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Study uncovers conserved development and evolutionary innovations in the human hypothalamus

In a new study published in Developmental Cell on April 8, a research team led by Prof. WU Qingfeng at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has demonstrated the conserved cellular development and evolutionary innovations in the developing human hypothalamus.

9 Apr 2025

Breakthrough nanoparticle delivery method targets brain inflammation for multiple conditions

Oregon State University researchers have discovered a way to get anti-inflammatory medicine across the blood-brain barrier, opening the door to potential new therapies for a range of conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and cancer cachexia.

9 Apr 2025

Cutting carbs, not calories, may be key to better metabolic health

The intermittent fasting diet, which involves periods of severe calorie restriction, may be on the way out, as new research from the University of Surrey is suggesting that rather than drastically reducing calories, people can achieve similar metabolic benefits by cutting back on carbs.

8 Apr 2025

Babies as young as three months can sense their own heartbeat

Body signals such as heartbeat and breathing accompany us constantly, often unnoticed as background noise of our perception. Even in the earliest years of life, these signals are important as they contribute to the development of self-awareness and identity. However, until know little has been known about whether and how babies can perceive their own body signals. A recent study from Wiener Kinderstudien Lab at the University of Vienna demonstrates for the first time that babies as young as 3 months can perceive their own heartbeat. In addition, the team, headed by researchers from the University of Vienna, together with colleagues from the University of Potsdam and Royal Holloway University of London, also investigated for the first-time infants' perception of their own breathing and found developments during the first two years of life. The results are now published in the prestigious journal eLife. The perception of internal body signals is closely linked to emotional awareness, mental health, and self-perception. Early in life the ability to perceive one's own body signals may be particularly important, as it often forms the basis for interactions with caregivers - for example babies rely on their caregivers to respond appropriately to signs of hunger or discomfort. Moreover, the development of self-awareness and identity partly depends on the perception and experience of one's own body. The study shows that even 3-month-old babies can perceive their own heartbeat and that this ability remains relatively stable during the first two years of life. At the same time, the findings indicate that the perception of breathing improves significantly during the second year. Interestingly, the ability to perceive the heartbeat and breathing does not appear to be related - much like in adults. Measuring body awareness in babies is challenging, as, unlike adults, you cannot simply rely on verbal report. Therefore, the research team used innovative methods by tracking the infants' eye movements as they watched child-friendly figures. These figures moved either in synchrony with the child's heartbeat or breathing, or with a slight time delay. Results showed that even at an early age, babies recognize the correspondence between their own heartbeat or breathing rhythm and the animated figures. They looked longer at the screen when the figures were in synchrony than when they were delayed. "The babies must have recognized that the figures moved simultaneously with their heartbeat or breathing, and then they paid more attention," said the study's lead author, Markus Tünte from the University of Vienna. These findings open up exciting perspectives for future developmental psychology research. In particular, it is important to explore how early body awareness relates to the development of emotional and social skills, as well as the role parents play in shaping early body perception. In the long term, such research could be used to promote healthy body awareness and, consequently, the mental health of children.

8 Apr 2025

Scientists cast new light on how fasting impacts the immune system

New research from The University of Manchester may reshape our understanding of what happens to the immune system when we fast.

7 Apr 2025

Immigration crackdowns disrupt the caregiving industry. Families pay the price.

Alanys Ortiz reads Josephine Senek's cues before she speaks. Josephine, who lives with a rare and debilitating genetic condition, fidgets her fingers when she's tired and bites the air when something hurts.

4 Apr 2025

National Quantum Computing Centre launches Insights Paper exploring quantum computing's transformative potential in healthcare and pharmaceuticals

Today, the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) launched its first Insights Paper, "The convergence of healthcare and pharmaceuticals with quantum computing: A new fronter in medicine", exploring how quantum computing could enable a step-change in medicine and healthcare delivery over the coming decades.

From NQCC 4 Apr 2025

Smoothies with seeds may improve glycemic control, study shows

Blending whole fruits into smoothies may reduce glycemic spikes compared to eating fruit whole or drinking juice, especially when seeds are included. Researchers urge a re-evaluation of public health guidelines that currently limit smoothie intake.

3 Apr 2025

Rare sugars curb appetite and mimic diabetes drugs in mice

Rare sugars like D-allulose, D-tagatose, and D-sorbose significantly boosted GLP-1 secretion and suppressed food intake in mice. D-allose also reduced food intake through a unique, GLP-1-independent pathway.

1 Apr 2025

Eating videos on social media normalize overeating and thin ideals, study finds

Researchers analyzed 180 popular eating videos on YouTube, TikTok, and Bilibili to assess their influence on body image and eating behaviors. They found frequent depictions of overeating by thin hosts, potentially normalizing unhealthy habits and reinforcing unrealistic body ideals.

1 Apr 2025

Why sucralose could make you hungrier instead of helping you lose weight

Sucralose increases hypothalamic activity linked to hunger more than sugar or water, especially in women and people with obesity.

30 Mar 2025

How HIIT and intermittent fasting alter metabolism in postmenopausal women

How the combination of HIIT with intermittent fasting or a low-calorie diet improves metabolic health among postmenopausal women.

28 Mar 2025

Dopamine neurons play a central role in sustaining hedonic eating

A previously overlooked dopamine-producing brain circuit drives hedonic eating, or eating for pleasure, according to a new study in mice.

27 Mar 2025

Common sugar substitute increases activity in the brain's hypothalamus

Compared to sugar, consuming sucralose-a widely used sugar substitute-increases activity in the hypothalamus, a brain region that regulates appetite and body weight, according to a new USC study.

26 Mar 2025

Flavonoids help regulate gut hormones and show promise in managing type 2 diabetes

Flavonoids show promise in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus by targeting the enteroendocrine system and regulating key gut hormones. They enhance insulin sensitivity, reduce oxidative stress, and influence appetite, glucose uptake, and hormone secretion.

26 Mar 2025

Discovery provides crucial molecular targets for future obesity treatments

The pleasure we get from eating junk food - the dopamine rush from crunching down on salty, greasy French fries and a luscious burger - is often blamed as the cause of overeating and rising obesity rates in our society.

26 Mar 2025

Ancient appetite-control molecule found in starfish and humans

A team of biologists at Queen Mary University of London has discovered that a neurohormone controlling appetite in humans has an ancient evolutionary origin, dating back over half a billion years.

24 Mar 2025

Exploring the therapeutic potential of flavonoids in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with a rapidly increasing global prevalence. It is primarily characterized by insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, and impaired glucose homeostasis.

20 Mar 2025

Early use of anti-obesity medication doubles weight loss

Adding an anti-obesity medication just one month after behavioral therapy begins-rather than waiting the currently recommended six months-can more than double weight loss for patients who struggle initially with lifestyle changes alone, according to new research published in Nature Medicine from a team at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

18 Mar 2025

Study links maternal postpartum depression to emotional overeating in children

Up to 25% of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression, which can significantly impact their parenting behavior and the wellbeing of their children.

17 Mar 2025