#Research

Recent findings have drawn a direct connection between the use of plastic bottles for drinking and increased health risks, including high blood pressure and heart problems. As plastic use remains widespread in Thailand and across the globe, these revelations are particularly significant, urging a re-evaluation of everyday habits that pose hidden dangers to our health.

The study in focus, conducted by researchers from Danube Private University in Austria and published in the journal Microplastics, reveals that microplastics—tiny particles less than 5 mm in size—might be influencing human blood pressure, a condition closely linked to cardiovascular issues. Microplastics come from the breakdown of larger plastics and are found in abundance in our daily environment, including in the food we eat, air we breathe, and the water we drink.

A recent study by researchers at the University of the Basque Country, published in Nature Metabolism, found that marathon running can temporarily reduce myelin content in the brain. Importantly, these changes are fully reversible within two months, offering reassurance to endurance athletes concerned about lasting neural effects.

As Bangkok’s marathon scene grows, this finding is particularly relevant for Thai runners who tackle the 42-kilometer challenge. The study introduces the concept of metabolic myelin plasticity, suggesting that during intense exercise the brain may tap myelin lipids as an additional energy source when glucose is scarce. This aligns with established knowledge that glycogen stores deplete during long efforts, prompting the body to adapt its energy pathways.

A landmark study from Scripps Research reveals structural markers of long-term memory storage, offering new avenues to address memory decline in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Using cutting-edge genetics, 3D electron microscopy, and AI, researchers map memory traces with unprecedented detail to guide future therapies.

Published in Science, the work redefines memory by identifying engrams—the physical embodiments of memories in the brain. Advanced imaging and AI-driven analysis accelerate mapping of memory-related brain circuits, shortening what used to be years of work.

A groundbreaking study from Ohio State University, published in Nature Neuroscience, shows that memories formed close in time may be stored in dendrites—the branches of neurons—rather than in cell bodies. This finding explains why events on the same day often feel linked and could guide future therapies for memory-related disorders.

Led by Megha Sehgal, the researchers used advanced imaging in mice to demonstrate that the same dendritic branches activate when experiences are encoded in quick succession. The dendritic linkage occurs in the retrosplenial cortex, a brain region integral to contextual memory. The work reveals that memories can be bound together through localized changes in dendritic segments, offering a new lens on how the brain connects related experiences.

A new international study shows how two human-specific genes contribute to brain development, offering clues about the evolution of the cerebrum’s complexity. Researchers from a leading German primate research center and a top molecular biology institute conducted the work. Published in March 2025, the findings illuminate brain evolution and suggest potential avenues for addressing developmental brain disorders.

The study describes a synergistic mechanism: one gene promotes the proliferation of brain progenitor cells, while the other guides these cells to become neuron-producing progenitors. This coordinated process is proposed as a driving factor in the evolutionary path that produced the sophisticated human brain. Beyond evolution, the research hints at new angles for understanding developmental conditions and neurological diseases, with possible therapeutic implications.

A groundbreaking study has unveiled how our brains physically associate memories formed close in time, offering intriguing insights that could impact the understanding of memory-related disorders. Conducted at Ohio State University and recently published in Nature Neuroscience, the research highlights that rather than being encoded in the cell bodies of neurons, memories formed within short timeframes are stored in the dendrites, which are intricate extensions of neurons.

This discovery is significant as it elucidates why events occurring on the same day often feel inherently linked, in contrast to those spaced out over weeks. Dendrites, long overshadowed by the neuron cell bodies in memory studies, are now recognized as playing a crucial role in memory linkage. The researchers, led by Megha Sehgal, utilized advanced imaging techniques on mice, which revealed that the same dendritic branches get activated when closely timed experiences are encoded, thereby binding the memories together.

A groundbreaking study from Yale University reveals that infants can form and encode memories earlier than previously thought. Using advanced imaging, researchers found that even before speaking, babies show memory-related brain activity when viewing familiar images. Published in Science, the work challenges the long-held belief that infant memories are inaccessible due to a still-developing hippocampus. For Thai educators and parents, the finding underscores how early experiences can shape learning trajectories.