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Dr. Seher, Chicago, IL (2025)

12/01/2025

A clinical trial has started in Australia testing whether special cells from the nose can help repair spinal cord damage and restore function that was once thought lost. These cells, called olfactory ensheathing cells, normally allow the nerves responsible for smell to regenerate throughout life. Scientists believe that when transplanted into injured spinal cord tissue, they could encourage nerve repair and reconnection.

This trial is the result of decades of research. Participants first undergo three months of intensive rehabilitation. After that, surgeons implant a small bridge made from the person’s own nasal cells into the damaged area of their spinal cord. Following surgery, patients continue with eight more months of rehabilitation. The study is carefully designed to test both safety and effectiveness, measuring whether people regain functions such as moving fingers, controlling their bladder or bowel, or even standing and embracing loved ones again.

The olfactory bridge offers a physical pathway and a supportive environment for nerve fibers to regrow. Even modest improvements could make a huge difference in daily life, offering more independence and freedom. For people living with paralysis, this trial is not just about hope but about the real possibility of meaningful recovery.

11/30/2025

A major study has shown that the small blood vessels inside the eye’s retina can serve as a window into the health of the heart and the rate of biological aging. Researchers analyzed retinal scans and health data from more than seventy thousand people and found that individuals with simpler or less branched retinal blood vessels were more likely to have heart disease, higher inflammation levels, and biological markers linked to faster aging. The eye’s blood vessels mirror the body’s wider vascular system, making them a powerful reflection of overall cardiovascular health.

Further analysis revealed that specific molecular changes might connect these visual patterns with systemic inflammation and vessel aging. Proteins such as MMP12 and IgG-Fc receptor IIb were identified as possible links between the eye’s microvessels and the condition of larger blood vessels in the body. Since the retina can be imaged non-invasively, this finding suggests a potential future where eye scans may help detect early heart and vascular problems.

Although these results are encouraging, researchers caution that routine eye imaging is not yet a substitute for standard heart disease testing.

11/30/2025

The Neurobiology of Addiction: From "Wanting" to "Needing"
This diagram provides a fascinating look into how addiction physically rewires the brain. It highlights the critical shift between the early and late stages of the addiction process.
🧠 The Key Shift:
The "Feels Better" Pathway (Red): In the early stages, the Ventral Tegmental Area and Nucleus Accumbens drive the behavior based on reward and pleasure.
The "Must Do" Pathway (Blue): As addiction progresses, the activity shifts. The Substantia Nigra and Striatum take over, turning the behavior into a deep-seated compulsion or habit, regardless of the pleasure derived.
At the same time, the Prefrontal Cortex (the grey area responsible for the "Stop Now" / executive control) often struggles to compete with these reinforced pathways. Understanding this biology is crucial for empathy and effective treatment.

11/30/2025

A team of Chinese researchers has observed a rare form of quantum friction, a tiny force that arises from interactions between moving atoms and electromagnetic fields at the quantum level. This phenomenon, known as Casimir friction, occurs when two objects move past each other in close proximity and quantum fluctuations create a resistive force, even in a perfect vacuum.

In their experiment, the scientists used ultra‑cold surfaces and precise measurement tools to detect the incredibly small force, which is far weaker than everyday friction we feel with surfaces like wood or metal. The detection confirms long‑standing theoretical predictions in quantum physics and offers a new window into how quantum mechanics governs interactions at the nanoscale.

Understanding quantum friction could have future applications in designing super‑sensitive instruments, nanoscale devices, or quantum computers where controlling tiny forces is essential. While this research is still fundamental, it helps bridge theory and experiment in an area of physics that has remained largely untested for decades.

11/30/2025

There is no single sleeping position that works best for everyone, but each position comes with certain benefits and drawbacks depending on health and comfort. Side sleeping is the most common among adults. It can ease snoring and help with sleep apnea by keeping the airways more open. For those with acid reflux or frequent heartburn, lying on the left side often reduces symptoms because gravity helps keep stomach acid from moving upward into the throat.

