Cognitive enhancement techniques hold great promise for boosting our mental abilities, but they may also come with hidden costs according to new research. Key Facts: Cognitive enhancement aims to improve mental functioning in healthy people through methods like brain stimulation, smart drugs, and cognitive training. While benefits have been the main focus, researchers argue that …
Estradiol enhances memory and other aspects of cognition in animals and humans, but translating the research into effective hormone replacement therapies (HRTs) has faced challenges. Recent developments indicate multiple mechanisms, along with some key facts: Estradiol enhances memory consolidation via genomic and rapid signaling cascades acting minutes-to-hours after learning. Synaptic plasticity and spine remodeling appear …
Researchers explore various drug compounds and their potential to enhance human cognition, including attention, learning, and higher-order thinking. While some progress has been made, many questions remain. Key Facts: Several drug compounds show potential to mildly enhance some cognitive functions like attention, learning, and memory. These include stimulants, wakefulness agents, and compounds that affect memory …
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a global health crisis affecting over 300 million people. While available antidepressants help some patients, treatment is far from satisfactory for many. Exciting research into rapid-acting agents like ketamine and psilocybin combined with exploration of novel drug targets finally offers real hope for transformational change in how depression is treated. …
Antidepressants could potentially be repurposed as anticancer agents based on emerging evidence showing they can modulate autophagy—a process cancer cells rely on for growth and survival. Key Facts: Many antidepressants like SSRIs and TCAs have demonstrated anticancer effects in lab studies. Their mechanisms involve regulating autophagy, which plays a complex role in cancer development. Specific …
New research finds that regular running is just as effective as antidepressants for treating depression and anxiety, and leads to better physical health outcomes. Key Facts: In a study of 141 patients, running therapy and antidepressant medication had comparable effects on rates of remission (no longer meeting diagnostic criteria) from depression/anxiety disorders. However, running led …
Depression affects over 300 million people globally. Current antidepressants have limited efficacy and slow onset of action. New research shows promise for compounds targeting metabotropic glutamate receptors 2 and 3 (mGluR2/3) as fast-acting antidepressants with fewer side effects. Key Facts: 1/3 of depressed patients are treatment-resistant with current antidepressants mGluR2/3 inhibitors show robust, rapid (within …
Neurofeedback is a promising technique that allows people to voluntarily control their own brain activity with the goal of improving cognitive functions or relieving symptoms. Key Facts: Neurofeedback provides real-time feedback on brain activity, allowing a person to learn to control activity in specific brain regions. It has shown clinical benefits for disorders like ADHD, …
New research reveals that increased inflammation, indicated by higher levels of a protein called VCAM-1, is associated with decreased gray matter and altered brain connectivity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). These brain changes also correlate with VCAM-1 levels. Key Facts: MDD patients had higher blood VCAM-1 levels than healthy controls Higher VCAM-1 related …
A new study examined whether metabolic biomarkers assessed through a high-throughput method are associated with future depressive symptoms. The results suggest the metabolites may not play a direct role in depression development. Key Facts: Researchers investigated associations between 121 metabolic measures and depressive symptoms at 7-year follow-up. Some metabolites showed tendencies for links with more …
