Progress in brain research最新文献

As neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's continue to rise globally, the need for cross-border collaboration in research and treatment has never been more critical. This chapter explores prominent global case studies and collaborative frameworks that exemplify how united efforts are transforming the landscape of NDD research. By pooling expertise, data, and resources, international initiatives are accelerating discoveries in early diagnosis, biomarker identification, and personalized therapies. Highlighting landmark consortia such as the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) (n.d.), Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), and emerging multi-omics collaborations, the chapter illustrates how these partnerships overcome the complexity and heterogeneity of NDDs. It delves into technological innovations like artificial intelligence, blockchain data sharing, and real-time patient monitoring, which empower researchers and clinicians to connect genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors in a holistic manner. Ethical considerations and data privacy frameworks are underscored as pivotal to fostering trust among participants and bridging disparities between regions with varying access to precision medicine. The chapter also sheds light on successful public-private partnerships and patient-focused global networks that place individuals at the center of discovery and care. Challenges such as standardizing protocols across countries, navigating legal frameworks, and securing sustainable funding are discussed alongside future directions for expanding collaborative reach. Ultimately, this comprehensive overview conveys the unprecedented promise held by global cooperation in combating neurodegenerative diseases-offering hope for improved diagnostics, innovative treatments, and enhanced quality of life for millions worldwide.

Neurodegenerative diseases, marked by complex molecular mechanisms and diverse clinical features, challenge conventional research approaches. This chapter emphasizes the value of multi-omics integration in understanding the biology of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Genomic studies reveal risk variants such as APOE ε4 in Alzheimer's and rare mutations in familial forms. Transcriptomics highlights gene expression changes, including synaptic dysfunction in early Parkinson's and alternative splicing errors in TARDBP-related ALS. Proteomics identifies key protein aggregates like amyloid beta and alpha-synuclein, along with modifications such as hyperphosphorylated tau that correlate with cognitive decline. Metabolomics uncovers metabolic alterations, including mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's and lipid peroxidation in ALS, which contribute to disease progression. By combining these layers with high-throughput tools like single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and mass spectrometry, researchers can reconstruct molecular networks linking genetic risk, gene regulation, protein dysfunction, and metabolic imbalance. This approach enables patient stratification into molecular subtypes, such as neuroinflammatory clusters defined by microglial gene signatures and cytokine expression. Biomarkers from blood and cerebrospinal fluid allow for minimally invasive disease monitoring. Despite challenges such as data heterogeneity and limited standardization, multi-omics approaches support biomarker discovery and therapeutic development. Integrating these datasets with neuroimaging and digital tools enhances diagnostic precision and guides targeted interventions, such as antisense therapies for SOD1-linked ALS. Multi-omics integration is thus a critical foundation for advancing personalized strategies in neurodegenerative disease research.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary intervention based on time-restricted energy intake. Over the years, IF has been widely investigated as a non-pharmacological approach to increasing life expectancy and promoting brain health. The underlying mechanisms by which IF promotes its beneficial effects are attributed to hormesis, an evolutionary adaptive strategy that regulates cellular responses to stress. These effects include elevated levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), enhanced neurogenesis and autophagy, increased synaptic plasticity, and improved cognitive functions such as memory and learning. The metabolic switch induced by IF promotes the production of ketone bodies (β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone), which serve as alternative energy substrate for the central nervous system (CNS) and modulator of vital processes, including cellular homeostasis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The two most common neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD), are characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation and energy deficits. IF has shown a promising therapeutic approach through its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, which need to be further assessed. Through similar mechanisms, IF appears to exert an antidepressant effect by regulating monoamines in limbic regions, and inhibiting neuroinflammation.

Hormesis-the adaptive response of cells and organisms to moderate, intermittent stress-has emerged as a promising framework for treating neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. This biphasic dose-response phenomenon can benefit biological systems by inducing neural plasticity, improving cognitive function, and enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. Hormetic interventions including intermittent fasting, physical exercise, and environmental enrichment, among others, work through common molecular pathways. These approaches collectively modulate essential transcription factors such as NF-κB, CREB, and Nrf2, and consequent increases in the expression of neuroprotective genes, such as BDNF and heat shock proteins. The relationship between stress and biological outcomes follows an inverted U-shaped curve, where moderate stress triggers beneficial adaptations while chronic or excessive stress leads to allostatic load and pathology. This mechanistic understanding bridges traditional concepts of homeostasis with modern views on neuroplasticity and resilience. By elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of hormetic responses, researchers can develop precisely calibrated, personalized interventions that may lead to therapeutic approaches to neurodegenerative conditions, neuropsychiatric disorders, and age-related cognitive decline.

Recent data underscores a critical public health issue: more than 40 % of the global population suffers from neurological conditions, for which no cures currently exist. To combat this pressing challenge, researchers are turning to phytochemicals-bioactive compounds derived from plants that hold promising health benefits, particularly for cognitive function. This chapter intends to shed light on groundbreaking discoveries regarding curcumin, isoflavonoids, and cardiotonic steroids, natural compounds that act on the brain. These substances have shown significant potential for enhancing brain health as we age, especially in addressing neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. We will also examine the intricate molecular mechanisms these compounds activate to offer neuroprotection, supported by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, we will analyze clinical trials that inspire optimism for the development of innovative therapeutic drugs in the near future. Supporting research in this area could be vital to transforming the landscape of neurological health.

