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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.

Gut-targeted antidepressants: A novel approach to battling depression and anxiety

Most of us have experienced the effects of moods and emotions on our gastrointestinal tract, from "butterflies" in the stomach caused by nervousness to a loss of appetite when we're feeling blue.

11 Dec 2024

New technique enables laser light to penetrate deeper into living tissues

Metabolic imaging is a noninvasive method that enables clinicians and scientists to study living cells using laser light, which can help them assess disease progression and treatment responses.

11 Dec 2024

Penn-led consortium to advance imaging of brain diseases

A Penn Medicine-led consortium of radiology and chemistry researchers across the United States will advance imaging of diseases like Parkinson's by testing radiotracers they identified that illuminate α-synuclein (αSyn) or 4R tau proteins on positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

11 Dec 2024

Scientists reveal the secret of female orgasm

The secret of the female orgasm may have been revealed by scientists in a pioneering study.

11 Dec 2024

Blood pressure fluctuations linked to problems with thinking and memory skills

Older adults whose blood pressure fluctuates over time may be more likely to have problems with thinking and memory skills, according to a study published in the December 11, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

11 Dec 2024

Imlunestrant offers new hope for ER-positive HER2-negative breast cancer

Imlunestrant, an investigational next-generation selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), improved progression-free survival in patients with endocrine therapy-pretreated, ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer - as monotherapy in patients with ESR1 mutations and as combination therapy with abemaciclib (Verzenio) in all patients, regardless of ESR1 mutation status - according to results from the phase III EMBER-3 clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 10-13, 2024.

11 Dec 2024

Early exposure to parental smoking linked to higher MS risk

Cutting early life exposure to parental smoking may lower the risk of developing MS (multiple sclerosis) in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease, finds research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

11 Dec 2024

New biomaterials improve signal-to-noise ratio in brain pacemakers

Two years ago, a medical professional approached scientists at the University of Tabriz in Iran with an interesting problem: Patients were having headaches after pacemaker implants. Working together to investigate, they began to wonder if the underlying issue is the materials used in the pacemakers.

11 Dec 2024

Neuroscience reveals how social rewards and relational value drive human connection

Though painful, social rejection can be a powerful learning tool, new USC research suggests.

11 Dec 2024

£1M funding boost for new project to trial Parkinson’s treatments on digital twin brain

£1m research project to advance ‘deep brain stimulation’ set to revolutionize Parkinson’s treatment and management

10 Dec 2024

Researchers explore patient's perceptions of AI in radiology

AI-powered MRIs could cut the potentially toxic dyes used in traditional MRIs by up to 80 percent, but will patients embrace AI-driven brain scans?

10 Dec 2024

Key plasma proteins signal critical periods in brain aging

Researchers identified 13 plasma proteins linked to brain aging, uncovering dynamic patterns and biomarkers for early intervention in aging-related brain health.

10 Dec 2024

New advisory offers evidence-based strategies to prevent postoperative delirium in older adults

Delirium and cognitive decline are common complications of anesthesia and surgery in older adults.

10 Dec 2024

Nanopore sequencing reveals cancer's molecular fingerprint for faster diagnosis

Different types of cancer have unique molecular 'fingerprints' which are detectable in early stages of the disease and can be picked up with near-perfect accuracy by small, portable scanners in just a few hours, according to a study published today in the journal Molecular Cell.

10 Dec 2024

Structural and functional brain changes found in individuals with opioid use disorder

Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine found structural and functional alterations in specific brain regions of individuals with opioid use disorder.

10 Dec 2024

Quitline coaching shows promise for vaping cessation among young adults

Quitline coaching over the phone helped almost half of young people who vape ditch the habit, potentially improving their health and decreasing the chances they'll transition to cigarettes, according to a new study.

10 Dec 2024

Study unveils how Toxoplasma gondii parasites escape drug treatment

A study by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers sheds new light on how Toxoplasma gondii parasites make the proteins they need to enter a dormant stage that allows them to escape drug treatment.

10 Dec 2024

Study finds key brain markers for gaming addiction in adolescents

Playing video games is a rite of passage for many adolescents, but for some, it could also be the first step to a gaming addiction.

10 Dec 2024

Researchers find brain-body immune link in the dural sinuses and skull marrow

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London provides valuable insights into the brain-body immune connection identifying key communication hubs in the dural sinuses and skull bone marrow at the back of the head.

10 Dec 2024

UVM scientists discover new mechanism for blood flow regulation in the brain

A team of UVM scientists led by Mark Nelson, Ph.D., from the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, has uncovered a novel mechanism that reshapes our understanding of how blood flow is regulated in the brain.

9 Dec 2024