Scientists are discovering that different serotonin-producing neurons matter for health and disease For decades, researchers often referred to serotonergic neurons as a single, uniform group. These brain cells produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, a molecule that influences mood, appetite, breathing, body temperature and many other physiological functions. Recent work, however, shows that serotonergic neurons are far … Read more

Summary: A new study explains why people with sickle cell disease are especially vulnerable to “silent” strokes that damage white matter. Source: CHOP Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious inherited blood disorder that reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. A mutation in hemoglobin causes red blood cells to assume a sickle or crescent … Read more

Summary: A simple saliva test that measures cortisol at specific times of day can help identify people at risk of burnout, chronic stress and related depression. Source: Medical University of Vienna. Depression and stress-related disorders are a growing global burden. According to World Health Organization estimates, depression ranks among the leading causes of disease burden … Read more

Summary: Scientists have developed a simple bedside “sniff test” that accurately identifies which patients in a vegetative state after traumatic brain injury are likely to regain consciousness. Source: Weizmann Institute of Science Key finding: A subtle change in nasal airflow in response to an odor — the sniff response — reliably predicted recovery of consciousness … Read more

Summary: New guidance from Penn State researchers outlines practical steps—such as removing digital devices from bedrooms and adopting calming pre-bed routines—to support healthy sleep for children and adolescents. Source: Penn State. Penn State researchers recommend removing electronic media from bedrooms and promoting calming bedtime routines to improve sleep among children and teens. These recommendations are … Read more

Summary: Researchers have published a structured psychosocial assessment to determine which patients are psychologically suitable for bionic hand reconstruction following amputation. Source: Medical University of Vienna. Bionic reconstruction—replacing a non-functional hand with a mechatronic prosthesis—can restore meaningful function and hope after devastating arm injuries. But not every patient is an appropriate candidate. A multidisciplinary team … Read more

UNC researchers reveal new insights into how neurons selectively sever axons, a process tied to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders Researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have revealed unexpected details about how nerve cells intentionally remove parts of their wiring — a process called axon pruning — while protecting the rest of … Read more

University of Leicester researchers undertake revolutionary treatment of a condition that has reached ‘epidemic proportions’. Researchers at the University of Leicester announced that the first UK operation using a novel nerve-stimulating implant to treat heart failure (HF) will take place today (Thursday, August 23) at Glenfield Hospital. The procedure is part of an international clinical … Read more

Fruit flies share many sleep characteristics with humans: they sleep mostly at night, stimulants such as caffeine disrupt their rest, and poor sleep can impair memory. New research now shows they can also tell us about how sleep loss and metabolic disorders—like obesity, insulin resistance, and altered blood glucose—are linked. The study identifies a conserved … Read more

Summary: Having two or more cardiometabolic conditions—type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke—substantially raises the risk of developing dementia, according to researchers. Source: Karolinska Institute New research from Karolinska Institutet indicates that people who have at least two cardiometabolic conditions—type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, heart failure or atrial fibrillation, and stroke—face roughly double the … Read more