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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

Study reveals brain circuits and chemical messengers behind the regulation of meal initiation

When you are feeling hungry, the brain takes the necessary steps toward consuming a meal. Many of these steps are not well known, but a new study published in the journal Metabolism by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston reveals brain circuits and chemical messengers that contribute to the regulation of meal initiation and food intake.

20 Dec 2024

Healthy lifestyles linked to younger brains

Using an AI tool, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have analyzed brain images from 70-year-olds and estimated their brains' biological age.

20 Dec 2024

Somatosensory stimulation biases hand selection in motor tasks

Hand choice is an unconscious decision frequently made in daily life, whether it's reaching for an object such as a cup or performing any other task.

19 Dec 2024

A new link between brain health and mitochondrial function

New findings in mice have uncovered a crucial mechanism linking neuronal activity to mitochondrial function, researchers report, revealing a potential pathway to combat age-related cognitive decline. Mitochondria play a pivotal role in meeting the dynamic energy demands of neuronal activity, producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) primarily via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).

19 Dec 2024

New insights into glioblastoma resistance to temozolomide

In spite of intensive research, glioblastoma remains one of the most lethal types of brain cancer. Temozolomide (TMZ) is used as the front-line medicine in its treatment.

19 Dec 2024

SMART software offers new solution for modeling cell-signaling networks

Researchers at University of California San Diego have developed and tested a new software package, called Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reactions and Transport (SMART), that can realistically simulate cell-signaling networks - the complex systems of molecular interactions that allow cells to respond to diverse cues from their environment.

19 Dec 2024

Early physical therapy can help prevent lingering symptoms after concussion

People who suffer from continued symptoms of concussion should seek a referral to physical therapy as soon as possible, new research from Oregon Health & Science University suggests.

19 Dec 2024

Study finds facial shape differences linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

A study published in Psychiatry Research identifies subtle differences in facial shapes that may be linked to the diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

19 Dec 2024

Study uncovers a previously unknown genetic link to autism spectrum disorder

New research published in The American Journal of Human Genetics has identified a previously unknown genetic link to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study found that variants in the DDX53 gene contribute to ASD, providing new insights into the genetic underpinnings of the condition.

19 Dec 2024

Drinking more coffee linked to reduced cognitive decline in people with atrial fibrillation

Drinking multiple cups of coffee a day may help prevent cognitive decline in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF), according to new research published on Dec. 14, 2024 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

19 Dec 2024

Vanderbilt researchers achieve milestone in Alzheimer's drug development

Researchers at the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, a clinical stage biotech within the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences, have detailed the successful drug discovery of a phase I single ascending dose clinical trial of VU319, a drug for memory loss in people with Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.

19 Dec 2024

New molecular insights into the early stages of Rett syndrome

Scientists investigating the severe developmental disorder known as Rett syndrome have discovered a series of crucial molecular changes that occur long before symptoms appear.

19 Dec 2024

Chronic gut infection may play role in Alzheimer’s disease progression

Arizona State University and Banner Alzheimer's Institute researchers, along with their collaborators, have discovered a surprising link between a chronic gut infection caused by a common virus and the development of Alzheimer's disease in a subset of people.

19 Dec 2024

New blood test could help identify patients at risk for cognitive impairment

To identify and follow blood vessel-related changes in the brain that contribute to cognitive impairment and dementia, researchers and clinicians typically rely on MRI to evaluate "downstream" biological markers – those at the end of a cascade of events.

19 Dec 2024

Study finds no impact of water fluoridation on cognitive development

A University of Queensland study has found no link between exposure to water fluoridation as a young child and negative cognitive development.

19 Dec 2024

Dancing reduces depression symptoms in Parkinson's patients

Dancing lowers the depression associated with Parkinson's disease, and the benefits can be seen in multiple ways, a new study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research involving York University researchers shows.

19 Dec 2024

Meditation eases PTSD symptoms, with transcendental meditation showing major benefits

Research indicates meditation techniques, particularly Transcendental Meditation, significantly alleviate PTSD symptoms, suggesting new avenues for therapy.

19 Dec 2024

New long COVID index highlights five symptom subtypes

Researchers provide a detailed report of the updated 2024 long COVID research index.

19 Dec 2024

Miniature VR headsets unlock insights into spatial memory and brain disorders

In recent years, mice have entered a new arena – virtual reality – and now Cornell University researchers have built mini VR headsets to more fully immerse them.

19 Dec 2024

Brain's dual role in processing touch and hearing revealed

Ludwig van Beethoven began to lose his hearing at age 28 and was deaf by age 44. While the cause of his hearing loss remains a topic of scientific debate and ongoing revision, one thing is clear: Despite his hearing loss, Beethoven never ceased to compose music, likely because he was able to sense the vibrations of musical instruments and "hear" music through the sense of touch, researchers believe.

19 Dec 2024