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  • Injectable biomaterial could repair heart damage via bloodstream – and hint at new treatments

    Injectable biomaterial could repair heart damage via bloodstream – and hint at new treatments

    JAV mokslininkai pristatė injekuojamą biomaterialą, kuris, suleidus į kraujotaką, gali pasiekti pažeistus audinius ir sumažinti uždegimą. Tyrimuose su gyvūnais ši medžiaga siejama su geresniais širdies audinio atsistatymo rodikliais po infarkto, o pati idėja gali būti pritaikoma ir kitoms uždegimo varomoms būklėms.

    Sprendimą kūrė Kalifornijos universiteto San Diege (UC San Diego) bioinžinerijos komanda, tęsdama ankstesnius darbus su širdies ekstraląstelinės matricos (ECM) hidrogeliais. Naujoji versija sukurta taip, kad ją būtų galima sulašinti į veną arba sušvirkšti į kraujagyslę per įprastas kardiologines procedūras, pavyzdžiui, angioplastiką ar stentavimą.

    Kodėl tai svarbu po infarkto?

    Infarkto metu nutrūkus kraujo tėkmei dalis širdies raumens žūsta, o organizmas pažeistą vietą dažniausiai pakeičia randiniu audiniu. Randas nebesusitraukia kaip sveikas raumuo, todėl ilgainiui gali silpti širdies siurbimo funkcija ir didėti širdies nepakankamumo rizika.

    Šiuolaikinis gydymas daugiausia orientuotas į kuo greitesnį kraujotakos atstatymą, komplikacijų prevenciją ir rizikos veiksnių kontrolę. Tiesioginių, plačiai taikomų metodų, kurie atstatytų prarastą širdies audinį, klinikinėje praktikoje vis dar trūksta, todėl regeneracinės medicinos sprendimai laikomi viena perspektyviausių krypčių.

    Kaip veikia į kraują leidžiama medžiaga?

    Naujoji koncepcija remiasi tuo, kad po infarkto ir kitų stiprių uždegiminių pažeidimų kraujagyslių sienelės tam tikrose vietose tampa pralaidesnės, atsiranda mikroįtrūkių, per kuriuos į audinius lengviau patenka įvairios dalelės. Tyrėjai siekė sukurti medžiagą, kuri išnaudotų šį efektą ir „nusėstų“ ten, kur vyksta didžiausia žala.

    Pagal aprašytus bandymus, biomaterialas ne tik lokalizavosi pažeidimo srityje, bet ir sąveikavo su kraujagyslių vidinį paviršių dengiančiomis endotelio ląstelėmis. Buvo stebimi požymiai, kad tai gali padėti „užsandarinti“ padidėjusio pralaidumo vietas, slopinti uždegimą ir sudaryti palankesnes sąlygas audinių gijimui.

    „Šis biomaterialas leidžia gydyti pažeistus audinius iš vidaus“, – sakė UC San Diego bioinžinerijos profesorė Karen Christman.

    Medžiaga pagaminta iš širdies audinio ekstraląstelinės matricos, kuri laboratorijoje apdorojama taip, kad neliktų ląstelių, o išliktų audinių „karkasą“ sudarančios struktūros. Kad ją būtų saugu leisti į kraujotaką, tyrėjai sumažino dalelių dydį iki nanodalelių lygio, o galutinis produktas paruošiamas taip, kad prireikus būtų atskiedžiamas steriliu vandeniu ir suleidžiamas.

    Nuo laboratorijos iki klinikos: kur esame dabar?

    Tyrimo rezultatai buvo paskelbti 2022 metais, o vėlesni darbai gilino supratimą, kaip ECM pagrindu sukurti biomaterialai veikia gijimo procesus širdyje. Naujesnėse publikacijose, taikant pažangius audinių analizės metodus, aprašomi signalai, susiję su imuninio atsako perreguliavimu, kraujagyslių formavimusi ir fibroblastų aktyvacija, kurie gali būti svarbūs atsistatymui po infarkto.

    Vis dėlto esminis klausimas išlieka tas pats: ar intravaskuliariai leidžiamas biomaterialas bus saugus ir veiksmingas žmonėms. Tam reikės klinikinių tyrimų, kuriuose būtų vertinamas ne tik suleidimo saugumas, bet ir reali nauda pacientams, pavyzdžiui, širdies funkcijos rodiklių pokyčiai, hospitalizacijų dažnis ar gyvenimo kokybė.

