A new study looked at how having diabetes may impact brain health in Native Americans. The researchers found that the longer someone had diabetes, the more it affected their brain. But other health issues like obesity did not appear to impact the brain as much. Key facts: The study involved 51 Native Americans with type …
Prescription opioid painkillers like oxycodone can be very addictive. People who use them for a long time often have trouble stopping, even if the drugs start causing problems. A new study tested a drug that blocks brain signals that keep people wanting opioids. The drug helped rats stop seeking oxycodone and improved their sleep and …
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects how people think, feel, and behave. It involves problems with hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, lack of motivation, and impaired functioning. Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the population and typically starts in late adolescence or early adulthood. The causes are still poorly understood. In a new study, researchers found …
The enteric nervous system (ENS), often called the “second brain”, controls most activities in our gastrointestinal tract. A new study reveals important new information about how this brain-in-the-gut develops and changes as we age. Key Facts: The ENS contains two main types of nerve cells, from different origins. The balance between these cell types changes …
A new study found that a program to provide more social contact and activities for prisoners in solitary confinement led to improved mental health and behavior. The program was based on a “Resource Team” model developed in Norway. Key Facts: Solitary confinement involves isolating prisoners in cells for 22+ hours per day with limited social …
A new study provides unprecedented insights into the brains and cognitive capabilities of dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles. The key takeaways: Many theropod dinosaurs like T. rex had brains as large and complex as monkeys and primates. This suggests they were likely as intelligent as modern primates. However, other dinosaurs like sauropods had much smaller, …
A new study published in Nature Medicine has identified two biological profiles, based on routine blood tests during COVID-19 hospitalization, that can predict patients’ risk of developing post-COVID brain fog months later. Key Facts: The study analyzed data from over 1,800 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the UK. It linked certain patterns of blood biomarkers during …
Researchers have uncovered novel details about a specific population of brain cells that regulate obesity. Their findings provide increased understanding of the intricate neural circuits controlling energy balance and point to potential new therapeutic targets for treating obesity. Key Facts: Researchers identified GABAergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) of the brain expressing the …
Groundbreaking new research challenges decades of accepted neuroscience dogma on how memories are formed in the brain. The study provides strong evidence that the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), widely believed to be the cellular mechanism underlying memory formation, relies on structural changes in neurons rather than enzymatic activity as long thought. Key Takeaways: LTP …
Researchers have reconstructed a recognizable version of the Pink Floyd song “Another Brick in the Wall” directly from recorded brain activity. Using advanced machine learning techniques, the team was able to extract enough acoustic information from listeners’ brain signals to identify the song and recreate an intelligible version. Key highlights: Researchers recorded brain activity via …
