Leptin News and Research

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Leptin is a 16 kDa protein hormone that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, including appetite and metabolism. It is one of the most important adipose derived hormones. The ''Ob(Lep)'' gene (Ob for obese, Lep for leptin) is located on chromosome 7 in humans.

Study unravels the links between obesity and cancer

Obesity, recognized as a complex and growing health issue, is associated with an increased risk of various cancers. A comprehensive review provides insights into the mechanisms linking obesity to cancer risk and discusses potential clinical implications.

15 Jan 2025

Specialized bone marrow niches reveal secrets of immune tolerance

Researchers have uncovered a hierarchical structure of immune-privileged stem cells in bone marrow niches, revealing their regenerative potential and therapeutic relevance.

2 Jan 2025

Discovery of leptin-responsive neurons offers new hope for obesity treatment

Obesity affects a staggering 40 percent of adults and 20 percent of children in the United States. While some new popular therapies are helping to tackle the epidemic of obesity, there is still so much that researchers do not understand about the brain-body connection that regulates appetite.

5 Dec 2024

Men face sharper brain aging from obesity and heart risks

Obesity and cardiovascular risk factors accelerate brain volume loss, with males experiencing earlier and more significant impacts, highlighting the importance of early interventions to prevent neurodegeneration.

1 Dec 2024

Understanding the pathophysiological relationship between OSA and metabolic syndrome

Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality globally, particularly among individuals with both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

27 Nov 2024

Cardiovascular disease risk linked to early brain decline in men

Men with cardiovascular disease risk factors, including obesity, face brain health decline a decade earlier - from their mid 50s to mid 70s - than similarly affected women who are most susceptible from their mid 60s to mid 70s, suggest the findings of a long term study, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

26 Nov 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

Rare variant analysis reveals genetic spectrum of monogenic diabetes genes

This study links rare genetic variants to type 2 diabetes risk, emphasizing their role in monogenic diabetes and potential for precision medicine integration.

18 Nov 2024

Western diet accelerates endometriosis growth and disrupts gut health

This study found that a Western diet doubles the growth of endometriotic lesions in mice and depletes the gut microbiome's beneficial bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila, which may exacerbate endometriosis symptoms.

12 Nov 2024

UCD researcher wins European Research Council Synergy Grant for NanoX project

University College Dublin (UCD) researcher Dr Nicola Fletcher has received a coveted European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant for her groundbreaking project NanoX.

5 Nov 2024

Breakthrough research reveals neural basis of eating behavior

Speaking, singing, coughing, laughing, yelling, yawning, chewing - we use our jaws for many purposes. Each action requires a complex coordination of muscles whose activity is managed by neurons in the brain.

23 Oct 2024

A week of intense cycling may burn abdominal fat without major weight loss, study finds

A week of extreme cycling significantly decreased visceral adiposity in middle-aged cyclists, emphasizing the role of exercise in body composition management.

23 Sep 2024

Mediterranean diet during pregnancy reduces childhood obesity risk

Following a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy reduced the likelihood of children being overweight or obese by age two, with no cases of obesity in the diet group. The diet’s influence on the leptin gene may explain these effects.

22 Sep 2024

Cellular sludge around hunger neurons linked to worsening diabetes and obesity

Investigating ECM changes in the hypothalamus reveals mechanisms behind insulin resistance, offering insights into obesity and metabolic disease treatment.

19 Sep 2024

Leptin variations may influence brain health and dementia development

New research is more closely linking obesity to dementia. Higher levels of leptin, a hormone that helps maintain normal body weight, is associated with better signal-transmitting brain white matter in middle-aged adults, according to a study by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio).

18 Sep 2024