    „Kaip intervencinis kardiologas norėčiau turėti dar vieną terapiją, kuri pagerintų pacientų išeitis ir sumažintų varginančius simptomus“, – sakė gydytojas Ryan R. Reeves.

    Šio sprendimo potencialas platesnis nei vien širdies ligos. Kadangi visus organus pasiekia kraujagyslės, panaši logika teoriškai galėtų būti taikoma būklėms, kuriose uždegimas ir kraujagyslių pralaidumo pokyčiai vaidina svarbų vaidmenį, pavyzdžiui, po trauminių pažeidimų ar sergant kai kuriomis plaučių kraujagyslių ligomis. Kol kas tai išlieka ankstyvos stadijos kryptis, tačiau ji rodo, kaip regeneracinė medicina vis dažniau persikelia nuo sudėtingų intervencijų link mažiau invazinių, sisteminių sprendimų.

  • Būsto įsigijimo parama 2026 metais: prašymai nuo gegužės 19 dienos, kaip pateikti ir kam priklauso

    Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerija pranešė, kad 2026 metais gegužės 19 dieną skelbs kvietimą teikti prašymus būsto įsigijimo paramai. Parama teikiama pagal Paramos būstui įsigyti ar išsinuomoti įstatymą ir apima valstybės iš dalies kompensuojamą būsto kreditą ir arba subsidiją.

    Prašymus bus galima teikti 2026 metais gegužės 19 dieną nuo 9.00 iki 16.00 valandos arba iki tol, kol bus išnaudota kvietimui skirta lėšų suma. Ministerija pabrėžia, kad dėl riboto finansavimo praktikoje svarbu prašymą pateikti kuo anksčiau ir pasirūpinti, kad dokumentai būtų tvarkingi.

    Kaip galima pateikti prašymą

    Prašymai priimami keliais būdais: per Socialinės paramos šeimai informacines sistemas, atvykus į savivaldybės administraciją, siunčiant paštu, teikiant elektroniniu paštu, per kurjerį arba per atstovą. Jei prašymą teikia atstovas, jo teisė atstovauti turi būti patvirtinta notaro.

    Molėtų rajono savivaldybėje nurodoma, kad prašymai priimami ir atvykus į administraciją Vilniaus g. 44, 418 kabinete. Gyventojams rekomenduojama iš anksto pasitikslinti, ar pateikiami visi priedai, nes trūkstami dokumentai gali užvilkinti vertinimą.

    Ką verta pasitikrinti prieš teikiant

    Prieš teikiant prašymą svarbu įsivertinti, ar pareiškėjas atitinka paramos sąlygas, kurios nustatytos įstatyme ir poįstatyminiuose aktuose. Paprastai vertinami šeimos sudėtis, pajamos, turimas turtas ir planuojamas būsto įsigijimas.

    Taip pat svarbu suprasti, kad kvietimui skirtos lėšos gali baigtis dar tą pačią dieną, todėl vien pateikimas neužtikrina automatinio finansavimo. Galutinis sprendimas priimamas įvertinus prašymo atitiktį reikalavimams ir turimą finansavimą.

    Kur rasti naujausią informaciją

    Ministerija nurodo, kad detali informacija apie kvietimą ir sąlygas pateikta jos interneto svetainės skiltyje, skirtoje paramai būstui įsigyti ar išsinuomoti. Dėl praktinių klausimų gyventojai gali kreiptis į savivaldybės specialistus, atsakingus už prašymų priėmimą ir konsultavimą.

    Molėtų rajono savivaldybė taip pat pateikia kontaktą papildomai informacijai gauti. Prieš siunčiant prašymą elektroniniu paštu ar paštu, verta pasitikslinti priėmimo reikalavimus ir dokumentų formatą, kad prašymas būtų užregistruotas be trikdžių.

  • MIT brain study suggests Esperanto and Klingon engage the same language network as English

    New research from MIT neuroscientists suggests the human brain processes constructed languages such as Esperanto and Klingon in much the same way it handles widely spoken natural languages. Using functional MRI, the team found that core language regions activate when proficient speakers listen to sentences in these invented languages.

