Serotonin News and Research

Latest Serotonin News and Research

Antidepressant fluoxetine alters brain energy use and boosts neural plasticity

A new study shows that the widely used antidepressant fluoxetine does more than boost serotonin levels: it changes how brain cells manage their energy and rebuild their connections, potentially helping the brain "loosen up" and adapt during depression treatment.

25 Sep 2025

Wearable device uses AI and bioelectronics to personalize wound therapy

As a wound heals, it goes through several stages: clotting to stop bleeding, immune system response, scabbing, and scarring.

23 Sep 2025

Psychological distress after a heart attack emerges as a critical risk factor for heart health

Many people experience one or more types of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, psychosocial stress or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), after a heart attack, which can affect their physical recovery and long-term heart health, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement, published today in the American Heart Association's flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

22 Sep 2025

Best foods to boost happiness after 50, according to new UK study

Older adults who ate more fruits, vegetables, and fish showed higher well-being, especially eudemonic well-being and happiness, in a large UK study. However, most diet–well-being links weakened after accounting for mood, health, and socioeconomic factors.

16 Sep 2025

New tool helps identify risky medications for older cancer patients

New research published in the September 2025 issue of JNCCN-Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network validates the use of a specifically-curated tool for determining which medications may be causing harm for older patients with cancer.

10 Sep 2025

Survey shows ongoing misconceptions about hormone therapy safety in cancer survivors

Despite evidence suggesting the safety of hormone therapy for patients with a history of low-grade endometrial or epithelial ovarian cancer, a new survey shows that many gynecologists and some gynecologic oncologists are still uncomfortable prescribing the therapy for this patient population.

10 Sep 2025

New neurochemical signature distinguishes Parkinson’s disease from essential tremor

Researchers have identified a neurochemical signature that sets Parkinson's disease apart from essential tremor - two of the most common movement disorders, but each linked to distinct changes in the brain.

2 Sep 2025

Research reveals molecular details of ME/CFS and long COVID

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) have heightened innate immune responses to bacteria, viruses, and fungi. While these responses are essential to fight infection, they can cause damage when unchecked.

1 Sep 2025

Gut bacteria and insomnia influence each other in small but significant ways, study shows

Scientists used Mendelian randomisation to explore the two-way relationship between gut microbiota and insomnia, analyzing GWAS data from over 386,000 individuals and two major microbiome cohorts. The study found only limited taxa surviving strict correction, suggesting small but causal links that highlight the gut–brain axis in sleep health.

21 Aug 2025

Texas Children’s successfully treats AADC deficiency using FDA-approved gene therapy

Texas Children's is pleased to announce that a three-year-old girl has been successfully treated with the first-ever FDA-approved gene therapy treatment for AADC deficiency.

19 Aug 2025

Brain’s energy control map offers blueprint for next-gen weight loss therapies

Scientists map how the brain integrates hormonal and neural signals from the body to control appetite, energy use, and reward pathways, revealing targets for next-generation anti-obesity drugs. This review highlights the interplay between neuroendocrine circuits, neuroplasticity, and pharmacotherapy for durable, non-aversive weight loss.

11 Aug 2025

Gender gaps in Mediterranean eating and living

Gender differences in Mediterranean diet adherence impact health outcomes, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to promote healthier lifestyles.

8 Aug 2025

Gut bacteria may connect pregnancy diet to childhood autism

Unhealthy maternal diets may alter gut microbes, impacting brain development and increasing autism risk in offspring. Study the microbiome's influence.

8 Aug 2025

Impulsivity shapes diet and gut bacteria in healthy adults, study finds

Impulsivity in healthy adults is linked to unhealthy dietary choices, such as higher intake of alcohol and sugary drinks and lower fiber consumption. These dietary behaviors, in turn, are associated with changes in specific gut bacterial genera, highlighting an indirect pathway between personality traits and the gut microbiome.

4 Aug 2025

Psychedelic and non-hallucinogenic drugs promote neuroplasticity through shared pathways

Understanding exactly how psychedelics promote new connections in the brain is critical to developing targeted, non-hallucinogenic therapeutics that can treat neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

4 Aug 2025

Mapping the brain’s serotonin switch could lead to better antidepressants

In a discovery that could guide the development of next-generation antidepressants and antipsychotic medications, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed new insights into how a critical brain receptor works at the molecular level and why that matters for mental health treatments.

1 Aug 2025

Scientists uncover new brain mechanism driving PTSD and potential counter-drug

Did you know that patients with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often struggle to forget traumatic memories, even long after the danger has passed? This failure to extinguish fear memories has long puzzled scientists and posed a major hurdle for treatment, especially since current medications targeting serotonin receptors offer limited relief for only a subset of patients.

29 Jul 2025

Creatine may enhance neuroprotection through energy pathways

Creatine supplementation may improve cognitive performance and mood, offering insights into its role in muscle-brain interactions and overall health.

25 Jul 2025

Gut bacteria send direct signals to the brain to stop you from overeating

Researchers have discovered a novel gut-brain sensory circuit in mice where specialized colonic cells sense bacterial flagellin and rapidly suppress feeding via the vagus nerve. This "neurobiotic sense" operates independently of immune pathways, revealing a direct neural mechanism for microbiota-host communication.

24 Jul 2025

Can probiotics help you sleep better?

A new meta-analysis shows that probiotic supplements can modestly improve sleep quality and reduce depressive symptoms in people with insomnia, with no significant safety concerns. However, effects on total sleep time and sleep efficiency remain uncertain, and evidence strength varies across outcomes.

20 Jul 2025