Have you ever wondered why some people find it easier to quit smoking than others? Recent research suggests that genetic differences that determine how quickly the body breaks down nicotine play a major role in that variation. Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro, McGill University, report that individuals who metabolize … Read more

Image via Wikipedia Recent neuroscience research indicates that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can reveal decision tendencies that people themselves do not fully predict. In experiments with students, patterns of brain activity recorded by fMRI sometimes forecasted which choice a person was more likely to make, even when the student’s conscious expectation about their own … Read more

Summary: New research from Brigham Young University reports that stress alters the gut microbiota of female mice in a way that mimics the effects of a high-fat diet. Source: Brigham Young University Stress may affect the gut as much as a poor diet, according to a new animal study. A team led by Laura Bridgewater, … Read more

Summary: Islets of Langerhans from mice overnourished during infancy displayed DNA methylation patterns normally seen in much older animals. Source: Baylor College of Medicine Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine report a mechanism that helps explain how overnutrition in early life can cause long-term metabolic problems such as diabetes. Published in the journal Environmental Epigenetics, … Read more

Summary: A new artificial intelligence convolutional neural network achieves 94.6% accuracy for near real‑time intraoperative diagnosis of brain tumors. Source: NYU Langone Health A new technique that combines advanced optical imaging with a deep learning algorithm enables accurate, near real‑time intraoperative diagnosis of brain tumors, a study finds. Published in Nature Medicine, the study compared … Read more

Summary: Researchers have produced a high-quality, chromosome-level reference genome for the common octopus, revealing about 2.8 billion base pairs organized across 30 chromosomes. This achievement comes from extensive, computer-assisted genome assembly and comparative analyses with other cephalopods. This reference sequence opens new avenues for understanding octopus biology, from neural organization and behavior to development and … Read more

Little Evidence for the Benefits of Vitamin D Supplementation for Health Problems Summary: Researchers review and evaluate the scientific evidence behind the ten most common beliefs about vitamin D and its health effects. Source: University of Alberta As Canadians and others head into months with more sunshine, attention often turns to vitamin D—an essential nutrient … Read more

Scientists have found the first direct evidence that a long-suspected biological mechanism can trigger seizures, opening new avenues for treatments and possibly prevention. Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center report that molecular disruption in a specific population of small neurons—granule cells in the dentate gyrus—can produce seizures in mice that resemble human temporal lobe … Read more

Scientists are gaining new insight into how Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain long before memory loss and dementia become apparent. This preclinical phase can span a decade or more and represents a critical window when the disease might be slowed or halted, potentially preventing later cognitive decline. New findings published in Lancet Neurology report progress … Read more

Summary: The Weed Care study in Switzerland examines how regulated, legal access to cannabis affects patterns of use and mental health among adult consumers. In the first randomized controlled trial of its kind, participants given legal access to cannabis purchased through pharmacies showed a modest decline in problematic use, with the strongest benefit observed among … Read more