Prioritizing Brain Health in Youth: Bringing Neuroscience to Society and Informing Policy, Lessons Learnt from the European Brain Council Expert Meeting Held at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum 2024.

Good brain health plays a significant role in an individual's well-being and profoundly impacts the collective economy and society. Brain development does not stop at birth, and some aspects continue throughout childhood and adolescence, allowing the full development of cognitive functions. Different determinants related to physical health, healthy environments, safety and security, life-long learning and social connection as well as access to quality services influence the way our brains develop, adapt and respond to stress and adversity.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by FUS mutations: advances with broad implications.

Autosomal dominant mutations in the gene encoding the DNA and RNA binding protein FUS are a cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and about 0·3-0·9% of patients with ALS are FUS mutation carriers. FUS-mutation-associated ALS (FUS-ALS) is characterised by early onset and rapid progression, compared with other forms of ALS. However, different pathogenic mutations in FUS can result in markedly different age at symptom onset and rate of disease progression.

EEG Responses to Upper Limb Pinprick Stimulation in Acute and Early Subacute Motor and Sensorimotor Stroke: A Proof of Concept.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) during pinprick stimulation has the potential to unveil neural mechanisms underlying sensorimotor impairments post-stroke. A proof-of-concept study explored event-related peak pinprick amplitude and oscillatory responses in healthy controls and in people with acute and subuacute motor and sensorimotor stroke, their relationship, and to what extent EEG somatosensory responses can predict sensorimotor impairment. In this study, 26 individuals participated, 10 people with an acute and early subacute sensorimotor stroke, 6 people with an acute and early subacute motor stroke, and 10 age-matched controls.

The role of non-respiratory arousals in residual daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with positive airway pressure: An analysis of the European Sleep Apnea Database registry.

Study Objectives: To assess the impact of the non-respiratory arousal burden at baseline polysomnography (PSG) on residual daytime sleepiness in positive airway pressure (PAP)-treated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: We included OSA patients from the European Sleep Apnea Database registry with available arousal data who had at least 2 treatment follow-up visits. The primary outcome was the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score under PAP.

Exploratory Research: Patient-Reported Factors Contributing to Decreased Oral Intake During Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) in head and neck cancer (HNC) can cause multiple side effects such as nausea, pain, taste loss, fatigue, oral mucositis, xerostomia, and acute radiation-associated dysphagia (RAD). These factors threaten patients' oral intake (OI) during this RT. Reduced OI can cause weight loss, dehydration, malnutrition, and various comorbidities.

Diffusion tensor imaging in peroneal neuropathy: a prospective, single-centre study.

Objective: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) showed promising results in diagnosing upper limb neuropathies, but its value in patients with foot drop due to peroneal neuropathy has not yet been investigated. We aim to establish reference values for DTI metrics of the healthy peroneal nerve and to evaluate differences in DTI metrics between patients and healthy controls.

Methods: Diffusion-weighted images (DWI) from 22 pathological nerves, 14 asymptomatic patients' nerves and 65 healthy peroneal nerves were processed for quantitative assessment of fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD), axial diffusivity and mean diffusivity.

The Brussels consensus for non-invasive ICP monitoring when invasive systems are not available in the care of TBI patients (the B-ICONIC consensus, recommendations, and management algorithm).

Background: Invasive systems are commonly used for monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are considered the gold standard. The availability of invasive ICP monitoring is heterogeneous, and in low- and middle-income settings, these systems are not routinely employed due to high cost or limited accessibility. The aim of this consensus was to develop recommendations to guide monitoring and ICP-driven therapies in TBI using non-invasive ICP (nICP) systems.

Is the freezing index a valid outcome to assess freezing of gait during turning in Parkinson's disease?

Introduction: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling symptom for people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Turning on the spot for one minute in alternating directions (360 turn) while performing a cognitive dual-task (DT) is a fast and sensitive way to provoke FOG. The FOG-index is a widely used wearable sensor-based algorithm to quantify FOG severity during turning.

Rome Foundation Working Team Report: Consensus Statement on the Design and Conduct of Behavioural Clinical Trials for Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction.

Background: Brain-gut behaviour therapies (BGBT) have gained widespread acceptance as therapeutic modalities for the management of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). However, existing treatment evaluation methods in the medical field fail to capture the specific elements of scientific rigour unique to behavioural trial evaluation.

Aims: To offer the first consensus on the development and testing of BGBT in DGBI.

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.

Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 68 countries - the TISP dataset.

Science is integral to society because it can inform individual, government, corporate, and civil society decision-making on issues such as public health, new technologies or climate change. Yet, public distrust and populist sentiment challenge the relationship between science and society. To help researchers analyse the science-society nexus across different geographical and cultural contexts, we undertook a cross-sectional population survey resulting in a dataset of 71,922 participants in 68 countries.

