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Showing posts from February, 2023

Adult Smokers With Mental Illness Consume the Most Caffeine in the U.S

Not only do adult smokers with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder consume the most caffeine, but they are also most at risk of adverse health effects. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/JtrPuh1

Tiny Worm Plays a Big Role in Learning Whether Parkinson’s Really Starts in the Gut

Researchers are utilizing the C. elegans worm to investigate the emerging theory that Parkinson's disease starts in the gut and spreads to the brain. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/ozJ81hw

Spinal Cord Stimulation May Help Diabetic Neuropathy

High-frequency spinal cord stimulation may provide symptom relief to those suffering from diabetic neuropathy. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/Ui2OCXI

Breast Milk Boosts Premature Babies’ Brain Development

In babies born preterm, the cerebral cortex, a brain area associated with learning and cognition is often underdeveloped. In preterm babies fed larger quantities of breastmilk, the cerebral cortex resembled those of babies born full term. Researchers say breastfeeding could help to reduce learning and behavioral deficits associated with preterm birth. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/0J51HIS

Social Deficits and Seizures in Autism Type Tied to Overexcited Brain Circuits

A genetic subtype of ASD and schizophrenia have a duplicate gene that triggers overactivity in neural circuits, leading to social deficits and seizures. When researchers reduced the level of the PRRT2 gene in mouse models of 16p11.2 duplication syndrome, social behaviors were restored and seizure activity decreased. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/EPUKTcs

Blood Test for Brain Cancer May Be on Horizon

A new blood-based test to screen for biomarkers of glioblastoma brain cancer has been developed by researchers at Penn State. The test looks for elevated levels of IL13Rα2, an antigen receptor that is derived from glioblastoma tumors. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/MwThpoa

Researchers Detail Changes in the Blood-Brain Barrier Related to Alzheimer’s Disease

In those with Alzheimer's disease, the choroid plexus becomes enlarged and has increased accumulation of abnormal inflammatory signatures. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/BWc2MAq

How the Brain’s Recycling System Breaks Down in Parkinson’s Disease

Endophilin A1, a gene associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease also blocks the process by which the brain and body recycle waste. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/XeunkYo

Early-Life Stress Can Disrupt Maturation of Brain’s Reward Circuits, Promoting Disorders

Researchers have identified a novel stress-sensitive pathway in the reward system of the brain that releases corticotropin-releasing hormone in response to stress. Adverse experiences cause this pathway to become overactive. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/A2C4RmD

Exercise More Effective Than Medicines to Manage Mental Health

Exercise intervention that lasts 12 weeks or less appears to be most effective at reducing mental health symptoms, especially for those suffering from anxiety and depression. Higher-intensity exercise proved more beneficial in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression than longer-duration programs. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/DYMVra1

A New Epigenetic Brain Defense Against Recurrence of Opioid Use

HDAC5, the "epigenetics" enzyme, plays a key role in limiting opioid-associated memories and drug-seeking behaviors following abstinence from drugs in rats. The findings provide a new avenue for the treatment of opioid addiction. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/TQGrzbO

‘Usual Suspect’ Lesions Appear Not to Cause Most Severe Disability in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

While brain lesions may be a key marker for Multiple Sclerosis, they may not actually be drivers of disability progression, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/Xf62rwR

Head Injuries Could Be a Risk Factor for Developing Brain Cancer

Traumatic brain injuries may increase the risk of developing glioma brain cancer later in life, researchers report. The study found brain injury caused specific genetic mutations to synergize with inflammation, making brain cells more likely to become cancerous. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/QwHWR7M

Leptin Helps Hungry Mice Choose Sex Over Food

When their brains are stimulated with leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone, hungry mice prioritize mating and interacting with mice of the opposite gender over eating. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/7breknt

Mystical and Insightful Psychedelic Experience May Improve Mental Health

Recent studies have explored the use of psychedelics for the treatment of a range of mental health disorders. A new study reveals more insightful and mystical "trips" while exposed to psychedelics may be linked to an enduring reduction of symptoms for those with anxiety and depression. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/xW0D7nf

