AIMS Neuroscience最新文献

{"title":"Combining exercise and hypoxia for brain health: from elite athlete altitude training camps to clinical applications.","authors":"Johannes Burtscher, Martin Burtscher, Katharina Hüfner","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026014","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regular physical exercise promotes overall and brain health and can improve cognition and mood. Similar effects on brain health have been observed after well-controlled intermittent exposures to low ambient oxygen (hypoxia), termed hypoxia conditioning, in several pilot studies. This raises the question of how exercising in hypoxia affects the brain. Among hypoxic exercise training forms are altitude training camps, which have been used systematically by athletes to improve physical performance for many decades, or exposure to simulated altitude/inspiratory hypoxia in laboratory settings, combined or not with exercise. Here, we explore the theoretical basis of overlaps and differences in brain health-related physiological responses to exercise and hypoxia. We present different types of altitude training undertaken by athletes, as well as hypoxia conditioning methods used to enhance physical performance and brain health and to reduce symptoms of neuropsychiatric diseases. We attempt to evaluate the potential of different altitude/hypoxia training types for brain health and indicate potential links to selected clinical applications of combined exercise and hypoxia. In conclusion, the effects of traditional types of altitude training on brain health and function have been poorly investigated, but various benefits of intermittent hypoxia conditioning have been demonstrated, indicating its potential for clinical applications in improving cognition and mental health. Remaining challenges include reducing the stigma surrounding the negative effects of severe hypoxia on the brain, standardizing terminology and approaches to therapeutic hypoxia, and selecting optimized protocols of therapeutic hypoxia exposures and combinations with exercise for specific general health-promoting or clinical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 2","pages":"316-341"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366165/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148443903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between TNFa rs1800629 and migraine: Case-control study and updated meta-analysis.","authors":"Ioannis Liampas, Maria Papasavva, Silvia Demiri, Michail Vikelis, Chrysoula Marogianni, Evripidis Vlachakis, Emmanouil V Dermitzakis, Aristidis Tsatsakis, Nikolaos Drakoulis, Efthimios Dardiotis, Vasileios Siokas","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026013","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Migraine is a multifactorial disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we aimed to explore the association of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) rs1800629 with migraine susceptibility. A case-control study design was employed to assess this association in individuals of Greek ancestry. Subsequently, a meta-analysis of published studies was conducted, thereby incorporating the findings of the present study to further evaluate the relationship between rs1800629 and a migraine. A total of 123 patients with migraines (44.4 ± 10.3 years, 105 women) and an even number of healthy controls (HC) (58.7 ± 12.0 years, 76 women) were recruited. TNFa rs1800629 was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium among the HC (P = 1.00). No association was observed between TNFa rs1800629 and migraines under any genetic model. Additional, subgroup analyses stratified by sex and migraine subtype showed no associations. The meta-analysis, comprised of 14,742 participants with migraines and 46,384 HC, indicated a trend towards a risk-conferring effect of rs1800629 [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.26, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = (0.97-1.64), P = 0.09]. Subgroup analyses revealed a significant association in individuals of Asian ancestry [OR = 1.64, 95% CI = (1.08-2.48), P = 0.02]. Additionally, the over-dominant model was related to migraines with aura [OR = 1.21, 95% CI = (1.08-1.35), P = 0.001]. Subgroup analyses for men and women, as well as for migraines without aura, were insignificant. This case-control study provides evidence that the TNFa rs1800629 polymorphism is not associated with migraine susceptibility in the Greek population. The updated meta-analysis showed that rs1800629 increases migraine risk in individuals of Asian ancestry. These findings support a population-specific genetic effect. Finally, the observed association with migraine with aura under the over-dominant model may indicate a heterozygote-driven effect. Given the extremely low frequency of homozygosity for the minor allele, this result should be interpreted with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 2","pages":"295-315"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366164/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148443837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neural changes to transcranial alternating current stimulation in the gamma range over the left frontoparietal network: A preliminary eLORETA EEG study.","authors":"Tien-Wen Lee, Gerald Tramontano","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026012","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Applying transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at the gamma range to the frontal and parietal regions can improve cognitive dysfunctions. This study aimed to explore the neural changes following tACS. Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were obtained from a cohort of 34 participants with various cognitive impairments before and after 11 sessions of 40 Hz tACS treatment. Alternating currents at 2.0 mA were administered to the electrode positions F3 and P3 for 25 min of each session, following the 10-20 EEG convention. Using eLORETA, scalp-recorded signals were reconstructed into cortical current source density (CSD). We then assessed the differences in power and connectivity strength across multiple spectra. We observed a consistent trend of decreased CSD at the stimulating sites across different spectra, most prominent at beta and gamma bands (<i>P</i> < 0.01). On the contrary, the right hemisphere showed a trend of increased CSD, which was likely mediated by inter-hemispheric rivalry. In addition, the connectivity strength between the left frontal and parietal regions increased significantly (<i>P</i> = 0.017). Application of tACS would desynchronize regional oscillation and enhance inter-regional crosstalk. The pattern of neural changes was concordant with our previous tACS reports (5 Hz), suggesting common neural mechanisms driving the neurophysiological effects of tACS.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 2","pages":"277-294"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366179/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148443942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing EEG based cognitive state classification using graph Fourier transform.","authors":"Shweta Sharma, Ayushi Kotwal, Rajneet Kaur Bijral, Vinod Sharma, Jatinder Manhas","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026011","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electroencephalography (EEG) based cognitive state classification has been widely explored with deep-learning models demonstrating remarkable performance. Deep-learning models need high computational resources and large datasets, creating a need for an alternative methodology. Graph signal processing (GSP) techniques provide an effective lightweight alternative by capturing spatial dependencies across the channels. This study investigates the effectiveness of GSP-based graph Fourier transform (GFT) features on a publicly available EEG mental arithmetic task (EEGMAT) dataset. A strict 5-fold cross-validation has been used as an evaluation technique. GFT is applied to extract spatial-spectral features by modeling EEG-channels as graph nodes. The extracted features have been evaluated using multiple classifiers including Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Decision Tree (DT), and Logistic Regression (LR). Statistical analysis confirms the significance of GFT features compared to raw signals. RF gave the highest accuracy of approximately 99 percent. Model interpretability based on Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) revealed that the frontal and central regions contributed to the classification aligning with the findings of cognitive neuroscientists.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 2","pages":"263-276"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366180/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148443932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel task-based method for tracking social cognition and its association with social functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Preliminary findings.","authors":"Anam A Khan, Karmiella S Ferster, Riaz B Shaik, Tarik S Bel-Bahar, Lauren Lepow, Jasmine Modasi, Faith Adams, Siddhartha Peri, Srinivasan Anantha Ramakrishnan, Matthew Cotter, Sarah E MacPherson, R Asaad Baksh, Cheryl Corcoran, Eva Velthorst, Muhammad A Parvaz","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026010","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ) are a group of psychiatric disorders that can severely impact social and occupational functioning. Social cognition plays a key role in social functioning, with deficits in social cognition potentially revealing social deficits. However, existing tests of social cognition are lengthy to administer and only measure one or two aspects of social cognition. The Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) is a newly developed brief assessment that evaluates multiple domains of social cognition, including cognitive Theory of Mind (ToM), affective ToM, and interpersonal and intrapersonal understandings of social norms. However, the ESCoT has not been utilized before to examine social cognition in SCZ. This observational study analyzed 18 individuals with SCZ and 19 healthy controls (HC), all of whom completed the ESCoT and several social functioning scales, including the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS), the Pinkham Social Skill Rating (PSSR), the Role Function Scale (RFS), and the Social Disconnectedness Scale (SDS). Between-group comparisons revealed significantly reduced scores in the participants with SCZ on cognitive and affective ToM but comparable scores on interpersonal and intrapersonal understandings of social norms, compared to HC. Additionally, the participants with SCZ showed reduced scores on the LSNS, PSSR, RFS, and SDS. Furthermore, ESCoT-derived cognitive ToM scores were positively correlated with scores on the LSNS, PSSR, and SDS, whereas affective ToM scores were positively correlated with the LSNS and PSSR. Interpersonal understanding of social norms was positively correlated with the LSNS and RFS score. The current study showed deficits in cognitive and affective ToM alongside other aspects of social functioning in SCZ compared to HC participants. The ESCoT sub-scores were correlated with scores from validated questionnaires of social functioning, thus validating the utility of the ESCoT to study social cognition in SCZ. Further investigation is recommended to replicate these findings in larger and more heterogeneous samples of SCZ individuals for a better generalization of these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 2","pages":"244-262"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366181/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148443923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alzheimer's