Tag: News Approved

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Enhancing adult neurogenesis attenuates hippocampal-related behavioral deficits in an Alzheimer’s mouse model

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia, characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and emotional dysregulation. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) critically contributes to cognition and mood but undergoes precipitous decline during AD progression. Here, we investigated whether enhancing AHN through genetic expansion of endogenous neural stem cells (NSC) ameliorates AD-related phenotypes. Using lentiviral overexpression of the cell cycle regulators Cdk4 and CyclinD1 in the dentate gyrus of 3xTg-AD mice, we show that enhancing AHN is accompanied by partial improvements in selected behavioral measures associated with hippocampal function, including in the open-field test and Morris water maze. These findings indicate that the AD-compromised neurogenic niche remains responsive to NSC-targeted stimulation and support the use of AHN as a potential additional avenue for multi-modal therapeutic strategies for AD.
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Physical factor therapies for insomnia: a narrative review of mechanisms, clinical evidence, and phenotype-guided applications

Although pharmacological treatments for insomnia remain widely prescribed, their long-term use is constrained by risks of tolerance, dependence, and residual daytime effects. This has prompted growing interest in non-pharmacological interventions that target insomnia’s underlying mechanisms. This narrative review examines five physical factor therapies for insomnia: auditory stimulation, phototherapy, thermotherapy, electrical stimulation, and magnetic stimulation. They are classified according to their primary sites of action into peripheral sensory modulation, central neuromodulation, or systemic autonomic regulation. In each context, research findings about circadian entrainment, thermoregulatory promotion of falling asleep, attenuation of cortical hyperarousal, and restoration of autonomic balance are discussed. Clinical evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses is critically appraised, with emphasis on therapeutic efficacy, safety, and limitations. Overall, physical factor therapies may constitute promising adjunctive options for selected insomnia phenotypes, but current evidence remains heterogeneous and preliminary for several modalities. Recent advances in portable and home-based technologies support their feasibility, although long-term effectiveness, adherence, and cost-effectiveness remain to be established. Future research should prioritize larger sham-controlled trials, objective sleep and circadian outcomes, standardized protocols, biomarker-guided stratification, and closed-loop intervention systems.
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Psychological distress and caregiver burden among informal caregivers of patients with earthquake-related and stroke-related dependency: a comparative study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the psychological burden of informal caregivers of patients with earthquake-related dependency and those caring for patients with stroke-related dependency following the 6 February 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquakes.MethodsA total of 90 informal caregivers of dependent patients were included in this comparative study: 60 caregivers of stroke patients and 30 caregivers of patients with earthquake-related dependency. Participants were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Caregiver Burden Scale, and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).ResultsCaregiver burden was significantly higher among male caregivers (p=0.026). Caregivers of patients with earthquake-related dependency more frequently reported receiving external support than caregivers of stroke patients (p=0.004). Overall, caregiving was perceived as a moderate burden in both groups. The distributions of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and hopelessness levels did not differ significantly between the groups (p=0.172, p=0.172, and p=0.834, respectively). Among caregivers of stroke patients, PTSD symptoms and caregiver burden showed moderate positive correlations with depression, anxiety, and hopelessness (all p<0.05). In caregivers of patients with earthquake-related dependency, caregiver burden was associated only with hopelessness (p=0.045).ConclusionInformal caregivers of patients with earthquake-related and stroke-related dependency experienced comparable levels of psychological distress, despite differences in caregiving context and disaster-related adversity. The higher frequency of external support among caregivers of patients with earthquake-related dependency may be associated with this pattern, suggesting that family and social support may be relevant to caregiver psychological outcomes in post-disaster settings.
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Post-marketing safety of lecanemab: a real-world study based on FAERS database, multicenter cohort and network pharmacology