    The study focused on the brain’s established language network, a set of areas that reliably responds when people hear their native tongue or another language they know well. Researchers say the findings help clarify what makes something count as language in the brain, beyond history, popularity, or cultural reach.

    How the experiment was run

    To test the idea, MIT convened speakers of several constructed languages for a weekend data-collection event in November 2022. Participants included people proficient in Esperanto, Klingon from Star Trek, Na’vi from Avatar, and High Valyrian and Dothraki from Game of Thrones.

    In total, 44 speakers underwent fMRI scanning while listening to sentences in a constructed language they knew. For comparison, they also listened to or read sentences in their native language and completed nonlinguistic tasks designed to separate language processing from general effort.

    Across participants, the same language-selective brain regions were engaged for constructed languages and native languages. The researchers interpret this as evidence that linguistic meaning and structure, not a language’s natural evolution, are key to recruiting the language network.

    Why conlangs differ from code

    The findings also sharpen a contrast the team has reported in earlier work on programming languages. While code is an invented symbolic system, prior neuroimaging results indicate it relies more heavily on the brain’s multiple demand network, which supports effortful reasoning and problem solving.

    MIT researchers argue the difference may come down to what kinds of meaning are expressed. Natural and constructed languages can describe objects, events, and internal states, whereas programming languages tend to operate as more self-contained, highly abstract systems.

    That distinction suggests a practical test for what the brain treats as language: whether it supports open-ended communication about the inner and outer world. It also implies that a relatively new language with a modest number of speakers can still be fully language-like to the brain if people become proficient in it.

    What researchers plan next

    The team says future work will probe additional constructed languages, including Lojban, which was designed to reduce ambiguity through highly explicit grammar and logic-oriented design. Researchers hope this will further narrow which properties are necessary to activate the language network.

    Beyond conlang communities, the results may inform broader debates in cognitive science about language, meaning, and human learning. They may also help separate language processing from other complex symbol systems, a distinction with implications for education and human-computer interaction.

  • Study identifies a relationship tipping point that often predicts a breakup 1–2 years ahead

    Romantic breakups often follow a recognizable pattern rather than arriving without warning, according to a large analysis of long-running survey data from several countries. Researchers say relationship satisfaction can enter a two-stage decline, with a distinct tipping point appearing about one to two years before separation.

    The work, led by psychologist Janina Bühler of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz with Ulrich Orth of the University of Bern, was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Instead of tracking how satisfaction changes from the start of a relationship, the team examined what happens as couples move closer to a breakup.

    How the tipping point emerges

    The researchers describe an extended preterminal phase in which satisfaction drops slowly over several years. After that comes a transition point where satisfaction begins to fall much faster, marking the start of a terminal phase that typically lasts 7 to 28 months.

    This accelerated decline was seen in people whose relationships later ended, but not in a matched control group of couples who stayed together. The finding suggests the rapid-drop phase is not simply normal relationship fluctuation, but a pattern more closely linked to eventual dissolution.

    Evidence from four national studies

    The analysis drew on four large, nationally based longitudinal studies from Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, covering 11 295 individuals and spanning 12 to 21 years of follow-up. Participants were repeatedly asked to rate how satisfied they were with their current romantic relationship.

    The team focused on time-to-separation, a method used in other areas of psychology to capture end-stage changes before an outcome occurs. By aligning responses to the point of breakup, they mapped how satisfaction shifts as separation approaches.

    Partners often experience it differently

    The decline can look different depending on who ultimately initiates the breakup. The partner who initiates separation tends to show earlier dissatisfaction, while the partner who is left often reaches the tipping point later and then experiences a sharper drop shortly before the split.

    The researchers say this gap may help explain why breakups can feel sudden to one partner but long-developing to the other. They also argue that many couples seek help after the transition point, when the relationship is already in the fast-decline stage and may be harder to stabilize.

    While the study does not claim every relationship follows the same timeline, it highlights warning patterns that may be detectable well in advance. The authors suggest that interventions during the slower preterminal phase may be more effective than waiting until dissatisfaction accelerates.

