Summary: Antidepressant medication for major depressive disorder appears to reduce the emotional response evoked by seeing others in pain. New findings indicate that antidepressant treatment—rather than the depressive episode itself—can diminish empathy for perceived pain. Source: University of Vienna Overview Depression frequently disrupts social functioning, and impaired empathy has long been considered part of the … Read more
We all begin life in a family—whether that family consists of blood relatives, adoptive parents, a strong neighborhood network, or foster caregivers. The family we are born into shapes many aspects of our lives, from our earliest memories to the person we grow into. Families teach us language, habits, customs, rituals, and how to see … Read more
Summary: Researchers have developed a small-molecule drug that shows promise as a new approach to treating multiple sclerosis (MS). Unlike current therapies that primarily target the immune system, this experimental compound acts on the brain’s glutamate signaling pathways and, in preclinical studies, both reduced MS-like symptoms and promoted repair of damaged myelin. The treatment demonstrated … Read more
Summary: Researchers at Scripps Research have identified a promising new approach to treating opioid use disorder (OUD) by using a compound that targets metabotropic glutamate 2 (mGlu2) receptors. The investigational drug, ADX106772, reduced oxycodone self-administration and cue-induced drug-seeking in an animal model without impairing natural reward behaviors, pointing to a potential new therapy for prescription … Read more
The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale was developed by two researchers, Kathryn M. Connor and Jonathan R.T. Davidson. Kathryn Connor is a psychiatrist and researcher at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Her work focuses on stress, anxiety disorders, social anxiety, psychopharmacology, and resilience. Jonathan Davidson is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at … Read more
Summary: VPS35 is a newly identified key regulator of tau metabolism and plays a critical role in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Source: Temple University Health System Overview: A protein called VPS35 acts like a cellular sorting machine, identifying and directing defective proteins to degradation pathways in neurons. New research from the Lewis Katz School … Read more
Summary: A new study asks whether a genetic variant tied to neurodegeneration in modern settings might provide benefits in different, infection-rich environments. Source: Arizona State University. Study finds cognitive decline may depend on the interaction between genes and environment — even parasites. We often talk about being in the right place at the wrong time. … Read more
People differ in how much confidence and hope they bring to the future. Some expect good outcomes; others anticipate setbacks. This enduring outlook is known as optimism and it shapes our thoughts, feelings, coping strategies, and health-related behaviors. The Life Orientation Test (LOT), and its revised version the LOT-R, are brief, well-validated measures designed to … Read more
Summary: Researchers report that artificial intelligence can detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease from images of the retinal blood vessels captured during a routine eye exam. Source: RSNA A routine eye photograph paired with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) could enable earlier detection of Parkinson’s disease, new research presented at the Radiological Society of North America … Read more
Summary: New research finds that people who experience larger drops in blood sugar several hours after eating feel hungrier and consume hundreds more calories each day than those with smaller drops. Source: King’s College London New evidence shows that steep drops in blood glucose a few hours after a meal are linked to stronger hunger … Read more