earlier intervention.