Cecelia Kincaid

Behavioral Neuroscience // Class of 2027

Friendly Fire: How Our Own Immune Cells Can Fuel Brain Cancer

Studies show that anywhere from 30% to 50% of the tumor mass in glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, is actually made of our own immune cells. Glioblastoma is an elusive and dangerous tumor type. Only a quarter of patients live longer than a year, and less than 10% survive longer than five years. It grows […]

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The circadian rhythm and Parkinson’s: How major sleep deficits could worsen neurodegeneration

Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the gradual loss of dopaminergic (dopamine-producing) neurons, leading to motor symptoms including stiffness, slowness of movements, and involuntary tremors. Parkinson’s can also present nonmotor symptoms such as digestive issues and sleep deficits. Unfortunately, there is currently no effective therapy that can delay or stop

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Beyond the senses: COVID-19’s influence on brain maturation and the aging process

For millions of people around the world, COVID-19 was not just a week-long scare; it became a chronic condition. The most familiar symptoms of COVID-19 resemble those of the common cold, but it had a much farther reach than respiratory or muscular difficulties, especially in adolescent communities. Newer concerns are coming to light regarding how

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Epigenetic age acceleration: How traumatic childhood events can lead to faster aging

New research suggests that childhood home environments may have a say in the aging process. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events. They include all forms of abuse and neglect, but there are other ACEs such as exposure to parental substance use and parental incarceration. ACEs can have physical, mental, and emotional effects that

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Genetic interventions in Alzheimer’s disease: A promising future

According to a 2021 report by Alzheimer’s Disease International, someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds. It is an extremely common disease and diagnoses will only become more frequent; over 30 years, the number of people with dementia is expected to grow by 84 million. Alzheimer’s disease alone accounts for 80% of dementia

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