Oxytocin News and Research

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Oxytocin is a small but potent nine-amino acid hormone secreted within the brain, from the hypothalamus.

Hormones may offer new way to treat wrinkles and hair graying

Hormones may be leveraged to treat and prevent signs of aging such as wrinkles and hair graying, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society journal Endocrine Reviews.

26 Feb 2025

Dartmouth study links missing birth support to higher stress levels

Most animals, including other primates, give birth alone, but humans require assistance during childbirth due to the physiological complexities of the process.

3 Feb 2025

Social connections may boost immunity and reduce disease risk

Interactions with friends and family may keep us healthy because they boost our immune system and reduce our risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, new research suggests.

3 Jan 2025

Professor Inga Neumann advances understanding of oxytocin and social fear

In a comprehensive Genomic Press Interview, Professor Inga Neumann, Chair of the Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology at the University of Regensburg, reveals groundbreaking insights into how oxytocin shapes social behavior and emotional responses in the brain.

24 Dec 2024

New insights into leptin's role in hypothalamic neural circuit development

Researchers from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences have uncovered the first example of activity-dependent development of hypothalamic neural circuitry.

25 Nov 2024

Study links mother's emotional speech to infant oxytocin levels

Infants whose mothers regularly use language to describe what their child is thinking or feeling, have higher levels of the hormone oxytocin, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

25 Nov 2024

New oral peptide therapy offers hope for chronic abdominal pain

A research team at the University of Vienna, led by medicinal chemist Markus Muttenthaler, has developed a new class of oral peptide therapeutic leads for treating chronic abdominal pain.

22 Nov 2024

New oral painkiller developed for chronic abdominal pain

University of Queensland researchers have developed a new class of oral painkillers to suppress chronic abdominal pain that is based on the peptide hormone oxytocin that drives childbirth contractions.

18 Nov 2024

How the Arts Reshape Brain Function: Susan Magsamen on the Future of Neuroaesthetics

The intersection of arts and neuroscience reveals transformative effects on health and learning, as discussed by Susan Magsamen in her neuroaesthetics research.

29 Oct 2024

The hidden effects of opioid use on the endocrine system

A new Scientific Statement released today by the Endocrine Society highlights research gaps associated with the negative effects of opioid use on the endocrine system.

25 Oct 2024

Semaglutide enhances cognitive abilities and reduces Alzheimer’s pathology in mice and human brain models

Researchers find that Semaglutide improves cognitive function and reduces amyloid and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease models, while restoring oxytocin levels in both mice and human brain organoids.

14 Oct 2024

New study explores the potential of hormone therapy for opioid recovery

In the midst of America's growing opioid crisis, a much healthier alternative to long-term pain management is emerging - one affectionately known as "the cuddle hormone," or oxytocin.

11 Sep 2024

Severe PTSD characterized by lower oxytocin and higher vasopressin levels

Research finds PTSD marked by reduced oxytocin and elevated vasopressin, suggesting AVP/OT ratios as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment response.

1 Aug 2024

Study offers new insight into the underlying brain mechanisms of sleep apnea-induced hypertension

Nearly 40 million adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea, and more than 30 million of them use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine while sleeping.

23 Jul 2024

Exercise boosts hormone levels: New research shows increased oxytocin and cortisol in urine and saliva

Research shows that both urine and saliva samples effectively capture oxytocin and cortisol fluctuations in response to physical exercise, highlighting the robustness of these non-invasive methods.

22 Jul 2024

Discovery of TRPC5 gene's role in obesity and postnatal depression offers hope for new treatments

Scientists have identified a gene which, when missing or impaired, can cause obesity, behavioral problems and, in mothers, postnatal depression. The discovery, reported today in Cell, may have wider implications for the treatment of postnatal depression, with a study in mice suggesting that oxytocin may alleviate symptoms.

8 Jul 2024

Gene discovery points to oxytocin for depression

While investigating two boys from different families with severe obesity, anxiety, autism, and behavioural problems triggered by sounds or smells, a team led by scientists at the University of Cambridge, UK, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, discovered that the boys were missing a single gene, known as TRPC5, which sits on the X chromosome.

3 Jul 2024

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