Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduces the risk of heart attacks and stroke, with an ideal value below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). But can it be too low? A new study finds that women who have levels of LDL cholesterol 70 mg/dL or lower may be more than twice as likely to have a…

Schizophrenia may be related to the deletion syndrome. However, not everyone who has the syndrome necessarily develops psychotic symptoms. What triggers the illness? Researchers (UNIGE) have provided an initial answer after analysing several years of patients with deletion syndrome. They found that the size of the hippocampus was smaller than normal but followed the same…

Researchers identified an estrogen-activated neurocircuit that stimulates thermogenesis, or body heat production, and physical activity in animal models. The team reveals in the journal Science Advances an estrogen-activated neurocircuit that stimulates thermogenesis, or body heat production, and physical activity in animal models. The circuit begins in neurons located in a region of the hypothalamus called…

It may be possible to identify the presence of an aggressive brain tumor in children by studying their cerebrospinal fluid, according to new research. Comparing cerebrospinal fluid samples from 40 patients with medulloblastoma — the most common malignant brain tumor in children, accounting for 10% to 15% of pediatric central nervous system tumors — and…

Excessive activity of an immune system gene previously linked to schizophrenia reproduces neural and behavioral aspects of the disease in mice, according to a new study. The finding provides mechanistic support for the importance of the gene in the development of schizophrenia, and may offer a new avenue for therapy development. Genetics variants that increase…

Patterns of brain activation during reward anticipation may help identify people most at risk for developing bipolar spectrum disorders (BPSD), according to a new study. Mania in people with BPSD is often accompanied by impulsivity, including impulsive responses to potential rewards. In the study, patterns of neural activation during a reward task predicted the severity…

Spinal cord nerve cells branching through the body resemble trees with limbs fanning out in every direction. But this image can also be used to tell the story of how these neurons, their jobs becoming more specialized over time, arose through developmental and evolutionary history. Researchers have traced the development of spinal cord neurons using…

Scientists are studying how signals sent from skeletal muscle affect the brain. The team studied fruit flies and cutting-edge brain cell models called organoids. They focused on the signals muscles send when stressed. The researchers found that stress signals rely on an enzyme called Amyrel amylase and its product, the disaccharide maltose. The scientists showed…

Chronic sleep disruption during adolescence can lead to depression in both males and females and alters stress reactivity in females, according to a new study. Their findings are particularly relevant in the context of a pandemic when adolescents’ mental health is already under strain. We talked to senior author Nafissa Ismail, Associate Professor at the…

A new study has revealed the prevalence of work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among obstetricians and gynaecologists. The study, funded by medical research charity Wellbeing of Women and the Royal College of Gynaecologists (RCOG), highlights the need for a system of care for front-line staff and mental health in the profession as a global concern.…