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Treating addiction
Alcohol and drug addiction can cause many harms. This Research in Context feature looks at research into the causes of addiction and new ways to treat...
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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.
September 17, 2024 Edition
Blood test predicts 30-year cardiovascular disease risks for women
Researchers found that a blood test to measure levels of three compounds could predict a woman’s risk for cardiovascular disease decades later.
Smart mask for monitoring chemicals in exhaled breath
Researchers developed a smart face mask that can analyze chemicals in breath in real time.
Mosquitoes use infrared detection to help find people
Aedes aegypti, a type of mosquito that spreads diseases such as dengue and Zika, can sense infrared radiation to help locate and bite people.