MIT study finds that a gene associated with longevity also regulates the body’s circadian clock. Human sleep and wake cycles are governed by an internal circadian clock that keeps time with the 24-hour light–dark cycle. This central clock also coordinates numerous physiological processes, including metabolism, body temperature, and hormone release. Disruption of this rhythm is … Read more

Summary: Scientists have recreated the electrical behaviour of biological neurons on implantable silicon chips. These low‑power artificial neurons could enable a new generation of bioelectronic medical devices to treat chronic conditions such as heart failure, Alzheimer’s disease, and other disorders involving neuronal degeneration. Source: University of Bath Artificial neurons implemented on silicon chips that mimic … Read more

Postpartum Depression Linked to Reduced Daylight During Late Pregnancy Summary: A new study reports that women who spend their third trimester in months with shorter daylight hours face an increased risk of developing postpartum depression. Women who experience the late stages of pregnancy during darker months may be at higher risk for postpartum depression after … Read more

Repeated low-dose ketamine infusions reduced — and in some cases eliminated — suicidal thoughts in outpatients with treatment-resistant depression Repeated intravenous administrations of low-dose ketamine produced rapid reductions in suicidal ideation for a small group of outpatients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. The study, published Online First in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by investigators … Read more

Summary: A recent review examines Leonardo da Vinci’s contributions to neuroscience and how his anatomical studies anticipated methods and ideas central to modern science. Source: Profiles, Inc May 2, 2019, marked the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death. A towering figure of the Renaissance—artist, engineer, inventor and experimentalist—Leonardo remains a source of inspiration worldwide. … Read more

Summary: A University of Guelph study shows that low-level exposure to two widely used agricultural pesticides, paraquat and maneb, can interact with genetic predisposition to sharply increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease by disrupting mitochondrial transport in neurons. Source: University of Guelph New research clarifies how exposure to common pesticides can raise the likelihood of … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified neurobiological differences between men and women who are addicted to online gaming. Source: RSNA. Functional MRI (fMRI) scans reveal distinct brain activity patterns in men and women with Internet gaming disorder, a new study presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting reports. “Internet use is an integral … Read more

Scientists at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) have identified a direct relationship between sleep deprivation and cellular injury. New research shows that lack of sleep produces measurable damage to cells, most notably in the liver, lung, and small intestine, and that subsequent recovery sleep can restore cellular balance and reduce that injury. Summary of … Read more

Quality of life for people with dementia living in long-term care is often reduced because they participate in too few activities. Staff and family members frequently underestimate the ability of people with dementia to engage in leisure and social activities, according to a large national study examining quality of life in residential aged care. The … Read more

Brown University neuroscientists report in Nature Neuroscience that by applying a precisely timed gamma rhythm in a specific region of the brain, they were able to increase touch sensitivity in mice—making faint vibrations far easier for those mice to detect. The study provides the first direct causal evidence that gamma-range brainwaves in the cortex influence … Read more