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MUSC researchers examine the way estrogen affects drug addiction

Male rats have held steady as the focus of most addiction studies in the past. But as the field begins to take female rats into account, scientists see that drugs like methamphetamine affect the sexes differently, suggesting the basis for a change in addiction treatment.

7 Feb 2019

Fibromyalgia syndrome in adults may be a consequence of childhood sexual abuse

A new Tel Aviv University study finds that fibromyalgia syndrome -- a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue and cognitive difficulties -- may be a consequence of post-traumatic physical and psychological distress associated with childhood sexual abuse.

7 Feb 2019

Beta wave control in Parkinson’s diseased brain could be a potential therapy

A neurofeedback system whereby the patients with Parkinson’s disease can themselves voluntarily control the beta wave activity in their own deep brain and the effects this control might have on their symptom control.

6 Feb 2019

Different characteristics associated with depression before and after giving birth

Depression during pregnancy and following childbirth (perinatal depression) is a common and potentially severe condition. In a Journal of Neuroscience Research study, researchers examined subgroups of women followed from pregnancy to six months postpartum, for example comparing those with depression only after childbirth with those experiencing depression during pregnancy.

6 Feb 2019

Absentmindedness points to earlier symptoms of cerebral small vessel disease

Adults who notice that they frequently lose their train of thought or often become sidetracked may in fact be displaying earlier symptoms of cerebral small vessel disease, otherwise known as a "silent stroke," suggests a recent study.

6 Feb 2019

Large-scale genetic study sheds light on origins of depression

Hundreds of genes have been newly linked to depression, shedding light on the origins of the condition and highlighting personality types that could be at risk.

5 Feb 2019

Yoga practice decreases severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

According a study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, eight weeks of intensive yoga practice significantly decreases the severity of physical and psychological symptoms in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, a debilitating chronic auto-immune inflammatory disease.

5 Feb 2019

Brain stores detailed information of missing hand decades after amputation, finds study

Researchers have found that the brain stores detailed information of a missing hand decades after amputation, regardless of whether amputees still experience phantom hand sensations.

5 Feb 2019

Women's brains age slower than men's

A new study has revealed that women have a more youthful brain compared to similar aged male counterparts when it comes to metabolism. The researchers found that with age the rates of metabolism of nutrients slow down in both men and women.

4 Feb 2019

Balloon-guided catheter surgery provides better outcomes for stroke patients

Patients who have experienced a stroke as a result of blockages of the arteries in the brain have better outcomes with the use of balloon-guided catheter surgery as compared to having a conventional guided catheter procedure.

4 Feb 2019

Researchers identify treatable mechanism in patients with schizophrenia

For reasons that are unclear, schizophrenia patients have fewer connections between the neurons in the brain. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and Massachusetts General Hospital, USA, have now succeeded in creating human cell models that show that there is an excessive degradation of connections in the brain of these patients, and they have been able to link this to a genetic risk variant for the disease.

4 Feb 2019

The Truth About E-cigarettes: Quit Smoking this World Cancer Day

We asked Dr. Lion Shahab, one of the UK's leading experts on e-cigarettes and smoking, to provide the truth about the safety of vaping and for his advice to people giving up cigarettes this World Cancer Day.

4 Feb 2019

UC study reveals most effective medication for treating pediatric anxiety

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC) examined common medications prescribed for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders, to determine which are the most effective and best-tolerated.

1 Feb 2019

New genetic technique could allow scientists to study how smell affects behavior

Take a whiff when it rains after a dry spell, and breathe in the earthy scent that pervades the air. That smell comes from decomposing bacteria, and scientists call the compound geosmin.

1 Feb 2019

Research could potentially lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists from the University of Sheffield have identified new messenger molecules shuttled between cells which could help to protect the survival of neurones - potentially leading to new treatments for MND .

1 Feb 2019

Salk researchers pin down why some patients don't respond to common antidepressants

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, lift the fog of depression for many people. But for around a third of people with major depressive disorder, SSRIs don't make much of a difference.

1 Feb 2019

Serotonin may help the brain execute instantaneous behaviors in emergency situations

Known for its role in relieving depression, the neurochemical serotonin may also help the brain execute instantaneous, appropriate behaviors in emergency situations, according to a new Cornell study published Feb. 1 in Science.

1 Feb 2019

Scientists turn brain waves into speech using AI

Scientists have figured out how to translate brain waves into speech using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The results of this latest breakthrough were published in the latest issue of Scientific Reports.

31 Jan 2019

New link found between psychiatric disorders and events during the prenatal stage

Particular genetic variants in the human genome that are important for the development of the brain early in the life of the fetus are frequently found in psychiatric disorders. This is shown by a study carried out by iPSYCH.

31 Jan 2019

Sleep apnea patients struggle to remember details of life memories, study shows

People with sleep apnea struggle to remember details of memories from their own lives, potentially making them vulnerable to depression, new research has shown.

31 Jan 2019