Danny M Ball, Samantha S Mann, Nayantara Santhi, Maarten Speekenbrink, Vincent Walsh
{"title":"Temperature as a circadian timing cue in the visually impaired.","authors":"Danny M Ball, Samantha S Mann, Nayantara Santhi, Maarten Speekenbrink, Vincent Walsh","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.02.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.02.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The daily rise and fall in ambient temperature caused by Earth's 24-hour rotation may help regulate circadian rhythms in visually impaired individuals. In all mammals, circadian rhythms, the daily cycles of physiology and behavior, are time controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the brain's central clock. The SCN typically synchronizes circadian rhythms with the light/dark cycle through photoentrainment, a process in which specialized retinal cells capture ambient light and transmit this information to the SCN, allowing it to set its phase. Without light input, the rodent SCN's light-driven circuits can become desynchronized, potentially allowing alternative entrainment signals, such as ambient temperature, to influence central timing. Here, we consider whether a similar mechanism could benefit visually impaired humans who, due to retinal damage, have reduced or absent photic input to the central clock. Visually impaired individuals often experience circadian misalignment, whereby internal rhythms drift out of synchrony with the light-dark cycle, and we suggest that temperature information may mitigate some of this drift. Temperature entrainment could operate through heat shock pathways from the skin, via thermoregulatory brain regions with reciprocal connections to the SCN, or by shifting core body temperature through warm or cold baths, which can alter the phase of clocks in peripheral organs and potentially feedback to adjust central time. Given that temperature is a weaker cue than light, it remains unknown if, and to what extent, it may significantly impact central timing. However, if effective, temperature entrainment in the visually impaired could potentially improve circadian disorders, poor sleep, and adverse health outcomes associated with circadian dysfunction including depression, cognitive decline, and metabolic disorders, which are more prevalent in this population. Research is needed to confirm the long-term effectiveness of temperature as an entrainment cue in the visually impaired population, which may have broader implications for circadian timekeeping in mammals and the role of temperature in the absence of light.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"292 ","pages":"1-24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144132822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danny M Ball, Sonia Abud-Henando, Samantha S Mann, Nayantara Santhi, Maarten Speekenbrink, Vincent Walsh
{"title":"The structure of sleep and how it may be altered by visual impairments.","authors":"Danny M Ball, Sonia Abud-Henando, Samantha S Mann, Nayantara Santhi, Maarten Speekenbrink, Vincent Walsh","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.02.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.02.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Individuals with visual impairments often experience poor sleep health, which may impact brain physiology and function, as evidenced by altered brain activity during sleep. The sleeping brain can be categorized into stages: three non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stages and one rapid eye movement (REM) stage, with each stage defined by its structure, that is, the duration and frequency of specific brain oscillations. Research investigating alterations in sleep structure among visually impaired individuals has yielded mixed results: some studies indicate reduced or absent deep sleep (N3), others report longer REM latency (the time until the first REM epoch), while some suggest that circadian dysfunction may play a more significant role than visual impairment itself. Sleep is regulated by two processes: the homeostatic sleep drive, which accumulates during wakefulness and is relieved during sleep, and the circadian process, which describes the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. The circadian process is particularly vulnerable to disruption by visual impairments, as damage to the retina can alter photic entrainment, the process by which light signals from the retina align the circadian sleep-wake cycle with the solar day. Visually impaired individuals often experience a drifting sleep-wake cycle that misaligns with the light-dark cycle, and during periods of misalignment, sleep quality may be particularly poor, especially REM sleep, which is largely under circadian control. Some causes of visual impairment, such as glaucoma, may be more susceptible to circadian dysfunction than others, as glaucoma affects cells in the retinal layer necessary for photic entrainment, which in turn may increase the risk of changes to sleep structure. Given that abnormal sleep structure is associated with long-term health consequences, including increased risks of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, it may contribute to the high prevalence of these issues found among the visually impaired population. Further research is needed to clarify the roles of the causes of visual impairments, circadian misalignment, and the impact on sleep structure. A better understanding of these relationships could help develop targeted interventions to improve sleep and enhance health outcomes for visually impaired individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"292 ","pages":"89-111"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144132825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The emergence of the National Articulation of Marijuana Marches (ANMM) in Brazil: A social movement in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Diego Castro","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>His chapter explores the emergence and strengthening of the Articulação Nacional de Marchas da Maconha (ANMM)-the National Articulation of Marijuana Marches-in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ANMM, a network of activists and collectives advocating for the legalization of marijuana and the reform of drug policies, represents a significant shift in the anti-prohibitionist movement in Brazil. The pandemic, which forced social movements to adapt to virtual spaces, accelerated the integration of digital technologies into activism, reshaping the strategies and organizational dynamics of the ANMM. Using Bruno Latour's Sociology of Associations (2012), this chapter analyzes the complex interplay between human and non-human actors-such as the internet, social media platforms, and the pandemic itself-in the formation and evolution of the ANMM. The chapter argues that the pandemic not only transformed the way social movements operate but also provided a unique opportunity for the ANMM to consolidate its national presence and amplify its advocacy efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"296 ","pages":"95-106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145086706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Youssef Razouqi, Hanane El Fatimi, Marouane Mergaoui, Loubna Khalki