IntroductionLecanemab is a monoclonal antibody targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ) approved for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. Continuous monitoring of its real-world safety profile remains essential. This study aimed to analyze lecanemab-related adverse events (AEs) using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and a multicenter cohort, and explored mechanisms via network pharmacology.MethodsWe conducted an updated disproportionality analysis of FAERS data from 2023 to 2024 to identify disproportionate reporting signals (SDRs). A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed, including lecanemab users from June 2024 to February 2025. Data were collected from electronic medical records of five tertiary hospitals. AEs were identified and influencing factors of AE occurrence were analyzed. Additionally, a drug-gene interaction network was constructed to explore potential mechanisms.ResultsIn the FAERS analysis of 2,764 AEs from 1,389 lecanemab users, 12 of 41 positive SDRs were prioritized, with 75% (9/12) being nervous system disorders, primarily amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). In the cohort study, 29.05% (43/148) of patients experienced AEs, with infusion-related reactions being most common. Age was identified as a risk factor for AE occurrence [OR (95% CI): 1.109 (1.011–1.215), P = 0.028], while pre-treatment significantly reduced AE incidence. Gene enrichment analysis suggested potential links between lecanemab-related genes and AEs.DiscussionThis study provides real-world evidence on the risk profile of lecanemab, highlighting the importance of continued safety monitoring. These findings may inform discussions about the risks associated with anti-amyloid treatments and warrant further confirmation in large-scale prospective studies.
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Cognitive-attitudinal factors predict CBT-I enrollment willingness in Chinese sleep clinic patients: a knowledge-attitudes-practices survey

BackgroundDespite strong evidence for cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), uptake remains constrained by poorly understood cognitive, attitudinal, and practical barriers. This study examined determinants of willingness to enroll in sleep improvement programs among adults at risk of sleep disorders—including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and comorbid psychological distress—attending a tertiary sleep clinic in China.MethodsA cross-sectional knowledge-attitudes-practices survey was conducted among 2,661 adults attending the sleep and behavioral medicine outpatient clinic at Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China, between February 2022 and June 2025. Willingness to enroll in a structured sleep improvement program was assessed alongside sleep health knowledge, perceived need, CBT-I versus medication effectiveness beliefs, telehealth acceptability, clinical severity (Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, STOP-Bang), psychological symptoms (PHQ-2, GAD-2), perceived barriers, and sociodemographic characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of willingness to enrollment, with secondary analyses evaluating model discrimination and testing prespecified interactions.ResultsAmong 2,661 participants (median age 45 years, 56.5% female, median ISI = 13), 1,386 (52.1%) expressed willingness to enroll. Univariable comparisons showed no significant differences between willing and not-willing groups across demographics, clinical characteristics, or barriers (all p>0.05). However, multivariable modeling revealed that when considered simultaneously, cognitive-attitudinal factors emerged as significant independent predictors, suggesting complex interactions rather than simple bivariate associations. In multivariable models, perceived need (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.16–1.25, p<0.001), beliefs that CBT-I is more effective and durable than sleep medication (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.08–1.16, p<0.001), sleep health and treatment knowledge (assessed by a six-item knowledge score) (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05–1.13, p<0.001), and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.07, p=0.005) positively predicted willingness. Paradoxically, depression symptoms (OR = 0.94, p<0.001) and insomnia severity (OR = 0.93, p<0.001) inversely predicted willingness. Model discrimination was modest (AUC = 0.543, 95% CI: 0.504–0.590). Time (mean 3.54) and cost (3.44) were most severe barriers but showed no independent association with willingness (p>0.05).ConclusionCognitive-attitudinal factors (perceived need, CBT-I beliefs, knowledge) independently predicted enrollment willingness, whereas demographics and practical barriers did not. Depression and insomnia severity paradoxically reduced willingness, creating an inverse care law. However, poor model discrimination and measurement of stated willingness rather than actual enrollment limit conclusions. Prospective validation and motivational enhancement strategies for patients with depression are needed.
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Affordable centimeter-scale 3D microscopy with submicrometer resolution

Nature Biotechnology, Published online: 22 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41587-026-03209-x

Submicrometer-resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging of large samples has been constrained by the short working distance, high cost and inflexible design of immersion objectives. We developed hybrid solid–liquid optics (HySIL) — a refractive framework with index-matched components — for submicrometer-resolution 3D imaging of centimeter-scale samples in various immersion media using inexpensive air objectives.