Neuropsychiatric diseases are a serious disorders affecting an individual's life, which can constitute a great problem to health care systems and a reduced level of activity in elderly. These disorders mainly include schizophrenia (SCZ), anxiety, and depression. Art therapy (AT) as one of the non-pharmacological therapies seems to improve cognitive and behavioral symptoms in neuropsychiatric disorders in older adults but the exact neural mechanisms are not fully known. All these preventive methods contribute in decreasing psychological distress and promoting mental health in aging. Many different art media can be utilized by therapists for psychiatric and psychological conditions. AT, including music, painting, and architecture media as the most therapeutic processes can be served as a useful therapeutic option to alleviate disease related symptoms. Here, in this chapter we investigate the effectiveness of art therapies in age-related neuropsychiatric disorders adults. It's recommended for further research to stronger focus on processes and biological mechanisms underlying art related changes. We believe that this method has promoting potential in clinic on neuropsychiatric diseases to be further evaluated.

The elderly population is rising in number, and along with it, the distribution of neuropsychiatric disorders is also increasing. These disorders pose a challenge in treating them effectively in a timely manner. As most geriatric patients have comorbidities, the side effects of multiple medications, including drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders, cumulatively impair their well-being. To decrease the drug doses and hence the side effects, Non-Pharmacological Interventions (NPIs) pave a prominent pathway for the handling of patients. Cognitive stimulation therapy, mindfulness and meditation, music and art therapy, physical activity, social engagement, occupational therapy, reminiscence therapy, and technology-assisted interventions are the treatment modalities of neuropsychiatric disorders. In conjunction with the outcomes of these interventions on neuropsychiatric disorders, their limitations, challenges, and future directions are also explored. Though these evidence-based therapies are beneficial, optimal guidelines, a shortage of skilled therapy providers, long-term outcomes, and knowledge about the mechanism of action are inadequate. Finally, engaging in social interaction, daily exercise, and having a creative hobby, such as drawing and listening to music, delays the worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms in the aging population. In this chapter, we aim to review the science behind NPIs for neuropsychiatric disorders extensively.

Comparative studies of phytocannabinoids offer valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of cannabis. While Cannabis sativa can produce over 100 distinct phytocannabinoids, most are present only in trace amounts. This review examines the structural, biochemical, and pharmacological characteristics of five representative phytocannabinoids: cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), and cannabinol (CBN). We describe their biosynthetic pathways, abiotic transformations, and precursor roles in generating molecular diversity. Chemovar profiles are discussed based on seed bank data and chromatographic analyses of Brazilian-grown cultivars. Our findings suggest that high-CBD chemovars have recently emerged, possibly due to genetic drift from intensive hybridization. To evaluate the clinical relevance of these compounds, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of binding affinities (Ki) for CB1, CB2, and other neuronal receptors. Δ⁹-THC and CBN showed high affinities for CB1 and CB2, while CBG, CBC, and CBD exhibited 10-100 times lower affinities. Statistical analysis confirmed significantly stronger CB1 and CB2 binding for Δ⁹-THC compared to CBD. These results support the hypothesis that non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids primarily act through non-canonical targets such as GPR55 (G Protein-Coupled Receptor 55), TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1), and TRPM8 (Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 8), though affinity data for these receptors remain limited. Finally, we discuss preclinical pharmacological evidence highlighting how subtle structural differences yield distinct physiological effects. Our findings emphasize the need for expanded research into underexplored phytocannabinoids with unique therapeutic potential.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as a central and multifaceted modulator of emotional physiology, playing a pivotal role in neurotransmission, neuroplasticity, and stress response regulation. This article provides an original and comprehensive review of the neurobiological mechanisms by which the ECS influences emotional activity, highlighting not only its involvement in psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, but also offering new perspectives on ECS dysregulation as a common pathophysiological factor in these conditions. The originality of this work lies in its critical integration of recent evidence regarding alterations in receptors, enzymes, and endocannabinoid levels, as well as in its analysis of emerging therapeutic approaches targeting ECS pharmacological modulation, including enzyme inhibitors, selective agonists, and phytocannabinoids. The article emphasizes advances in personalized medicine and the identification of predictive biomarkers for therapeutic response, while also discussing ongoing regulatory and clinical challenges. By critically synthesizing available data, this review makes an innovative contribution to the field, consolidating the ECS as a promising and strategic target for the development of new interventions in mental health.

Research on the consequence of blindness has primarily focused on how visual experience influences basic sensory abilities, mainly overlooking the intricate world of social cognition. However, social cognition abilities are crucial as they enable individuals to navigate complex interactions, understand others' perspectives, regulate emotions, and establish meaningful connections, all essential for successful adaptation and integration into society. Emotional and social signals are frequently conveyed through nonverbal visual cues, and understanding the foundational role vision plays in shaping everyday affective experiences is fundamental. Here, we aim to summarize existing research on social cognition in individuals with blindness. By doing so, we strive to offer a comprehensive overview of social processing in sensory deprivation while pinpointing areas that are still largely unexplored. By identifying gaps in current knowledge, this review paves the way for future investigations to reveal how visual experience shapes the development of emotional and social cognition in the mind and the brain.