Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-03-06DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.006
Derek Bowie
{"title":"Splicing, RNA editing, and auxiliary subunits shaped AMPA receptor function through coordinated evolution.","authors":"Derek Bowie","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Post-transcriptional regulation of AMPA-type ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPARs) emerged in early vertebrates alongside a major expansion of AMPAR auxiliary subunits. Recent work shows that two key modifications-alternative splicing of the flip/flop cassette and Q/R site RNA editing-fine-tune channel gating and Ca<sup>2+</sup> permeability, respectively, through interactions with two distinct auxiliary protein families: the transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) and the cornichons (CNIHs). I propose that these regulatory layers did not evolve independently but instead coalesced into an integrated system in which splicing, editing, and auxiliary proteins reciprocally shaped each other. This coordinated evolution maximized excitatory signaling diversity during vertebrate brain expansion, helping to explain why perturbations in any layer contribute to neurological disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"267-277"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147373261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.011
Mikel L Cawley, Shannon Farris
{"title":"The impact of dendritic mitochondrial heterogeneity on synapse function.","authors":"Mikel L Cawley, Shannon Farris","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mitochondria are energy- and metabolite-producing organelles that are differentially distributed throughout neuronal axons and dendrites to meet unique energy demands. Emerging evidence indicates that mitochondria in dendrites can be molecularly, structurally, and functionally distinct depending on cell types or even nearby synaptic inputs. This suggests that mitochondrial heterogeneity not only serves individual cell types but also plays a role in supporting the diversity of synaptic functions and connectivity patterns across different brain areas. This review highlights recent studies that contribute to our understanding of how heterogeneity in dendritic mitochondrial morphology, dynamics, and function converges to support cell- and compartment-specific metabolic demands and diverse postsynaptic properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"306-320"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147445183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-03-06DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.010
Xu Chen, Bokai Zhu
{"title":"Decoding the functions of nuclear speckles in neurodegeneration.","authors":"Xu Chen, Bokai Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nuclear speckles, traditionally considered mainly as reservoirs of splicing factors, are increasingly recognized as dynamic biomolecular condensates essential for RNA metabolism, transcriptional regulation, and chromatin organization. Recent advances reveal their phase separation properties, compositional complexity, and stress-responsive remodeling, positioning nuclear speckles as key regulators of proteostasis and stress adaptation. Here, we synthesize emerging evidence linking nuclear speckle dysfunction to neurodegenerative proteinopathies, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and tauopathies. We highlight how disease-associated repeat RNAs, dipeptide repeat proteins, and hyperphosphorylated tau disrupt nuclear speckle integrity, driving transcriptional and splicing defects. Finally, we discuss therapeutic strategies to rejuvenate nuclear speckles, emphasizing their potential as novel targets for restoring proteostasis and mitigating neurodegeneration. This review underscores nuclear speckles as critical yet underexplored regulators of neuronal resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"292-305"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13179099/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147373255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-03-31DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.03.002
Maria Alfonso-Triguero, Amaia M Arranz
{"title":"Reprogramming aging astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease.","authors":"Maria Alfonso-Triguero, Amaia M Arranz","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease typically unfolds within an aging brain, where astrocytic transcriptional programs are extensively remodeled. A recent study by Choi and colleagues shows that reinstating an aging-dependent Sox9-MEGF10 axis restores amyloid clearance and preserves cognition in mouse models. These findings suggest that astrocyte dysfunction reflects destabilized, yet recoverable, homeostatic programs rather than irreversible degeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"251-253"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147593898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-19DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.001
Richard A Bryant, Isabella A Breukelaar, Mayuresh Korgaonkar
{"title":"A neurobiological perspective on prolonged grief disorder.","authors":"Richard A Bryant, Isabella A Breukelaar, Mayuresh Korgaonkar","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a psychiatric condition that describes individuals who experience persistent grief reactions characterized by preoccupation with the loss. This review provides an overview of the evidence on neurobiological processes associated with PGD. We propose that, although the neurobiological circuitry of PGD overlaps with that of anxiety and depression, it also involves neural responses that reflect the distinct symptom profiles of people with PGD. Specifically, while recruitment of cognitive control and salience networks is observed across common mental disorders, there is evidence that aberrant neural processes implicated in reward processes and appetitive functions are somewhat distinctive to PGD. We emphasize that methodological limitations suggest caution is needed in interpreting current evidence, and more rigorous research is required to delineate key distinct neurobiological processes of PGD.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"173-184"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146259081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-02DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.02.001