Getting Good Sleep Could Add Years to Your Life

Findings suggest up to 8% of deaths by any cause could be attributed to poor sleep patterns. Researchers say those who have healthier sleep habits are incrementally less likely to die early. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/KT0DNHA

Nicotinamide Riboside Supplement Linked to Reduced Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s in the Brain

Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a naturally occurring dietary supplement can enter the brain and alter the metabolism of biological pathways associated with Alzheimer's disease. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/ahEoYKO

Parkinson’s Disease Patients Experience Significant Reduction in Symptoms With Non-surgical Focused Ultrasound Treatment

Non-surgical focused ultrasound treatments significantly improve movement, tremors, and other physical symptoms of Parkinson's disease, researchers report. Two-thirds of patients who received focused ultrasound reported improvements in symptoms for up to a year following treatment. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/Ps7xDlV

Any Regular Physical Activity at Any Age Linked to Better Brain Function in Later Life

At any age, regular exercise or physical activity helps to maintain brain function during old age. However, maintaining a frequent workout schedule throughout life was linked to better mental acuity, memory, and cognition later in life. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/keFyG9B

Medication Targeting Brain Stress Response May Help Cardiovascular Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Prazosin, an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of hypertension may help to prevent relapse in people with cardiovascular and behavioral symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/1jTQOey

Brain Circuit Involved in Fentanyl Abuse and Relapse Identified

Fentanyl enhances direct pathway medium spiny neurons activity in the striatum. During withdrawal from the opioid, inhibitory signals from direct pathway medium spiny neurons to dopaminergic neurons become enhanced. The enhanced suppression of dopaminergic neurons contributes to the negative emotions associated with fentanyl withdrawal. Inhibiting the direct pathway medium spiny neurons can reduce withdrawal symptoms and associated anxiety behaviors. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/V7e96DW

Could ChatGPT Replace Doctors in Infection Consulting Scenarios?

While there is clear potential to use ChatGPT in a clinical setting, researchers say the AI algorithm may not yet be a reliable way of replacing the family doctor, especially when it comes to making effective decisions about prescribing antibiotics for infections. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/LbzTBAI

Pill for Skin Disease Also Curbs Excessive Drinking

Apremilast, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of skin conditions including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, triggers increased activity in the nucleus accumbens, a brain area associated with regulating alcohol intake. Apremilast reduced drinking behaviors in mouse models with a genetic risk of alcohol use disorder. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/KUo2D1J

Temperature Changes in the Brain Found to Affect Neuronal Activity

Small temperature increases while stimulating the brain can alter brain activity, sometimes with negative consequences. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/6Z1r8TW

Spinal Cord Stimulation Instantly Improves Arm Mobility After Stroke

Spinal cord stimulation restores movement in the arms of stroke patients with locomotion problems, researchers report. The treatment has the potential to improve the quality of life for those who suffer arm paralysis following a stroke. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/oeGIbUw

Ketamine Could Be Effective Treatment for Cocaine-Use Disorders

Those with cocaine use disorder who were administered ketamine for depression or pain experienced two-to-four times higher remission rate. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/lwUEgbT

Food Insecurity May Increase Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Food insecurity was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and brain aging in older adults. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/vX4fSOm

Humans Don’t Hibernate, but We Still Need More Winter Sleep

REM sleep is 30 minutes longer in Winter than in Summer for most people, a new study reveals. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/rdlCOws

In Vivo Synaptic Dynamics in Various Memory States

Researchers have identified the in-vivo dynamics of synapses that underlie fear memory formation and extinction in the living brain. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/XSyCQJP

Space Travel Influences the Way the Brain Works

A study of brain function in cosmonauts reveals how the brain's organization changes after an extended period in space, demonstrating the adaption required to live in a weightless environment. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/SgpBfm5

Child Tax Credit Payments Linked to Reduced Child Abuse and Neglect

Child tax credit not only helped to reduce childhood poverty, but the expansion of monthly payments also helped to reduce child abuse and neglect, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/EZyANsR