disease: A comprehensive review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.","authors":"Arosh S Perera Molligoda Arachchige, Bianca Schmiliver, Gabriel Amorim Moreira Alves","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026009","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, representing a major global public health challenge as populations age. It accounts for roughly 60%-80% of all dementia and is characterized by progressive cognitive decline, memory impairment, and eventual loss of independence in daily functioning. The disease unfolds over decades, with neuropathological alterations preceding the onset of clinical symptoms by many years. Alzheimer's disease is closely linked to the accumulation and deposition of cerebral amyloid-β (Aβ) and represents the most common cerebral amyloid deposition disorder. Recent advances in molecular biology, neuroimaging, and biomarker science have revealed a complex, multifactorial pathogenesis involving protein misfolding, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, vascular factors, and network-level propagation of pathology. This review synthesizes current knowledge on AD terminology, epidemiology and risk factors, clinical phenotypes and natural history, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic approaches (including imaging and fluid biomarkers), and established as well as emerging therapeutic strategies, while also outlining key challenges and future directions.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 2","pages":"208-243"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13366166/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148443866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Addressing class imbalance in traumatic brain injury prognostication: A survey of resampling approaches.","authors":"Nor Safira Elaina Mohd Noor","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026008","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, the classification of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals has attracted considerable interest, particularly in clinical and cognitive neuroscience applications. However, the problem of class imbalance often undermines the performance of classification algorithms and leads to biased predictions in favor of the majority class. In this paper, I provide a review of data approaches that address the class imbalance problem in EEG classification. I explored methods such as oversampling, undersampling, and the application of advanced algorithms such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), which generally showed better overall performance in dealing with class imbalance. In this paper, I reviewed work published in the last 5 years to evaluate the current state of the art in imbalance. In addition, I provide insight into potential gaps in EEG classification, especially in traumatic brain injury (TBI), and discuss the potential of data augmentation based on deep learning, i.e., GANs, which have shown promise in generating synthetic data to improve minority class representation in other application domains for the EEG-based classification model. By highlighting gaps in existing EEG classification methods and proposing GANs as a solution to class imbalance, I aim to contribute to the development of more robust prediction models that may lead to improved patient outcomes in TBI cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 1","pages":"171-207"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086590/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147721599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developmental and lifelong exposure to mercury chloride exacerbates cognitive and motor decline in aged mice.","authors":"Hafsa Malqui, Meriem Laaroussi, Hammou Anarghou, Oumaima Essaidi, Laila Berroug, Mounir Cherkaoui, El Hachmi Er-Rachdaoui, Latifa Talhaoui, Fatiha Chigr","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026007","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aging is a multifactorial biological process characterized by the progressive decline of cellular, tissue, and organ functions, leading to increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders. Among the proposed mechanisms, the oxidative stress theory of aging remains one of the most widely accepted, emphasizing the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, particularly in the central nervous system (CNS). Mercury is a persistent environmental pollutant known to induce oxidative damage, but its contribution to age-related neuronal decline remains poorly understood. Our aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic HgCl₂ exposure exacerbates age-related decline in memory and locomotor functions in aged male mice. To this end, mice were divided into two groups: A control group, which received only tap water, and an HgCl₂-exposed group, which received 40 ppm HgCl₂ in their drinking water daily from gestation until 18 months of age. At the end of the exposure, mice were subjected to behavioral tests to assess memory and locomotor activity. Following these behavioral assessments, oxidative stress parameters and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were measured in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Our results showed that HgCl₂ impaired locomotor activity in the Open Field test (OF) and memory performance in the Y-maze and Novel Object Recognition (NOR) test. These deficits were accompanied by a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the hippocampus. Furthermore, mercury exposure led to an increase in MDA and a significant upregulation of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the cerebellum. These changes were also associated with a marked decrease in AChE activity within the same region. Overall, these findings suggest that lifelong mercury exposure accelerates neurobehavioral decline by exacerbating oxidative and cholinergic disturbances, providing insight into how early and sustained exposure to environmental toxicants may promote premature brain aging.