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New gene switch may lead to precise treatments for metabolic diseases

ETH researchers have developed a new gene switch that can be activated using a commercially available nitroglycerine patch applied to the skin.

17 Feb 2025

Prozac's surprising immune-boosting effects could lead to new treatments for sepsis

Antidepressants like Prozac are commonly prescribed to treat mental health disorders, but new research suggests they could also protect against serious infections and life-threatening sepsis.

14 Feb 2025

Parkinson's study reveals dopamine's unexpected link to tremor

Researchers from the Champalimaud Foundation shed light on the puzzling relationship between dopamine and rest tremor in Parkinson's disease, finding that preserved dopamine in certain brain regions may actually contribute to tremor symptoms, challenging common beliefs.

18 Nov 2024

Breakthrough molecule reverses Alzheimer's symptoms

In a new study, a molecule identified and synthesized by UCLA Health researchers was shown to restore cognitive functions in mice with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease by effectively jumpstarting the brain's memory circuitry.

8 Aug 2024

Brain chemical orexin plays key role in choosing exercise over treats

Should I go and exercise, or would I rather go to the café and enjoy a delectable strawberry milkshake? Until now, what exactly happens in our brain when we make this decision has been a mystery to science, but researchers at ETH Zurich have found the solution.

6 Aug 2024

How dopamine influences movement in Parkinson's

Dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain, is mostly known for its role in how we experience pleasure and reward.

19 Feb 2024

Teenage bullying linked to lower brain glutamate, early psychosis symptoms

Researchers have found that adolescents being bullied by their peers are at greater risk of the early stages of psychotic episodes and in turn experience lower levels of a key neurotransmitter in a part of the brain involved in regulating emotions.

5 Feb 2024

Study deciphers how misfolded protein drives dopaminergic neuron loss in Parkinson's

A so-called pathological protein long associated with Parkinson's disease has been found in a new study to trigger cells to increase protein synthesis, an event that eventually kills the subset of brain cells that die off in this neurodegenerative condition.

20 Dec 2023

Breakthrough in Parkinson's research: Scientists identify protein synthesis pathway as culprit

19 Dec 2023

Unlocking the secrets of dopamine-driven learning in the brain

Imagine you're teaching a dog to play fetch. You throw a ball, and your dog sprints after it, picks it up, and runs back. You then reward your panting pup with a treat.

13 Dec 2023

New insights into the cellular programs that promote resolution of inflammation during aging

Aging is associated with chronic, nonresolving inflammation, or "inflammaging," that can lead to tissue dysfunction.

6 Dec 2023

Scientists uncover dopamine's role in learning from rewards and punishments

What happens in the human brain when we learn from positive and negative experiences? To help answer that question and better understand decision-making and human behavior, scientists are studying dopamine.

1 Dec 2023

Cannabis and alcohol co-use disrupts brain development and impairs memory

The increased legalization of cannabis over the past several years can potentially increase its co-use with alcohol. Concerningly, very few studies have looked at the effects of these two drugs when used in combination.

30 Nov 2023

Female sex hormones play significant role in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease disproportionately affects women, who represent about two-thirds of those diagnosed with the late-onset type of the disease.

17 Oct 2023

Study provides a treasure trove of information on molecular biology of the immune system

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys, collaborating with scientists from Eli Lilly and Company, have revealed the structure and function of a drug called LY3361237, which can reduce the harmful activity of the immune system to help treat autoimmune diseases.

5 Jun 2023

Blood biomarkers could be used to predict a person's likelihood of developing PTSD

A new study found that people who are currently suffering or face a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder show particular patterns in four biomarkers measurable with a simple blood test.

28 Mar 2023

Brain development in autistic Individuals differs from people with typical neurodevelopment, study confirms

A new study led by UC Davis MIND Institute researchers confirms that brain development in people with autism differs from those with typical neurodevelopment.

3 Mar 2023

Study finds distinct differences in how the brain releases dopamine in patients with alcohol use disorder

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that's made in the brain and acts as a chemical messenger, communicating between nerve cells in the brain and the rest of the body.

7 Feb 2023

Study implicates a specific type of brain cell as key player underlying the impact of stressors

More than 70% of adults will experience at least one traumatic experience, such as a life-threatening illness or accident, violent assault or natural disaster, in their lifetimes and nearly a third will experience four or more, according to global data.

1 Dec 2022

Researchers unravel how the brain chemical dopamine relates to schizophrenia

Researchers at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) believe they have solved a riddle that has challenged scientists for more than 70 years: how the brain chemical dopamine relates to schizophrenia, the often-devastating brain disorder characterized by delusional thinking, hallucinations and other forms of psychosis.

1 Nov 2022