  • Study hints ADHD could raise dementia risk, with brain iron and blood markers offering early clues

    Adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may face a higher risk of developing dementia later in life, according to new research from Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva. The study links ADHD to biological changes often seen in age-related neurodegenerative disease.

    Researchers reported that adults with ADHD showed altered iron levels in specific brain regions and higher concentrations of a blood marker tied to nerve cell damage. Both signals have been associated in previous research with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

    Brain iron and nerve damage marker

    The team examined 32 adults aged 25 to 45 with ADHD and 29 similarly aged healthy participants. Using an MRI technique called quantitative susceptibility mapping, they estimated iron content across brain areas and compared it with blood measurements.

    Participants with ADHD had different iron distribution in several regions, and iron in the precentral cortex was associated with higher neurofilament light chain levels in blood. Neurofilament light chain is widely used in neurology research as an indicator of ongoing neuronal injury.

    Why iron may matter

    Iron is essential for healthy brain function, but excess accumulation has been linked to oxidative stress and damage to neurons. In Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, abnormal iron patterns have repeatedly been observed alongside other signs of degeneration.

    The authors argue that the combination of increased regional brain iron and elevated neurofilament light chain could point to an early neurobiological pathway that helps explain epidemiological links between ADHD and dementia. They emphasize, however, that the findings do not mean dementia is inevitable for people with ADHD.

    What this could change next

    With dementia affecting an estimated 55 million people worldwide and nearly 10 million new cases each year, identifying modifiable risks remains a major public health goal. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for roughly 60 to 70% of diagnoses, according to the World Health Organization.

    The researchers say larger, long-term studies are needed to confirm whether these markers predict later cognitive decline and whether interventions can alter risk. They also note the broader importance of recognizing and managing adult ADHD, both for day-to-day functioning and potential long-term brain health.

  • Communication Network Structure May Shape Team Identity and Performance, New Study Finds

    New research is shedding light on why some teams gel quickly while others struggle, even when they have the same skills and resources. The study examines how the structure of a group’s communication network can influence a shared social identity and, in turn, performance.

    The work, led by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, was published in the journal Small Group Research. It focuses on two network features that are common in organizations: density, meaning how many connections exist among members, and centralization, meaning how concentrated communication is around one or a few people.

    When more connections can backfire

    The researchers argue that communication structures affect more than information flow. They can also shift team psychology by changing how strongly members feel part of a common in-group.

    In a laboratory experiment, 66 groups of four participants completed a software development task while communicating through different network setups. The study tested how varying density and centralization changed both shared identity and results on the task.

    The findings suggest dense networks were most beneficial when communication was less centralized. When connections were spread more evenly across members, teams were more likely to form a shared social identity and perform better.

    Why centralization changes group dynamics

    When networks were highly centralized, adding more ties did not deliver the same gains. The researchers report that bigger differences in who is connected to whom can weaken the sense of shared identity, which can hurt coordination and knowledge sharing.

    The analysis also found that shared social identity helped explain the link between network structure and performance. In other words, the communication network appeared to affect outcomes partly by shaping whether members felt they belonged to the same team.

    Implications for managers and team leaders

    For managers, the research suggests that encouraging more interaction is not automatically helpful if it increases communication imbalances. Leaders may need to pay attention to whether participation is broadly distributed or routed through a small set of central players.

    The authors note limits to how widely the results can be applied, pointing to the small-group setting and tasks requiring interdependence. They also caution that findings may be most relevant when members can accurately perceive their team’s communication patterns.

  • Cutting Daily TV Time May Lower Depression Risk, With Middle Age Seeing the Biggest Gains

    Cutting Daily TV Time May Lower Depression Risk, With Middle Age Seeing the Biggest Gains

    Reducing time spent watching television and replacing it with more active or restorative habits may lower the risk of major depressive disorder, according to a new study published in European Psychiatry.

    The research suggests the strongest benefits appear in middle-aged adults, while effects are smaller or less consistent among younger and older groups.

    Unlike earlier studies that often linked sedentary behavior to poorer mental health in general, the new analysis focused on what happens when TV time is actively swapped for specific alternatives such as sports, sleep, or other daily activities.

    Lead author Rosa Palazuelos-González of the University of Groningen said the work helps clarify how reallocating screen time, rather than simply reducing it, could influence depression risk over time.