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 1","pages":"153-170"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086592/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147721580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dissociating moral identity from neural markers of the late positive potential in emotional attention to smoking and non-smoking stimuli.","authors":"Muhammad Danial Che Ramli, Nasir Yusoff","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026006","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The influence of moral identity on smoking behaviors remains an open question, particularly among youth prone to risk-taking and moral challenges. This study examined whether moral identity modulates late positive potential (LPP) responses during emotional-cognitive processing of smoking-related and non-smoking stimuli, while hypothesizing that attentional bias operates independently of individual moral identity differences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventy-eight participants (M = 22 years, SD = 2.1) completed an event-related potential (ERP) session in which the LPP activity was recorded while they viewed target stimuli (1 = smoking and 2 = non-smoking) and non-target stimuli (neutral images). Prior to the ERP task, the participants completed the Moral Identity Scale (validated Malay language version) and provided sociodemographic information. The LPP components were extracted and subsequently analyzed using a mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) with stimulus type (target 1 and 2, non-target) as a within-subject factor and moral identity (internalization, symbolization) as a between-subject factor.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Strong main effects of visual stimuli on both the LPP amplitude and latency were revealed, thus indicating robust attentional engagement with emotionally and behaviorally relevant stimuli. No interaction effects with moral identity were observed, thus suggesting that attentional mechanisms function independently of moral self-construal. Post hoc comparisons showed a consistent attentional bias toward target versus neutral stimuli, with smoking versus non-smoking differences varying across cortical regions: amplitude effects in central and temporal areas, and latency effects in parietal and occipital areas.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Smoking-related stimuli automatically capture attention irrespective of moral identity, thus highlighting the dissociation between moral self-construal and neural markers of emotional attention.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 1","pages":"137-152"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086589/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147721564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Berberine targets the STAT3 signaling pathway to improve cognitive impairment in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rats.","authors":"Chang Liu, Ying Gao","doi":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026005","DOIUrl":"10.3934/Neuroscience.2026005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Berberine (BBR) possesses varied pharmacological properties, including anti-apoptotic and potent neuroprotective effects, and can ameliorate cognitive impairments associated with diverse diseases. Despite the noted potential of BBR in mitigating cognitive deficits associated with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH), the precise mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain inadequately defined. To explore these mechanisms, a CCH rat model was developed using a refined micro-spring method for bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS). For the experimental setup, rats were systematically divided into six groups: a Sham group (n = 15), a Sham + BBR group (n = 15), a BCAS group (n = 15), a BCAS + BBR group (n = 15), a BCAS + BBR + Colivelin group (with Colivelin serving as a STAT3 activator, n = 15), and a BCAS + AG490 group (AG490 acting as a JAK2 inhibitor, n = 15). Cognitive performance was evaluated through the Morris water maze and novel object recognition (NOR) tests. Additionally, neuronal integrity was assessed by Nissl and TUNEL staining within the hippocampal region. The study further examined the protein expressions of JAK2, STAT3, phosphorylated JAK2, phosphorylated STAT3, and cleaved caspase-3 using western blot analysis. Interaction targets of BBR were predicted through the STITCH database, and its binding affinity to STAT3 was confirmed using molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) techniques. The findings indicated an increase in apoptosis and a decline in cognitive abilities among the hippocampal neurons of the BCAS model rats. These deleterious effects, however, were substantially alleviated following treatment with BBR. The study posits that BBR primarily exerts its neuroprotective effects through the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Notably, while the activation of this pathway by Colivelin exacerbated neuronal damage and cognitive decline, its inhibition via AG490 markedly decreased apoptosis and improved cognitive outcomes. Therefore, this research suggests that BBR enhances cognitive functions in BCAS rats predominantly by reducing apoptosis in hippocampal neurons through the modulation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":7732,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Neuroscience","volume":"13 1","pages":"119-136"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086593/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147721591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}