Sleeping on your back, also called the supine position, can help keep the spine aligned and reduce pressure on the neck and lower back. Using a pillow under the knees adds more support and relieves back strain. However, this position may worsen snoring and sleep apnea in some people. Pregnant women are often encouraged to sleep on their left side to improve blood flow to the baby and reduce pressure on organs.

Sleeping on the stomach is generally considered the least healthy. It forces the neck to twist and places extra strain on both the spine and muscles. Over time this can cause pain and restless sleep. The key is to prioritize spinal support, comfort, and proper breathing. If pain, snoring, or poor sleep keep happening, changing your sleeping position or using supportive pillows may help improve rest.

11/30/2025

A recent study has uncovered a two-way link between low levels of certain vitamins and minerals and chronic pain. Researchers compared people with no pain, mild to moderate chronic pain, and severe chronic pain. They measured levels of vitamin D, B12, folate, magnesium, and vitamin C. What emerged was clear: those with severe pain were more likely to have serious deficiencies in vitamin D, B12, folate, and magnesium. For vitamin C, the pattern showed that men with pain often had low or borderline levels.

The surprising twist is that not only do deficiencies seem to be more common in people already suffering pain, but also that having those deficiencies may raise the risk of developing more severe pain. In other words, the relationship works both ways. That opens the door to possible nutritional strategies to reduce pain levels.

This work is the first large scale effort to use a precision medicine lens on chronic pain by broadly checking micronutrient levels in a diverse population. The researchers point out that in many chronic pain cases where no clear medical cause is found, adjustments in diet or nutrient supplementation might offer relief, rather than relying solely on medications or invasive treatments.

11/29/2025

Small yellowish bumps on the skin, known as xanthomas, might seem harmless, but they can signal serious heart issues. These waxy bumps usually appear on the eyelids, elbows, knees, or other areas and are caused by fat deposits forming just under the skin. When fat starts building up in the skin, it often reflects higher cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, which can increase the risk of clogged arteries and heart disease.

Xanthomas themselves are not dangerous, but they act as visible warning signs that cholesterol may be reaching unhealthy levels. People noticing these bumps should speak with a healthcare provider, who may recommend cholesterol testing and further evaluation. Catching elevated cholesterol early allows for lifestyle changes or medication that can prevent more serious cardiovascular problems down the line.

Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and monitoring cholesterol levels are key steps in protecting your heart. Paying attention to changes in your skin can provide early clues about your cardiovascular health. By addressing issues early, it is possible to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other heart-related complications.

11/29/2025

The earliest changes in Alzheimer disease begin with small protein clumps forming between and inside brain cells. The two main proteins involved are beta amyloid and tau. Beta amyloid is normally cleared away by the brain, but when this process slows down, the protein begins to collect in small sticky pieces. These pieces join together and form tiny clusters. At first they are so small that they do not disturb brain function, but as they increase they begin to interfere with communication between neurons. Signals that once moved smoothly now face more resistance.
Inside the neurons, tau proteins also undergo changes. Tau normally helps stabilize the internal transport pathways of the cell. When it becomes altered, tau starts to detach from these pathways and forms twisted strands that collect inside the neuron. These strands gather and create small tangles. As these tangles build up, the cell becomes less able to move nutrients and waste, which slowly weakens its function.
These early clumps and tangles appear many years before symptoms begin. They gradually disturb the structure and communication of brain cells. Over time the combined effects create the early foundation of memory loss and cognitive decline that later becomes noticeable.

11/29/2025

A recent study found that people who spend more time on social media platforms tend to report higher levels of climaterelated emotional distress and alarm. The research surveyed 1,400 U.S. adults and found a clear connection between greater usage of services like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and YouTube and two types of climate worry: “climate distress,” which covers general concern, and “climate doom,” the belief that climate change will lead to societal collapse.