    What the researchers measured

    The study drew on Lifelines, a large Dutch population cohort that followed 65 454 adults who did not have depression at the start of the analysis.

    Participants were tracked for four years, reporting time spent watching TV, sleeping, doing household tasks, commuting, leisure activity, physical activity at work or school, and sports.

    Major depressive disorder was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, a structured diagnostic tool widely used in clinical and research settings.

    When researchers modeled a 60-minute shift away from TV toward other activities, they found an 11% lower likelihood of developing major depression across the overall sample.

    In scenarios where 90 or 120 minutes were reallocated, the estimated reduction in likelihood increased, reaching about 25.91% for larger shifts.

    Middle age stands out most

    The largest estimated improvements were seen in middle-aged adults, where replacing one hour of TV per day was associated with an 18.78% lower risk of developing depression.

    In that same age group, reallocating 90 minutes was linked to a 29% reduction, and replacing two hours corresponded to a 43% drop in risk.

    Most substitutions were associated with better outcomes, but swapping only 30 minutes of TV for household chores did not appear to meaningfully change risk.

    By contrast, replacing 30 minutes with sports was associated with an 18% reduction, the biggest improvement among the activities analyzed.

    Why age differences may matter

    Among older adults, the researchers did not find broad, statistically meaningful changes when TV time was redistributed, except when the replacement activity was sports.

    In that group, shifting 30 to 90 minutes from TV to sports was linked to modest decreases in depression probability.

    In younger adults, moving time away from TV toward physical activity did not significantly change depression risk in the models.

    The authors suggested this may be because younger participants tend to be more active overall, potentially already meeting thresholds where additional activity yields smaller mental health benefits.

    The findings do not prove that television causes depression, but they add evidence that how people spend discretionary time may matter, especially in midlife.

    For individuals looking to reduce risk, the results point toward practical substitutions, with sports and other movement-based activities showing the most consistent associations.

  • Study finds classroom talk can sharpen students writing by making language choices visible

    How teachers steer classroom discussion can significantly shape how well students learn to write, according to research led by the University of Exeter. The study links purposeful talk about texts to stronger understanding of how writing decisions affect readers.

    Researchers focused on what they describe as metalinguistic talk, meaning discussion that draws attention to word choice, sentence structure and tone. When students explore why an author made certain choices, they are more likely to apply similar thinking to their own writing.

    Why discussion time changes writing

    The findings argue that discussion in secondary English lessons should not be treated as an add-on before writing begins. Instead, time for exploratory conversation can help students test ideas, refine interpretations and connect language features to meaning.

    The study also suggests that open, speculative talk helps more students participate because it values first impressions and partial answers. This can give teachers a clearer window into misunderstandings before they become embedded in a piece of writing.

    What effective teacher talk looks like

    The research highlights the role of scaffolding, where teachers guide students from broad reactions to more precise analysis of language and effect. Clear questioning and follow-up prompts can support students in naming what they notice and explaining why it matters.

    By contrast, vague questioning or rapid clusters of questions can obscure what is being asked and reduce the depth of dialogue. The study argues that this can limit how far students develop the vocabulary and confidence needed to discuss writing choices.

    Inside the Year 9 classrooms

    As part of a three-year project funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council, researcher Ruth Newman worked with seven teachers in South West England. Lessons were recorded using teacher-worn audio equipment and classroom video to capture the flow of talk.

    The project also reviewed wider evidence on how talk about writing affects learning, concluding that teachers benefit from professional reflection and collaboration. The study frames classroom discussion as a skilled practice that requires responding to unexpected answers and supporting quieter students.

  • New brain-mapping study suggests psychedelics mute visual reality and amplify memory signals

    New brain-mapping study suggests psychedelics mute visual reality and amplify memory signals

    Psychedelic substances act on the brain by binding to serotonin receptors. Scientists have identified at least 14 different receptors that respond to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Psychedelics are especially drawn to one known as the 2A receptor. This receptor not only affects learning but also dampens activity in parts of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

    “We have observed in earlier studies that visual processes in the brain are suppressed by this receptor,” says Callum White, first author of the study. “This means that visual information about things happening in the outside world becomes less accessible to our consciousness. To fill this gap in the puzzle, our brain inserts fragments from memory — it hallucinates.”

