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What predicts belief in the afterlife? A massive global study has answers

A large global study of over 202,000 adults in 22 countries found that belief in an afterlife is shaped not only by religious exposure in childhood, but also by early emotional and familial experiences. Weekly religious attendance at age 12 was the strongest and most consistent predictor of adult afterlife belief.

1 May 2025

Exploring the relationship between mitochondrial quality control mechanisms and atherosclerosis

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) mechanisms - including biogenesis, dynamics, mitophagy, proteostasis, the unfolded protein response, and mitochondrial-derived vesicles - play critical roles in the development of atherosclerosis.

1 May 2025

High certainty and large rewards boost motivation in formerly depressed individuals

New research shows that individuals who have recovered from depression are generally less willing to exert effort to pursue potential rewards compared to those who have never experienced depression, unless the rewards are large and highly likely.

1 May 2025

COVID-19 restrictions linked to better birth timing but worse mental health

A global review reveals that while lockdowns helped reduce early births in some regions, they also worsened maternal mental health, highlighting the need for more tailored support during future health crises.

1 May 2025

Egg white proteins show promise in naturally lowering blood pressure

Hypertension is a major public health concern, affecting millions worldwide and increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.

1 May 2025

New antibody design enhances immune system's ability to fight cancer

Cancer scientists say they have engineered a new type of super-strong antibody which could be used to boost the immune systems of patients fighting the disease.

1 May 2025

Children born with congenital syphilis face higher risk of hospitalization

Children born with syphilis are six times more likely to be admitted to hospital in their first five years of life compared to children not exposed to syphilis from their mother before birth, according to new research.

1 May 2025

Spatial working memory remains stable in older adults with autistic traits

There is no difference over time in the spatial working memory of older people who have autistic traits and those who are neurotypical, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

1 May 2025

Study finds key genetic differences between male and female placentas

The genes of male and female placentas have marked differences in how they are expressed, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other institutions.

1 May 2025

Caffeine increases brain complexity during sleep and shifts it toward a critical state

Caffeine shifts brain activity during sleep by increasing EEG complexity and reducing long-range temporal correlations, particularly in non-REM (NREM) sleep. These changes reflect a movement toward a “critical regime” of neural processing, more pronounced in younger adults.

1 May 2025

Childhood health and family ties boost adult optimism, study finds

A large international study of 203,000 adults across 22 countries found that early-life experiences—such as childhood health, family relationships, and religious upbringing—significantly shape levels of optimism in adulthood. Cultural context also influenced whether factors like parental divorce had negative or positive effects.

1 May 2025

How much ultra-processed food is too much? This study has the answer

A meta-analysis across eight countries found that every 10% increase in ultra-processed food (UPF) intake was linked to a 2.7% rise in all-cause mortality. The study estimates up to 124,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S. alone may be attributable to high UPF consumption.

1 May 2025

Psychotherapy gains ground in outpatient mental health care

Psychotherapy assumed a larger role in outpatient mental health care while psychiatric medication without psychotherapy became less common, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

1 May 2025

Endometriosis raises the risk of premature menopause in women

Women who suffer from endometriosis have an increased risk of premature and early menopause, both naturally and surgically, University of Queensland researchers have found.

30 Apr 2025

Early detection of primary progressive aphasia through speech and hearing tests

Difficulty finding words or the habit of substituting them with others that are similar semantically – such as knife and cutter – or phonologically – such as knife and wife – are usually the first symptoms of a type of dementia known as primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

30 Apr 2025

TDP-43 dysfunction in brain blood vessels may drive Alzheimer's and ALS progression

Reduced levels of a critical protein are linked to devastating brain diseases like Alzheimer's, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Surprisingly, the protein shortage primarily affects the brain's blood vessels.

30 Apr 2025

Existing therapies may help control chronic muscle inflammation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A new study led by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) suggests that currently available therapies may help control chronic muscle inflammation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe condition that leads to muscle weakness and premature death.

30 Apr 2025

Researchers identify blood biomarkers linked to Long COVID symptoms

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified biomarkers in the blood associated with symptoms of long COVID, particularly severe respiratory disorders.

30 Apr 2025

Researchers tie childhood vitamin D shortfalls to adult heart disease

Low childhood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were linked to a significantly higher risk of early adult-onset atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The association remained even after accounting for conventional childhood risk factors and persisted across multiple analyses.

30 Apr 2025

Study links impaired synaptic pruning to autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition in which affected individuals experience difficulties in social communication and exhibit restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior or interests.

30 Apr 2025