Interestingly, the study found that while both kinds of worry rose with social media use, only “climate doom” was linked with support for radical or extreme actions (for example sabotage or hacking targeting fossil fuel companies). The study did not find a strong connection between either form of worry and support for authoritarian policies. Also, different platforms showed slightly different patterns: TikTok and Snapchat users had higher doom scores, while Instagram, Reddit and others showed higher skepticism or concern about misinformation.

The authors caution that this is a correlational finding, it does not prove that social media causes climate anxiety and they point to the need for further research into what kinds of content are being consumed, how algorithms amplify certain messages, and how we might develop ways to manage collective distress without reducing motivation to act on climate issues.

11/29/2025

Recent research indicates that making positive lifestyle changes can substantially lower the risk of developing dementia. By focusing on modifiable factors, individuals can take proactive steps to protect their cognitive health.

Studies have shown that engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet, and managing chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes can reduce dementia risk. Additionally, staying socially active and mentally stimulated contributes to better brain health. For instance, even small amounts of moderate to vigorous physical activity, such as five minutes per day, are associated with significant reductions in dementia risk.

Furthermore, addressing factors like poor vision and high cholesterol levels has been linked to a decreased likelihood of developing dementia. Research has identified these as new risk factors, suggesting that managing them can delay or reduce the onset of dementia.

Incorporating these healthy habits into daily life can have a profound impact on cognitive well-being. It's never too late to start making these changes, and doing so can lead to a healthier brain and a better quality of life.

11/29/2025

A new study from the University of British Columbia looked at health records of over 12,000 people who eventually developed multiple sclerosis (MS). What they found is that medical visits start increasing around fifteen years before any of the classic MS symptoms like numbness, vision problems, or loss of balance appear. This means that the disease might be active much earlier than anyone realized.

The researchers saw that the earliest signs were quite general and easy to mistake for everyday ailments—things like feeling tired, having aches or pains, dizziness, and experiencing anxiety or depression. Around twelve years out, there was a noticeable increase in psychiatry visits. Between eight and nine years before symptom onset people began seeing neurologists and eye specialists more often, usually for eye issues or blurred vision. In the last few years before diagnosis, visits to emergency departments and radiology surged as symptoms got more serious and distinctive. The very year before diagnosis medical appointments across many specialties reached a peak.

Doctors now worry less about waiting until serious neurological signs appear. Spotting these early warning signs might let doctors act sooner—monitoring patients, using biomarkers, or combining genetic, lifestyle, and healthcare data to detect MS earlier. Earlier treatment could help delay nerve damage and improve outcomes. Researchers emphasize that most people with occasional fatigue or pain will not get MS, but seeing persistent patterns over many years might matter.

11/16/2025

USA created a brain implant that restores speech to paralyzed patients — thoughts become words in real-time 🧠

A team at Stanford University has developed a revolutionary brain-computer interface that translates neural activity directly into spoken words at 62 words per minute—nearly normal conversation speed. The implant, smaller than a coin, was successfully tested on a 67-year-old stroke patient who hadn't spoken in 18 years.

Why does this matter? Over 300,000 Americans live with locked-in syndrome or severe speech paralysis from strokes, ALS, or spinal injuries. This technology offers:

Real communication for the voiceless
Independence without caregivers translating
Emotional expression and relationship restoration
Potential for controlling devices with thoughts
The device reads electrical signals from 256 electrodes placed in the speech motor cortex, using machine learning algorithms that decode intended words before muscles would activate them. The patient can now have conversations with family, express needs, and even tell jokes—something impossible for nearly two decades.

Unlike previous systems requiring eye-tracking or slow letter-by-letter selection, this implant captures natural thought-to-speech patterns. The FDA fast-tracked approval, and human trials expanded to 50 participants in March 2025.

The patient's first words after activation? "I want to talk to my daughter."

Source: New England Journal of Medicine, Stanford Neural Prosthetics Lab, February 2025

Dr. Seher

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