{"title":"Exploring heart-brain axis alterations in Parkinson's disease.","authors":"Youssef Razouqi, Hanane El Fatimi, Marouane Mergaoui, Loubna Khalki","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.04.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.04.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) are controlled by a sophisticated network known as the heart-brain axis. This chapter delves deep into the pathophysiology of PD, exploring in detail the links between the brain and the heart, covering topics as diverse as autonomic dysfunction, cardiac sympathetic denervation and neuroinflammation. We investigate the potential for genetics, proteomics, and biomarkers to radically alter the course of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment. Protective medications, deep brain stimulation, and behavioural modifications are some of the newer and more established methods that have emerged in recent years to maintain the health of the heart and brain, two of the body's most important systems.Ultimately, this chapter argues that to treat Parkinson's disease (PD) effectively, it is essential to opt for a multidisciplinary approach that takes into account both the neurological and cardiovascular aspects of the condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"294 ","pages":"135-159"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144668213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Glaucia Maria Machado-Santelli, Julyane Batista Chaves
{"title":"Hormesis and cancer therapy.","authors":"Glaucia Maria Machado-Santelli, Julyane Batista Chaves","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.05.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.05.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hormesis, the processes in which small doses of a stressor show stimulatory effects or protective responses on target cells, and high doses show the opposite effects, was described as associated with cancer therapy. Although the introduction of new techniques in cancer therapy improved the success rate and patients' survival, it is important to mainly focus on chemo and radiotherapy. Some examples illustrating the hormetic relationships with cancer therapy are described. The hormetic response in cancer therapy presents considerable complexity due to the wide variability in biological responses observed between different systems and conditions. This variability poses significant challenges for the practical implementation of hormesis in oncological settings. Nevertheless, its potential to optimize existing therapies positions this phenomenon as an area of great interest and relevance for future scientific investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"295 ","pages":"333-350"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144795177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"AI and emerging technologies for diagnosis.","authors":"Sowmiya Soundararajan, Jasmine Selvakumar, Vijayalakshmi Selvakumar, Nivetha Baskaran","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.08.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Healthcare is undergoing a transformation owing to artificial intelligence in medical diagnostics, which is providing unprecedented levels of efficiency and precision. AI is revolutionizing the detection, analysis, and treatment of diseases, especially in the field of medical diagnostics. AI can process enormous volumes of data quickly and effectively by utilizing machine learning and deep learning algorithms, giving healthcare professionals important insights. In addition to improving diagnosis accuracy, these developments are opening the door to early identification and individualized treatment regimens. AI transforms the interpretation of MRIs, computed tomography scans, and X-rays with extreme precision, outperforming humans in the identification of cancerous and vision-related ailments. Early disease identification has been greatly enhanced by the application of AI to identify anomalies associated with neurological and cardiac disorders. By facilitating the rapid identification of cardiac conditions and cancer, predictive analytics helps to significantly lower the number of false positives and negatives. AI reduces errors and human exhaustion and bias, resulting in more equitable and reliable provision of healthcare. With an emphasis on its uses, advantages, and the difficulties associated with incorporating these state-of-the-art technologies into clinical practice, this chapter examines the different ways artificial intelligence is changing medical diagnostics.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"297 ","pages":"191-220"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145638009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dipesh Chakraborty, Pradyot Kumar Roy, Ria Das, Chittabrata Mal
{"title":"Personalized management of Parkinson's disease.","authors":"Dipesh Chakraborty, Pradyot Kumar Roy, Ria Das, Chittabrata Mal","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.08.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.08.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss, α-synuclein aggregation, and oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. These contribute to motor symptoms like bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity, and postural instability, alongside non-motor issues such as cognitive decline and autonomic dysfunction. With rising global prevalence, especially in aging populations, understanding PD's complex pathophysiology is essential for advancing effective therapeutic strategies. This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of Parkinson's disease, covering its demographic trends, molecular mechanisms, symptoms, and current pharmacological treatments, including their mechanisms, classifications, benefits, and side effects. The central focus is on the emerging shift from standard symptomatic care to personalized, precision-based treatment strategies. These include gene-targeted therapies like RNA interference and CRISPR-Cas9, mitochondrial-based approaches, and stem cell innovations such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Pharmacogenetic profiling and biomarker-based interventions further support individualized therapeutic plans by predicting drug responses and tracking disease progression. This chapter explores patient-centric models like personalized neurorehabilitation, DBS, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, alongside advanced technologies such as AI, VR, AR, and wearable devices that enhance treatment, symptom monitoring, and real-time feedback through mobile applications. Lifestyle adaptations, including precision nutrition and customized exercise regimens, are highlighted as key components of comprehensive care. This chapter highlights a personalized, multi-dimensional approach to Parkinson's disease management, integrating molecular, technological, and lifestyle strategies to both ease symptoms and modify disease progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"297 ","pages":"277-318"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145638024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Baskaran Gunasekaran, Amar Harris Arifin, Wong Hong Yu, Saema Hanafi, Kirtana Devi Kumara Rao, Shamala Salvamani
