Having a Purpose in Life Linked to Lower Dementia Risk
Summary: A new study of over 13,000 adults found that having a strong sense of purpose in life…
Experimental Drugs Reverse Autism Symptoms
Summary: Researchers have identified hyperactivity in the reticular thalamic nucleus as a driver of autism-like behaviors in mice.…
Sour Taste Relies on a Unique Synaptic Protein
Summary: A new study reveals that SNAP25, a key synaptic protein, is essential for the brain to detect…
Immune Attack on Smell Pathways May Signal Early Alzheimer’s
Summary: A fading sense of smell may be one of the earliest warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and…
Caffeine in the Morning Gives the Biggest Boost to Mood
Summary: A large real-world study of 236 young adults found that caffeine significantly boosts positive emotions, particularly in…
Dopamine Imbalance in the Brain May Drive Trichotillomania
Summary: A new study using SAPAP3 knockout mice sheds light on the brain mechanisms that may drive trichotillomania,…
Bipolar Mood Shifts Linked to Insulin Signaling in the Pancreas
Summary: A new study uncovers a pancreas–hippocampus feedback loop that may help explain mood swings in bipolar disorder.…
Genetic Switch May Be Key to Human Brain’s Unique Abilities
Summary: Researchers have identified a genetic region, HAR123, that may help explain what makes the human brain unique.…
Pre-Pregnancy Obesity Linked to Autism Risk
Summary: A new study reveals how maternal obesity before pregnancy can program autism-related behaviors in offspring through lasting…
Friendship Chemistry: How Oxytocin Shapes Who We Bond With
Summary: New research on prairie voles shows that while oxytocin is not strictly necessary for friendship, it plays…