In brief:  

How the brain tracks distance: MPFI scientists identified how hippocampal neurons encode distance traveled without relying on visual cues.  

A new neural code: Neuronal activity patterns act as a two-phase code to mark movement onset and track elapsed distance. 

Why it matters: These patterns may help the brain stitch moment-to-moment experiences into a memory of an event. 

Alzheimer’s relevance: The work may offer insight into early navigation problems commonly seen in Alzheimer’s disease. 

Patients with depression are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and a new study suggests that stress may help explain why. Research from Mass General Brigham suggests that this increased risk is driven by stress-related brain activity, nervous system dysregulation, and chronic inflammation. They also found that patients with both depression and anxiety were at even higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those diagnosed with just one condition. The findings, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, suggest that stress reduction and related therapeutic targets hold potential for cardiovascular disease prevention.

A new study presents robust evidence on the role of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers discovered that LPCs—compounds that transport a variety of healthy fatty acids to the brain—either promote Alzheimer’s or protect against it, depending on a person’s genetics.