Salk scientists explore long-standing mystery of why iron that builds up in neuronal cells becomes harmful over time in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, finding a new cellular process, named chronoferroptosis, wherein chronic iron dysregulation in neurons makes them more vulnerable to stressors. The study complements other ongoing research at Salk to design compounds that inhibit this pathway, and could be a promising future avenue for creating therapies that boost resilience in aging brains.

What happens when evolution rewires a brain for life in total darkness? In a study of the blind Mexican cavefish, researchers uncovered an evolutionary surprise: unlike their sighted relatives, cavefish become more active in light rather than darkness. Using whole-brain imaging at cellular resolution, the team revealed that neural circuits have effectively flipped their responses to light and dark. The findings offer a rare glimpse into how evolution reshapes the brain and could shed light on neurological disorders ranging from Parkinson’s disease to autism and ADHD.