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Scientists define molecule's role in itch and pain pathways
Researchers defined the neural pathways for itch sensation and identified a signaling molecule called somatostatin that enhances itch and blunts pain ...
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Brain network for social understanding develops in early childhood
A new study reveals that a network of brain areas involved in interpreting other people’s states of mind has started developing by age three.
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Minoxidil may improve blood vessel structure
Minoxidil, when given orally to mice, changes blood vessel structure to reduce stiffness and increase blood flow to the brain. The drug may have poten...
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November 26, 2024 Edition
How sleep leads to healing after heart attack
Scientists found that after heart injury, immune cells called monocytes travel to the brain and trigger a deep sleep that promotes recovery in both mice and people.
Liver-brain communication affects eating patterns and obesity
Disrupting the liver’s circadian clock genetically or with a high-fat diet altered eating patterns in mice.
Characterizing what human sensory nerves can sense
Researchers analyzed gene activity in different human sensory nerve cells to predict which would respond to stimuli such as heat, cold, and pressure
November 19, 2024 Edition
Weight-loss surgery has lasting benefits in teens
Teens who had bariatric surgery to treat severe obesity had sustained weight loss a decade later and fewer obesity-related health problems.
Early-life sugar intake affects chronic disease risk
Low sugar exposure in utero and in the first two years of life was associated with lower risks of diabetes and high blood pressure.
Mapping how cancers form and spread
3D maps of cancer produced by an NIH initiative provide critical information on how tumors develop, spread, and respond to treatments.
November 5, 2024 Edition
Study of H5N1 from an infected person
An H5N1 flu virus isolated from an infected farm worker could transmit through airborne droplets and was lethal in mice and ferrets.
Assessing ways to gauge aging status
Researchers found that grip strength, knee strength, and balance—especially the ability to stand on just one leg—decline significantly in the decades after age 50.
Implantable device reverses opioid overdose in animals
An implantable device detected opioid overdose and automatically administered naloxone, saving lives in rat and pig models.
October 29, 2024 Edition
Sex differences in how the body reduces pain
A study suggests that meditation for pain relief may work through different systems in females and males.
Atlas of Alzheimer's disease progression
An atlas of cellular changes in the brain during Alzheimer's disease revealed two distinct phases of disease progression.
Why protective antibodies fade after COVID-19 vaccines
New findings could help explain why the immune protection generated by COVID-19 vaccines tends to decline over time.
October 22, 2024 Edition
Time-restricted eating for metabolic syndrome
People with metabolic syndrome who limited their eating to an 8 to 10 hour period each day had modest health benefits after three months.
Brain waste-clearance system shown in people for first time
A study in five volunteers undergoing surgery confirmed the existence of channels that may help drain waste from the brain.
Complete wiring map of an adult fruit fly brain
Researchers fully mapped the connections between neurons for an entire adult fruit fly brain.
October 15, 2024 Edition
Research in Context
Can we slow aging?
Researchers are making progress in understanding the biology of aging and learning ways it might be slowed down or even reversed.
October 8, 2024 Edition
Different exercise patterns bring health benefits
People who fit most of their exercise into one or two days a week had the same reduced risk of disease as people who spread their activity throughout the week.
Healthful diet linked to reduced risk of cognitive decline
A heart-healthy eating pattern called the MIND diet was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline or impairment.
How heat from fever and inflammation affects immune cells
Scientists showed that fever temperatures boost activity in certain immune cells but also promote DNA damage, which could contribute to cancer risk.
October 1, 2024 Edition
Childhood obesity linked to limited food options
Children living in neighborhoods with low access to grocery stores early in life, even before birth, were at increased risk for obesity later.
Potential target for cataract drug development
Researchers discovered a protein produced by hibernating ground squirrels that allows their eyes to rapidly clear cataracts formed during cold exposure.
Brain changes observed during pregnancy
Researchers tracked changes in the brain that occurred in one woman before, during, and after her pregnancy.
September 24, 2024 Edition
Metabolites may help predict risk of sudden infant death syndrome
Researchers found that newborns who died from sudden infant death syndrome had unusual patterns of metabolic markers at birth.
Certain chemicals may trigger early puberty in girls
Compounds found in fragrances and other products triggered signaling pathways in mouse and human cells that might help jump-start early puberty.
Mapping a brain network involved in depression
Researchers found differences in brain network organization that are associated with depression.