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Headlines 19 Since our previous Headlines issue, researchers from around the globe have been busy making new discoveries, contributing to our collective understanding of neurological conditions and howwe may go about treating them. Neuroscience, like all sciences, is collaborative. Every discovery is the result of other discoveries, which is why we’ll continue to share with you the incredible work being undertaken overseas. So, without further ado, here’s some of the latest breakthroughs. (Please note the Neurological Foundation doesn’t contribute funding to any of these projects): UK Researchers at University of East Anglia, in collaborationwith the charity Fifth Sense, found that almost a third of long COVID patients suffer persistent smell loss and almost a fifth experience loss of taste. The research team analysed data fromover 360,000 people in the UK. Loss of smell and taste can significantly impact people's lives, leading to depression, anxiety, isolation, and relationship difficulties, according to previous research. The researchers called for greater recognition and research into new treatments for the significant impact of smell and taste loss. Germany Researchers at the University of Bonn have found that peoplewith chronic epilepsymay have impaired memory due to changes in the function of “place cells”. These cells help people remember places they have visited by responding to specific environmental characteristics. In micewith epilepsy, this process was impaired, leading to less specific memories. Administering a substance that blocked the affected ion channel improved themice's ability to remember places. This research gives insight into the processes involved inmemory retrieval and gives rise to hopes of producing newdrugs that can be used to improve thememory of epilepsy patients. Switzerland Researchers fromthe University of Basel andUniversity Hospital Basel have found that amedication used to treatmultiple sclerosis (MS) can also have a positive effect on the composition of the gutmicrobiome. The gut bacteria of patients receiving themedication started to become more like the composition seen in healthy individuals. The study suggests that the gutmicrobiome may play a role in the effectiveness and side effects of MS treatments.   References neurological.org.nz/aroundtheglobe