Kleptomaniacs Exhibit Distinct Patterns of Gazing and Brain Activity

People with kleptomania, or the overwhelming impulse to commit theft or shoplift, exhibit distinct patterns of gaze and brain activity when exposed to environmental cues associated with their compulsion. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/mA8BnFd

Vasodilator Drug Used in Stroke Patients Found to Reverse Key Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Vasodilators such as fasudil, commonly used for the treatment of stroke, restored pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex of mouse models of schizophrenia associated with genetics. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/4HKldow

Achieving a Better Understanding of How the Blood-Brain Barrier Works

Researchers have created a new model of the blood-brain barrier that can mimic fluid flow to and from the brain. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/WjkgZql

Mothers With Depression Take Longer to Respond to Their Children

Mothers who experience depression take longer to respond to their children during a back-and-forth conversation. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/6zQ0eiF

Scientists Discover Mirror Neurons in Mice and Find They’re Tuned to Aggression

Study is the first to find mirror neurons in mice and in the hypothalamus, suggesting mirror neurons may have a more primal origin than previously believed. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/FyNeSfQ

What Drives Children to Choose Compassion?

Children constantly assist others every time they need help if there is no personal cost to helping, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/Q90Mrkt

Sensory Signals Are Integrated Differently, Underrepresented by Neurons in Autism

Environmental sensory signals are integrated differently in those with Fragile X syndrome, causing them to be underrepresented by cortical pyramidal neurons. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/oCzYV7I

Is the Brain Wired Differently in People With Addiction?

Study reveals functional connectivity abnormalities in brain areas associated with reward processing, habit formation, and decision-making in those with substance use disorders and addiction. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/XYJraAs

Using Stool Samples as an Indicator of Early Form of Parkinson’s

Researchers report a greater concentration of alpha-synuclein aggregates was found in stool samples from Parkinson's patients who suffered isolated REM-sleep behavior disorder. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/6317fzb

Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Could End Disease’s Chronic Inflammation

Blocking the activity of the reactor called the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in T cells resulted in both a decrease in inflammation and recovery in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/5sWaJet

New Release of Blue Brain Project Atlas Sheds Light on Neuron Types

The Blue Brain Project has released a new and enriched 3D digital cell atlas containing more neuron types than the previous version. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/p8ZXT9S

Social Isolation Triggers Astrocyte-Mediated Deficits in Learning and Memory

During periods of social isolation, astrocytes in the brain become hyperactive. This suppresses circuit formation and memory formation. Reversing astrocyte hyperactivity can help mitigate memory deficits associated with social isolation. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/Hlc9sSE

Watch Your Step: Balance Ability Predicts Cognitive Impairment

Researchers have developed a new method that can predict a person's risk of cognitive decline based on how well they can balance. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/YH9gwlO

Even the Best Models for Reading Facial Expressions May Be Partly Subjective

Even the best models for recognizing facial emotions fall short of real human judgment. Additionally, individual differences mean different people read different emotions from the same face, making it harder to ascertain exactly which facial movements are systematically linked to different emotional states. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/ZxdQker

Time of Day May Determine the Amount of Fat Burned by Exercise

Researchers say that late-morning exercise may be more effective in boosting metabolism and burning fat than late-evening exercise. The findings could prove valuable to those who are overweight and looking to lose fat by implementing an exercise program. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/2m6UXjT

Scientific AI’s Black Box Is No Match for 200-Year-Old Method

Researchers explain how deep neural networks are able to learn complex physics. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/ekdY8hg

Can Hearing Loss Be Reversed? Research Reveals Clues That Could Regrow the Cells That Help Us Hear

Study identifies the mechanisms behind regenerating new cochlear hair cells. The findings could have positive implications for treating or reversing hearing loss associated with damage to cochlear hair cells. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/DcA59eI

How Brains Synchronize During Cooperative Tasks

Study reveals how neural populations in different people synchronize during social interaction and tasks of cooperation. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/JiuIKlT

Fructose Could Drive Alzheimer’s Disease

Fructose produced by the brain can lead to inflammation and ultimately Alzheimer's disease, a new study reports. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/KxYvAlW