Kimberly Gagnon, Gustavo Della Flora Nunes, Cristin G Welle, Ethan G Hughes
{"title":"Timing is everything: myelin and coincidence detection.","authors":"Kimberly Gagnon, Gustavo Della Flora Nunes, Cristin G Welle, Ethan G Hughes","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.02.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Myelin is traditionally viewed as a passive determinant of conduction velocity, yet emerging work suggests a critical role in shaping the precision of spike propagation. In a recent study, Jamann et al. show that myelination enables burst propagation and coincidence detection, shaping how spikes propagate and establishing myelin as a substrate for neural computation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"159-160"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12959352/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-25DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.004
Sean M Gettings, Riddhi Sharma, Nora Bourbia
{"title":"Micro- and nanoplastics in neurological dysfunction.","authors":"Sean M Gettings, Riddhi Sharma, Nora Bourbia","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plastic particles can interfere with the nervous system and are increasingly recognised as a global health concern. This review encompasses recent findings on the impact of plastic particles on brain health, including studies in humans, rodents, nematodes, and zebrafish. We discuss how plastics can impact cellular metabolism, affect developmental brain processes, and increase vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders and depression. Additionally, we review the potential of plastic particles to interact with the immune system and trigger pathological protein aggregation, enhancing susceptibility to neurodegeneration. Finally, we evaluate knowledge gaps that should be addressed to better understand the long-term impacts of plastic particles on the nervous system and neurological disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"185-197"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147310294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.007
Eli-Eelika Esvald, Annela Avarlaid, Indrek Koppel, Jürgen Tuvikene, Tõnis Timmusk
{"title":"Making of BDNF: role of promoters, enhancers, and untranslated regions.","authors":"Eli-Eelika Esvald, Annela Avarlaid, Indrek Koppel, Jürgen Tuvikene, Tõnis Timmusk","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin with crucial roles in the developing and adult nervous system, contributing to neuronal survival, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity. The pleiotropic functions of BDNF require stringent spatiotemporal control of its expression, making BDNF one of the most thoroughly studied activity-regulated genes. Over the years, substantial evidence has accumulated, providing insights into BDNF gene structure, numerous mRNA variants, their different localization patterns and translational efficiencies, as well as the functions of the BDNF protein in different tissues. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms governing BDNF expression at transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and translational levels, offering an integrated perspective of BDNF regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"233-247"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147318399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.02.002
Derek Narendra, Brent J Ryan
{"title":"CHCHD2 links mitochondrial dysfunction and α-synuclein misfolding in Parkinson's disease.","authors":"Derek Narendra, Brent J Ryan","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parkinson's disease comprises multiple biological subtypes and a heterogeneous clinical course. A recent study by Liao et al. identifies CHCHD2 mutations as a mitochondrial entry point that links metabolic dysfunction to α-synuclein pathology. These findings highlight how rare sporadiclike monogenic forms of Parkinson's disease may inform mechanistic and therapeutic stratification.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"157-158"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13328052/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147322125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-03DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.005
Catherine Tallon-Baudry, Marie Loescher, Anthony Clément
{"title":"A dual-function framework of interoception: the information and coordination modes of interoceptive signaling.","authors":"Catherine Tallon-Baudry, Marie Loescher, Anthony Clément","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2026.01.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Interoceptive signals inform the brain about physiological parameters, supporting bodily regulation-a process we refer to as the information mode of interoceptive signaling. Based on evidence in cardiac, respiratory, and gastric interoception, in rodents and humans, we argue for the existence of another mode: coordination. In the coordination mode of interoceptive signaling, the temporal patterns of interoceptive signals synchronize large-scale brain activity, independently of physiological state. The information and coordination modes might engage different pathways and brain structures. We further propose that the coordination mode underlies the single unified egocentric viewpoint from which people experience the world and themselves, a core yet unexplained feature of consciousness. The two modes would combine to generate interoceptive and emotional feelings. This hypothesis offers a novel account of some of the links between interoception and emotion in both health and psychiatric disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"161-172"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}