Amygdala News and Research

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Could CaMKK2 enzyme be the key to treating bipolar disorder?

Researchers explore the role of the CaMKK2 signaling pathway in bipolar disorder, suggesting it as a new treatment target. By targeting this enzyme, scientists aim to develop more effective therapies for bipolar symptoms and metabolic dysfunction.

24 Sep 2023

Brain activity changes predict recovery from early PTSD symptoms

After a traumatic experience, most people recover without incident, but some people - between 2% and 10%- develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can cause debilitating symptoms of anxiety due to emotional dysregulation.

21 Sep 2023

Study highlights brain area that plays a key role in psychological loss

Psychological loss can occur when someone loses a job, loses a sense of control or safety or when a spouse dies.

21 Sep 2023

Can a healthy lifestyle keep depression at bay?

A groundbreaking study reveals that maintaining a healthy lifestyle—including good sleep, social connection, and regular exercise—can significantly reduce the risk of depression, regardless of genetic predisposition. The research emphasizes that lifestyle choices may have a greater impact on depression risk than genetics, offering actionable avenues for prevention.

11 Sep 2023

Study investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms of PASC after COVID-19

Researchers investigated early pathophysiological mechanisms potentially underlying PASC post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

4 Sep 2023

Study finds altered brain connectivity in people with obesity

For the first time, researchers have discovered that the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain-;a key structure involved in motivation and reward appreciation has altered connectivity patterns with specific brain regions in patients with obesity.

22 Aug 2023

The power of curiosity: How to use it to boost learning

Shifting from a high-pressure mindset to a curious one improves people's memory.

25 Jul 2023

Insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms governing neuropsychiatric symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Researchers pursued insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms governing neuropsychiatric symptoms of MS.

21 Jul 2023

Food for thought: Mediterranean-DASH intervention shows positive impact on brain health

Researchers investigated the longitudinal relationships between adherence to the Mediterranean-dietary approaches.

20 Jul 2023

The brain structure of superagers: identifying demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with their phenotype

Researchers used machine learning models to assess the physical and primarily mental performance of superagers.

19 Jul 2023

Social isolation linked to brain volume loss in older adults

Older people who have little social contact with others may be more likely to have loss of overall brain volume, and in areas of the brain affected by dementia, than people with more frequent social contact, according to a study published in the July 12, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

12 Jul 2023

Study links poor sense of smell with increased risk of depression in older adults

In a study that followed more than 2,000 community-dwelling older adults over eight years, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have significant new evidence of a link between decreased sense of smell and risk of developing late-life depression.

26 Jun 2023

Unlocking the fountain of youth: Diet and exercise have a remarkable impact on cognition in older adults

The aim of non-pharmacologic interventions for brain health is to preserve cognitive function and safeguard brain structure. This review explores various diets (MeDi, DASH, MIND, ketogenic), exercise approaches (endurance, resistance, yoga, HIIT), and highlights the need for further research to uncover the underlying mechanisms.

13 Jun 2023

Rice U. postdoctoral fellow explores the link between menopause and Alzheimer’s disease

Two-thirds of the people suffering from Alzheimer's disease are women, yet most research has ignored differences between the sexes.

12 Jun 2023

Early life hardships echo into old age: Study links childhood adversity to cognitive decline in later life

Adversities experienced at different life stages impact cognitive aging, with early-life hunger and financial hardship predicting lower cognitive performance in older age. Financial hardship and stress in early adulthood, however, are associated with better cognitive performance.

31 May 2023

Neuro-epigenomic effects of maternal environment and stereotypies of sows on piglets’ brains

In a new study, researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden, together with colleagues from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, have investigated the impact that a barren living environment for sows leaves on the next generation.

26 May 2023

Insights from experts on the neurobiological processes involved in appetite regulation

Researchers summarized the main findings related to the neurobiological regulation of appetite presented at the 23rd Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium in June 2022.

8 May 2023

Pregnancy's profound impact: How motherhood reshapes the female brain

Research discusses the impact of pregnancy on the brain, including its effects on neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation, and cognition. It also highlights the importance of studying female-specific factors in neuroscience research.

30 Apr 2023

Depressed? Anxious? Air pollution may be a factor

In the 1990s, residents of Mexico City noticed their dogs acting strangely — some didn't recognize their owners, and the animals' sleep patterns had changed.

25 Apr 2023

Emotion-focused psychotherapy for bipolar disorder increases amygdala activation

A new study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier, identifies a therapeutic tool focused on emotional awareness that increased activation and connectivity of an emotion-regulating center in the brain.

17 Apr 2023