2-Deoxyglucose drives plasticity via an adaptive ER stress-ATF4 pathway and elicits stroke recovery and Alzheimer’s resilience

AI SummaryIntermittent fasting can delay cognitive decline and improve conditions like stroke and Alzheimer’s. However, the exact impact of glucose restriction, a part of intermittent fasting, is not fully understood. Researchers used 2-deoxyglucose to investigate how low glucose stimulates brain plasticity and treats stroke and Alzheimer’s.Intermittent fasting (IF) is a nutritional paradigm that forestalls cognitive… Continue reading 2-Deoxyglucose drives plasticity via an adaptive ER stress-ATF4 pathway and elicits stroke recovery and Alzheimer’s resilience

Unraveling connections between the brain and gut

AI SummaryMIT engineers have developed a new technology that allows them to control neural circuits connecting the gut and the brain in mice using fibers embedded with various sensors and light sources. Through their experiments, they were able to manipulate the gut cells to induce feelings of fullness or reward-seeking behavior in the mice, indicating… Continue reading Unraveling connections between the brain and gut

How touch dampens the brain’s response to painful stimuli

AI SummaryResearchers at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research have observed how touch can alleviate pain in mice, offering a deeper understanding of the relationship between pain and touch and potential insights into chronic pain in humans. The researchers found that whisker movement, which activates touch receptors in mice’s faces, altered their responses to painful… Continue reading How touch dampens the brain’s response to painful stimuli