Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a tingling sensation that originates in the occipital region and spreads along the neck and spine, elicited by specific audiovisual stimuli known as ASMR triggers. The characteristics of ASMR-related changes in brain activity relative to other external stimuli, and whether these changes are specific to ASMR, remain unclear. The aim of this study is to compare changes in functional connectivity during exposure to ASMR triggers and classical music, and to clarify the changes in connectivity that are more strongly associated with ASMR trigger listening. Forty-eight healthy adults without a history of psychiatric disorders underwent functional MRI under three conditions: resting state without auditory stimulation, listening to ASMR triggers, and listening to classical music. Functional connectivity during the ASMR and classical-music conditions was assessed relative to the resting state. As a result, functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the right lateral parietal cortex increased during ASMR trigger listening compared to rest. Relative to classical music listening, ASMR trigger listening increased functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the right lateral parietal cortex, between the left anterior insula and left supramarginal gyrus, and between the right rostral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex. No significant changes in functional connectivity were observed during classical music listening alone. These findings suggest that, compared with classical music listening, ASMR trigger listening is associated with stronger functional connectivity between specific ROI pairs involved in self-referential/internal evaluative processing and sensory integration.
ALDOC modulates astrocytic glycolysis and AMPK/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling in Alzheimer’s disease
AimsAstrocytes provide crucial metabolic support for neurons and undergo significant metabolic changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aldolase C (ALDOC), an astrocyte-enriched glycolytic enzyme, may play a role in this process. This study aimed to investigate whether ALDOC modulates astrocytic metabolism to support neuronal energy supply in patients with AD and to assess its therapeutic potential.MethodsHippocampal and cortical tissues from 6-month-old APP/PS1 and wild-type mice were subjected to western blotting, qPCR, and immunofluorescence staining for ALDOC and glycolytic proteins. An in vitro AD model was created using oligomeric β-amyloid (oAβ)-treated SVGp12 astrocytes. ALDOC was overexpressed or knocked down via plasmid or siRNA. Downstream effects on AMPK/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling and the expression of glycolytic markers (LDHA and PKM2) were evaluated by western blot and qPCR, as well as by lactate/ATP assays and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) measurements. Neuron–astrocyte interactions were assessed in an SVGp12/SH-SY5Y coculture. Furthermore, the ability of magnesium ions to restore ALDOC expression was tested.ResultsALDOC was specifically expressed in astrocytes but was downregulated in APP/PS1 mice, accompanied by reduced HIF-1α and LDHA levels, suggesting glycolytic impairment. Similar downregulation occurred in oAβ-treated SVGp12 cells. ALDOC overexpression was associated with altered AMPK/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling, enhanced glycolysis, and increased lactate and ATP production, whereas its knockdown had the opposite effects. These outcomes appeared to depend on HIF-1α, as suggested by the rescue experiments. In coculture, ALDOC overexpression in astrocytes supported neuronal metabolic function. Moreover, magnesium ions restored ALDOC activity and glycolysis in oAβ-treated astrocytes.ConclusionThese results suggest that ALDOC is downregulated in APP/PS1 mice and is associated with glycolytic impairment. In oAβ-treated astrocytes, ALDOC appears to regulate glycolysis through the AMPK/mTOR/HIF-1α axis and may support neuronal energy via the lactate shuttle. Magnesium ions appear to offer a potential strategy for addressing the metabolic deficits in AD.
Identity rupture and reconstruction in post-stroke PTSD: a patient journey map
ObjectiveTo identify the core psychological rehabilitation needs of post-stroke Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder patients based on a patient-family-nurse triad-verified journey map, and to provide references for developing precise nursing intervention strategies.MethodsA descriptive qualitative research method was adopted. From July 2025 to November 2025, a convenience sample of 19 participants, including post-stroke PTSD patients, primary caregivers, and healthcare professionals from a tertiary general hospital in Binzhou City, were recruited for semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was used to organize the data, and a psychological rehabilitation journey map was constructed with triangulation verification.ResultsA total of 24 sub-themes were summarized in terms of tasks, emotions, and pain points, forming a symptom-experience journey map covering four phases: traumatic impact, support Imbalance, resilience activation, and life stabilization.ConclusionThis triad-verified journey map visually reveals the phase-specific process of identity reconstruction in post-stroke PTSD and provides a practical framework for developing phased, person-centered interventions.
Expressive writing combined with digital cognitive therapy in patients with schizophrenia: a narrative review of efficacy, linguistic phenotypes, and adherence modulators
Schizophrenia involves emotional and cognitive deficits that are often unresponsive to medication, emphasizing the need for effective psychosocial rehabilitation. This narrative review and conceptual perspective explores the potential integration of expressive writing (EW) and digital cognitive therapy (DCT) as a proposed dual approach to support emotional regulation and cognitive recovery. EW can facilitate emotional processing and motivation, while digital therapy may improve attention, memory, and executive function through structured and interactive training. Their proposed combination could promote engagement, strengthen self-efficacy, and support long-term rehabilitation. Linguistic analysis using natural language processing (NLP) could offer objective indicators of emotional and cognitive change, potentially enabling personalized and adaptive intervention. Overall, the proposed integration model may provide a practical and broadly implementable framework for improving functional prognosis and promoting recovery in schizophrenia, but empirical research is needed to determine its effectiveness, scalability, or clinical applicability, among other aspects.