    In other words, when incoming visual signals are reduced, the brain compensates by pulling stored images and experiences from memory. Those internally generated fragments can blend into perception, producing hallucinations.

    Slow Brain Waves Shift Perception Toward Memory

    The researchers also uncovered how this shift unfolds in real time. Psychedelics increase rhythmic patterns of brain activity, known as oscillations, in visual regions. Oscillations are coordinated waves of neural firing that help different parts of the brain communicate with each other.

    After psychedelics were administered, the team observed a rise in low-frequency (5-Hz) waves in visual areas. These slower waves stimulated another region called the retrosplenial cortex, a key hub involved in accessing stored memories. As this communication strengthens, the brain enters a different operating mode. Awareness of current external events becomes weaker, while perception relies more heavily on recalled information. As Professor Dirk Jancke, who led the study, describes it, the experience is “a bit like partial dreaming.”

    Real-Time Brain Imaging Reveals the Mechanism

    To capture these changes, the scientists used an advanced optical imaging technique that tracks neural activity across the entire surface of the brain in real time. The experiments relied on specially engineered mice created by Professor Thomas Knöpfel at Hong Kong Baptist University. These animals were designed to produce fluorescent proteins in specific types of brain cells.

    This approach allowed researchers to pinpoint the source of the signals they recorded. “We therefore know exactly in our experiments that the measured fluorescent signals originate from pyramidal cells of the cortical layers 2/3 and 5, which mediate communication within and between brain regions,” says Jancke. These cells play a central role in transmitting information across the cortex.

    Implications for Depression and Anxiety Treatment

    The findings may also help refine psychedelic-assisted therapy. Researchers believe that, under medical supervision, these substances can temporarily shift brain activity in ways that encourage the recall of positive memories and weaken deeply ingrained negative thought patterns.

    “When used under medical supervision, such substances can temporarily change the state of the brain to selectively recall positive memory content and restructure learned, excessively negative thought patterns, i.e., to be able to unlearn negative context. It will be exciting to see how such therapies are further personalized in the future,” says Jancke.

    By clarifying how psychedelics redirect perception from the outside world to internal memory networks, the study provides a clearer biological explanation for both hallucinations and the growing therapeutic potential of these compounds.

  • PTSD and Relationship Conflict: Study Links Fear of Emotions to Poorer Couple Communication

    People experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may struggle to communicate effectively with romantic partners, and a new study suggests fear of emotions could be a key reason. Researchers found that worries about the consequences of feeling strong emotions were tied to more destructive conflict patterns.

    The research, led by Penn State’s Steffany Fredman, analyzed data from 64 opposite-sex couples in which both partners had lived through a traumatic event. Participants reported their PTSD symptoms, their beliefs about emotions, and the communication styles they and their partners used during relationship disagreements.

    How fear of emotions shows up

    Those with higher PTSD symptom levels were more likely to fear their emotions, the study found. That fear was associated with less constructive communication, such as reduced listening, collaborative problem solving, and willingness to compromise.

    Higher fear of emotions was also linked to demand-withdraw dynamics, where one partner presses or criticizes and the other retreats or avoids the discussion. This pattern can intensify conflict, leave problems unresolved, and make future conversations feel even more threatening.

    Why PTSD can strain relationships

    Researchers noted that PTSD often involves mistrust, anger, emotional numbing, avoidance, and withdrawal, which can erode closeness over time. Because romantic relationships naturally trigger strong feelings, emotionally charged moments may resemble trauma reminders for some people with PTSD symptoms.

    In that context, people may try to neutralize distress by shutting down, pulling away, or becoming reactive, responses that can further damage communication. The study describes this as a cycle in which relationship discord can sustain PTSD symptoms unless interrupted.

    Implications for couples and therapy

    Fredman, who has co-developed couple-based PTSD treatments, said addressing PTSD symptoms and fear of emotions together may be important for improving relationship functioning. Prior research by the team has also suggested that couple therapy can reduce PTSD symptoms while improving communication, including in brief intensive formats.

    The authors argue the new findings add detail to why some couples struggle: PTSD symptoms may fuel catastrophic expectations about emotions, which then shapes how partners talk and react. They recommend that interventions help couples build safer ways to experience and express emotion while working through conflict.