Researchers have shown how the brain’s circadian rhythm in rats is, among other things, controlled by the stress hormone corticosterone — in humans called cortisol. This has been shown by means of a completely new method in the form of implanted micropumps. This internal clock is found in everything from bacteria to humans and is…

An imbalance of functioning in attention-related brain systems may help forecast the course of teen depression, according to a new study. «The teen years are a time of remarkable growth and opportunity, as young people forge new relationships, learn how to navigate intense emotions, and make the transition to independence. However, it is also during…

Participants in the SURE-PD3 clinical trial showed that elevating the natural antioxidant urate through inosine treatment over two years produced no significant difference in the rate of Parkinson’s disease progression. «The convergence of epidemiological, biological, and clinical data from past research made a compelling argument that elevating urate, the main antioxidant circulating in the blood,…

Immigrants to Canada have a 33% lower rate of stroke than long-term residents, according to a new study. «Other studies have shown that immigrants tend to have better health than long-term residents, which is thought to be because healthy people are more likely to choose to immigrate,» said study author Manav V. Vyas, MBBS, MSc,…

Researchers have implicated 10 new genes in the development of schizophrenia using a method called whole exome sequencing, the analysis of the portion of DNA that codes for proteins. A global consortium of schizophrenia research teams incorporated genetic data from over 125,000 people to gain deeper insights into the genetic underpinnings of schizophrenia. «The main…

A new study uncovers several risk factors associated with postpartum opioid overdose. Another key finding of the study was that OUD, as measured by an insurance claim in the year before the birth, was identified in only 46.6 percent of the cases. This suggests potential pathways for supporting families are critical both during pregnancy and…

Researchers analyzed thousands of microglia from different brain regions of deceased patients who had been diagnosed with a variety of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Their results support the idea that microglia may play critical roles in some cases of brain disease while also providing a potentially valuable guide for future studies. The researchers analyzed thousands…

A study of more than 300,000 couples in Sweden finds marriage to a spouse who grew up exposed to parental alcohol misuse increases a person’s likelihood of developing a drinking problem. The causes of AUD are complex and can include a mix of genetic, environmental, and social factors, including a family history of alcoholism. This…

Women who experienced six or more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in life had a twofold greater risk of developing ovarian cancer compared with women who never had any PTSD symptoms, according to a new study. The findings indicate that having higher levels of PTSD symptoms, such as being easily startled…

Brain-selective estrogen treatment improves the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in male mice, according to new research. These findings may help explain the sex differences in Parkinson’s disease and could lead to estrogen-based treatments. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the death of neurons involved in movement, which may be partially caused by gene mutations for the…