{"title":"Precision medicine in neurodegenerative diseases: From research to clinical practice.","authors":"Baskaran Gunasekaran, Amar Harris Arifin, Wong Hong Yu, Saema Hanafi, Kirtana Devi Kumara Rao, Shamala Salvamani","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The chapter outlines how precision medicine is reshaping the way neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) which includes Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's disease (HD) are understood, diagnosed, and treated. It discusses the limitations of current therapies, which mainly address symptoms without altering disease progression. Genetic and molecular factors that influence disease development are described, including distinctions between familial and sporadic forms. The chapter also covers the roles of epigenetic changes, gene expression, protein dysfunction, mitochondrial DNA, and non-coding RNAs in NDs. Biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, along with imaging techniques and digital tools, are presented as key elements in early diagnosis and disease monitoring. Patient stratification based on clinical features, molecular profiles, and biomarkers helps guide treatment decisions and improve outcomes. The chapter reviews ongoing developments in genotype-based drug design, gene therapy, pharmacogenomics, and personalized lifestyle strategies. Clinical case studies show how these approaches are being used in practice. The chapter also discusses challenges in applying precision medicine, such as trial design, data integration, unequal access, and regulatory hurdles. Finally, it highlights the future tools like single-cell transcriptomics, digital twins, and global research collaborations that aim to bring precision approaches into everyday care.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"297 ","pages":"1-52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145638091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tala Fliti, Aline Shhaytli, Aya Serhal, Zahraa Takesh, Mariam Chokor
{"title":"Technology-assisted interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders.","authors":"Tala Fliti, Aline Shhaytli, Aya Serhal, Zahraa Takesh, Mariam Chokor","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.08.017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.08.017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuropsychiatric disorders are chronic diseases present in the community and cause both personal and community burdens. Though therapeutically useful and beneficial, standard treatments and managements face some challenges such as social discrimination, concerns about treatments' side effects, and delay in the delivery of the healthcare services. To overcome these barriers, technology-assisted interventions have emerged and are nowadays increasingly used due to their potentials to offer accessible, personalized, and cost-efficient care in neuropsychiatric field. It is believed that these new advancements provide many advantages, such as accessibility, the direct follow-up of the patients, and the development of neuropsychiatric care in the low-income countries. In contrast, technology-assisted interventions in neuropsychiatric disorders encounter certain limitations, especially those related to ethical considerations such as patient privacy, equal access, and data security. This article reviews the role of digital health tools, neurostimulation techniques, and brain-computer interface in neuropsychiatric field. Also, it discusses the advantages and limitations of each technology.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"298 ","pages":"241-269"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145638107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Subia Jamil, Muhammad Liaquat Raza, Nasrollah Moradikor, Motahareh Haghipanah
{"title":"Early life stress and brain development: Neurobiological and behavioral effects of chronic stress.","authors":"Subia Jamil, Muhammad Liaquat Raza, Nasrollah Moradikor, Motahareh Haghipanah","doi":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Early life stress is the term used to describe a variety of traumatic events that a person may have as a kid, such as being subjected to domestic or public violence, being neglected, experiencing parental conflict, being abused physically, emotionally and sexually. These events have the potential to seriously impair the brains normal growth and development, which could have long term psychological and physiological repercussions. Early life stress (ELS) has profound and enduring effects on brain development, contributing to long-term neurological and behavioral changes. Neurologically, ELS can reduce hippocampal volume, impairing memory and emotional regulation, while also sensitizing the amygdala, leading to exaggerated fear and anxiety responses. Additionally, ELS can disrupt the development of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), affecting decision-making, planning, and impulse control. It also alters neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin and dopamine, influencing mood and motivation, and can trigger chronic neuroinflammation, increasing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Behaviorally, ELS heightens the risk of anxiety, depression, and impulsivity, and can contribute to conditions like ADHD and substance abuse Social and emotional difficulties, such as challenges in relationships and empathy, often arise, along with cognitive impairments in learning and memory. Furthermore, ELS increases stress responsiveness, making individuals more vulnerable to future stress. However, these effects can be mitigated by supportive environments and targeted interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":20598,"journal":{"name":"Progress in brain research","volume":"291 ","pages":"49-79"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144035457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}