Cultural and intergenerational pathways between family alcohol use, trauma exposure, and probable PTSD in Taiwanese adolescents
BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use (AU) frequently co-occur, yet little is known about how family drinking patterns shape trauma exposure and PTSD risk in non-Western and Indigenous adolescent populations. Taiwan’s multi-ethnic eastern region—home to Amis and Atayal Indigenous groups—provides a unique context for examining culturally specific trauma pathways.ObjectiveTo examine how caregiver and adolescent alcohol use relate to exposure to traumatic events (TEs) and probable PTSD likelihood among Han Chinese and two Indigenous groups, Amis and Atayal, in eastern Taiwan.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 751 junior-high students (Han, Amis, Atayal) in rural eastern Taiwan. Adolescents completed the Chinese UCLA PTSD Reaction Index and a trauma-exposure checklist. Caregiver and adolescent AU were assessed via self-report. Logistic regression tested associations among caregiver and adolescent AU, trauma exposure, and probable PTSD likelihood, adjusting for demographic factors.ResultsCaregiver AU was significantly associated with both trauma exposure and probable PTSD across all ethnic groups. While adolescent AU was associated with trauma exposure among Han and Amis youth, no such link was found for Atayal adolescents. Furthermore, exploratory testing rejected the self-medication hypothesis, lending support to the high-risk environmental framework. Trauma types most strongly associated with probable PTSD differed by ethnicity: sexual trauma and painful medical procedures among Han youth; bereavement among Amis adolescents; and witnessing community violence among Atayal adolescents. Indigenous participants showed consistently higher trauma exposure than Han peers.ConclusionsFamily drinking patterns exert strong intergenerational effects on adolescent trauma exposure and probable PTSD risk. The culturally distinct trauma profiles across Han, Amis, and Atayal adolescents highlight the need for trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and family-centered mental-health interventions. Reducing caregiver AU and addressing structural inequities affecting Indigenous communities may offer critical leverage points for preventing PTSD among youth in Taiwan and comparable multi-ethnic settings.
Spectral EEG-guided adaptive neuromodulation for social anxiety disorder, performance-only subtype: a case report
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is often complicated by anticipatory anxiety, hyperarousal, and variability in response to first-line treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy. These limitations highlight the need for adjunctive modalities capable of enhancing the magnitude and durability of treatment response. This case report explores outcomes following spectral EEG-guided personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (PrTMS) in a patient with SAD, performance-only subtype. Weekly psychometric assessments revealed reductions in social anxiety intensity, avoidance behaviors, and negative self-appraisal, along with improvements in mood and daily function. Symptom changes were quantified using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7), and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF). Clinical improvements were accompanied by increased alpha band power, decreased delta band power, and an increased alpha-delta ratio on serial spectral resting-state EEGs. Our findings suggest that PrTMS may warrant further investigation as a potential adjunctive treatment for SAD. Further large-scale, blinded, and randomized studies are warranted to validate our observations on the feasibility of PrTMS for SAD.
Functional MRI evidence of brain alterations in premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a systematic review
IntroductionPremenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) affects approximately 1.6% of women of reproductive age and significantly impacts quality of life. Despite its prevalence, the underlying pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. First-line treatment typically involves selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); however, approximately 40 percent of women with PMDD do not respond to these medications. This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on functional brain alterations in women with PMDD, as assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), with the goal of identifying potential novel therapeutic strategies.MethodsData from 598 participants, including 294 PMDD patients and 304 healthy controls, were analyzed.ResultsThe findings suggest alterations in both topdown regulatory mechanisms and large-scale brain networks, including the salience network, default mode network, and executive control network. These alterations are characterized by decreased activation in the anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, medial orbitofrontal cortex, and postcentral gyrus, alongside increased activation in the amygdala and insula, as well as impairments in corticolimbic connectivity.DiscussionThese results highlight the complexity of PMDD, implicating widespread neural circuits rather than a single localized dysfunction. Targeting these mechanisms may inform the development of novel interventions for symptom relief.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251174749.
Marked for destruction
Nature Biotechnology, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41587-026-03182-5
The significance of the first FDA-approved PROTAC lies not in proving that targeted protein degradation is superior to conventional therapies, but in proving that degrading proteins is possible as a therapeutic.
A socially assistive robot to support mental wellbeing in LGBTQ+ young people at risk of self-harm: a randomized controlled trial
Nature Medicine, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04422-6
A randomized controlled trial integrating Purrble, a socially assistive tactile robot, into safety planning found that LGBTQ+ youth at risk of self-harm experienced improvements in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and fewer depressive symptoms compared to safety planning alone.
AAV gene therapy for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: a phase 1 trial
Nature Medicine, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04441-3
After preclinical testing, a phase 1 trial involving three individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia demonstrated preliminary evidence for the safety and efficacy of AAV8-mediated LDL receptor gene therapy.