Clin. Transl. Neurosci., Volume 9, Issue 3 (September 2025) – 7 articles

Background: Brain health is a growing public health priority due to the high global burden of neurological and mental disorders. Promoting brain health across the lifespan supports individual and societal well-being, creativity, and productivity. Objective: To address the need for specialized education in this field, the University of Bern developed a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Brain Health. This article outlines the program’s rationale, structure, and goals. Program Description: The one-year, 15 ECTS-credit program is primarily online and consists of four modules: (1) Introduction to Brain Health, (2) Brain Disorders, (3) Risk Factors, Protective Factors and Interventions, and (4) Brain Health Implementation. It offers a multidisciplinary, interprofessional, life-course approach, integrating theory with practice through case studies and interactive sessions. Designed for healthcare and allied professionals, the CAS equips participants with skills to promote brain health in clinical, research, and public health contexts. Given the shortage of trained professionals in Europe and globally, the program seeks to build a new generation of brain health advocates. It aims to inspire action and initiatives that support the prevention, early detection, and management of brain disorders. Conclusions: The CAS in Brain Health is an innovative educational response to a pressing global need. By fostering interdisciplinary expertise and practical skills, it enhances professional development and supports improved brain health outcomes at individual and population levels. Full article

Dementia prevention is a global public health priority, and lifestyle interventions, including nutrition, have gained interest for their potential to maintain cognitive health. Among nutritional interventions, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 FA), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been widely studied for their potential to support cognitive health. This systematic review evaluated whether n-3 FA supplementation improves global cognition in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met inclusion criteria, of which five reported significant improvements in global cognition. A random-effects meta-analysis of 11 placebo-controlled RCTs showed no significant effect (SMD = −0.02, 95% CI: −0.07 to 0.04). Heterogeneity in supplement type, dosage, duration, and outcome measures may have contributed to inconsistent findings and limited comparability. Furthermore, methodological quality of the trials was generally low. While current evidence does not demonstrate a significant effect of n-3 FA supplementation on global cognition, future research should prioritize well-powered, longer-duration RCTs that incorporate biomarker monitoring and more appropriate doses. Clarifying the role of n-3 FA in cognitive aging remains essential for informing nutrition-based dementia prevention strategies. Full article

The quality of life (QoL) perception has been studied in neurological diseases; however, there is limited information linking brain morphological characteristics, QoL, and cognition. Human behavior and perception are associated with specific brain areas that interact through diffuse electrochemical networking. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the brain region volume (BRV) correlation with the scores of Rand’s 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and cognitive domains (memory and dementia status). We analyzed data from 420 adult participants in the Maracaibo Aging Study (MAS). Principal component analysis with oblimin axis rotation was used to gather redundant information from brain parcels and SF-36 domains. Canonical correlation was used to analyze the relationships between SF-36 domains and BRV (adjusted for intracranial cavity), as well as sex, age, education, obesity, and hypertension. The average age (±SD) of subjects was 56 ± 11.5 years; 71% were female; 39% were obese; 12% had diabetes, 52% hypertension, and 7% dementia. No sex-related differences were found in memory and orientation scores, but women had lower QoL scores. The 1st and 2nd canonical correlation roots support the association of SF-36 domains (except social functioning and role emotional) and total brain volume, frontal lobe volume, frontal pole, lateral orbital lobe, cerebellar, and entorhinal areas. Other variables, including age, dementia, memory score, and systolic blood pressure, had a significant influence. The results of this study demonstrate significant correlations between BRV and SF-36 components, adjusted for covariates. The frontal lobe and insula were associated with the mental health component; the lateral-orbital frontal lobe and entorhinal area were correlated with the physical component. Full article

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have emerged as powerful tools for in vivo gene therapy, enabling long-term transgene expression in targeted tissues with minimal pathogenicity. This review examines the AAV serotypes used in clinical gene therapy trials for neurodegenerative (central nervous system, CNS) diseases, highlighting their tropisms, engineering advances, and translational progress. We discuss how capsid modifications, cell-specific promoters, and novel delivery routes are enhancing AAV tropism and reducing immunogenicity to overcome current limitations. Key clinical trials in neurodegenerative disorders (such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease) are summarized, including delivery methods (intravenous, intracoronary, intrathecal, etc.) and outcomes. We further outline the regulatory landscape with recent approvals of AAV-based therapies and ongoing efforts to address safety challenges like immune responses and vector dose toxicity. A more translational, forward-looking perspective is adopted to consider combination therapies (e.g., AAV with immune modulation or genome editing) and strategic directions to improve the next generation of AAV vectors. Overall, continued innovation in AAV vector design and delivery, alongside careful clinical evaluation, is accelerating the translation of gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

Background: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare vascular anomalies that can cause intracerebral hemorrhage, particularly in pediatric patients. Low-flow AVMs may not be visualized on initial non-invasive imaging modalities such as MR angiography. Methods: We report a 6-year-old boy who presented with intracerebral hemorrhage and initially had no detectable vascular anomaly on MR angiography and MR venography. Two years later, he was re-admitted with a recurrent hemorrhage. Repeating MR angiography again failed to reveal any vascular pathology. Results: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) performed later identified a grade 3 low-flow AVM in the left posterior temporal region. The patient underwent successful endovascular treatment with no subsequent neurological deficits. Conclusions: This case underscores the limitations of MR angiography in detecting low-flow AVMs and highlights the essential role of DSA in the definitive diagnosis and management of unexplained intracerebral hemorrhages in pediatric patients. Full article

This report presents two cases of pregnant women positive for folate receptor alpha (FRα) autoantibodies who received folinic acid supplementation. Both had previously given birth to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In subsequent pregnancies, folinic acid was administered preconceptionally and continually throughout gestation. The resulting offspring, monitored up to three years of age, exhibited typical neurodevelopment with no signs of ASD. These cases suggest that folinic acid supplementation during pregnancy may mitigate the risk of ASD in children born to mothers with FRα autoantibodies. Full article

(1) Background: There has been a recent growth in evidence regarding the use, value and impact of photobiomodulation therapy for individuals with fibromyalgia. However, the nature of the evidence has, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, not been presented within a scoping review. The objective of this work is to reveal the nature of the evidence, gaps in the evidence, and a map of the evidence considering photobiomodulation therapy against established policy guidelines; (2) Methods: A scoping review was undertaken considering all academic research that has examined the experiences and impact of photobiomodulation therapy on individuals with fibromyalgia; (3) Results: Our results highlight that, indeed, there is plentiful data available to address a high proportion of the concerns portrayed by the National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence. Outcome measures are wide-ranging, albeit demonstrating heterogeneity, and the results are extremely promising; (4) Conclusion: Based on the current evidence, the United Kingdom’s ‘standard of care’ for fibromyalgia needs to be ascertained, and stringent cost-effectiveness data needs to be collected and presented to governing bodies with the aim of integrating recommendations into future healthcare guidelines. Full article