De novo and inherited dominant variants in U4 and U6 snRNAs cause retinitis pigmentosa.

The U4 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) forms a duplex with the U6 snRNA and, together with U5 and ~30 proteins, is part of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP complex, located at the core of the major spliceosome. Recently, recurrent variants in the U4 RNA, transcribed from the gene, and in at least two other genes were discovered to cause neurodevelopmental disorder.

Impact of COVID-19 School Closures on White Matter Plasticity in the Reading Network.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children worldwide experienced school closures. Several studies have detected a negative impact on reading-related skills in children who experienced these closures during the early stages of reading instruction, but the impact on the reading network in the brain has not been investigated. In the current longitudinal study in a sample of 162 Dutch-speaking children, we found a short-term effect in the growth of phonological awareness in children with COVID-19 school closures compared to children without school closures, but no long-term effects one year later.

Early CRPS Is a Heterogeneous Condition: Results From a Latent Class Analysis.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating condition characterised by significant heterogeneity. Early diagnosis is critical, but limited data exists on the condition's early stages. This study aimed to characterise (very) early CRPS patients and explore potential subgroups to enhance understanding of its mechanisms.

Phosphodiesterase 4D inhibition improves the functional and molecular outcome in a mouse and human model of Charcot Marie Tooth disease 1 A.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) is an inherited peripheral neuropathy caused by a duplication of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene. It is primarily marked by Schwann cell dedifferentiation and demyelination, leading to motor and sensory deficits. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is crucial for Schwann cell differentiation and maturation.

Postprandial glycaemic response and pain sensitivity in breast cancer survivors suffering from chronic pain: a double-blind, randomised controlled cross-over pilot experiment.

Introduction: The study's primary goal is to investigate differences in postprandial glycaemic response (PPGR) to beverages with varying glycaemic index (i.e. low and medium) between breast cancer survivors (BCS) with chronic pain and healthy pain-free controls (HC).

Discovery of (3-Phenylcarbamoyl-3,4-dihydro-2-pyrrol-2-yl)phosphonates as Imidazoline Receptor Ligands with Anti-Alzheimer and Analgesic Properties.

Imidazoline receptors (I-IRs) are altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and are associated with analgesia. I-IRs are not structurally described, and their pharmacological characterization relies on their modulation by highly affine ligands. Herein, we describe the synthesis of (3-phenylcarbamoyl-3,4-dihydro-2-pyrrol-2-yl)phosphonates endowed with relevant affinities for I-IRs in human brain tissues.

Clinical and imaging spectrum of non-congenital dominant ACTN2 myopathy.

Background: Alpha-actinin-2, a protein with high expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle, is located in the Z-disc and plays a key role in sarcomere stability. Mutations in ACTN2 have been associated with both hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy and, more recently, with skeletal myopathy.

Methods: Genetic, clinical, and muscle imaging data were collected from 37 patients with an autosomal dominant ACTN2 myopathy belonging to 11 families from Spain and Belgium.

Safety and Efficacy of IV Onasemnogene Abeparvovec for Pediatric Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy: The Phase 3b SMART Study.

Background And Objectives: Safety and efficacy of IV onasemnogene abeparvovec has been demonstrated for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) weighing <8.5 kg. SMART was the first clinical trial to evaluate onasemnogene abeparvovec for participants weighing 8.

Simultaneous activation of different subtypes of dopamine receptors may lead to activation of homeostatic sleep regulatory mechanisms.

Dopaminergic system gains importance in homeostatic sleep regulation, but the role of different dopamine receptors is not well-defined. 72 h rat electrocorticogram and sleep recordings were made after single application of dopaminergic drugs in clinical use or at least underwent clinical trials. The non-selective agonist apomorphine evoked short pharmacological sleep deprivation with intense wakefulness followed by pronounced sleep rebound.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Newly Diagnosed Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients.

Background: Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) can cause oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). Early identification of OD in newly diagnosed HNC patients is important to better prepare patients for their cancer treatment trajectory. The aim of this study is (1) to assess the prevalence of OD in HNC patients within three weeks before the start of cancer treatment and (2) to investigate which demographic and oncological characteristics may be risk factors associated with the risk of OD at baseline.

The pentose phosphate pathway controls oxidative protein folding and prevents ferroptosis in chondrocytes.

Bone lengthening and fracture repair depend on the anabolic properties of chondrocytes that function in an avascular milieu. The limited supply of oxygen and nutrients calls into question how biosynthesis and redox homeostasis are guaranteed. Here we show that glucose metabolism by the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is essential for endochondral ossification.