OUR BRAINS CAN TRICK US INTO THINKING WE ARE THINNER THAN WE ARE
University of Western Australia discover why some people believe they may be thinner than they actually are. Researchers report body perception could be a distortion created by our past observations of ourselves and other people.… READ MORE…
ANTI-STRESS COMPOUND REDUCES OBESITY AND DIABETES RISK
A protein associated with anxiety and depression has been found to act as a link between the stress regulatory system and metabolic processes, research report.… READ MORE…
CANOLA OIL LINKED TO WORSENED MEMORY AND LEARNING ABILITY IN ALZHEIMER’S
Temple University researchers report canola oil may have harmful effects on brain health. In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers discovered those exposed to canola oil in their diet had worsened memory and learning abilities. … READ MORE…
NEW AVENUE FOR DRUG TREATMENT IN NEUROPATHIC PAIN
Blocking dorsal root ganglion pain neurons from releasing microRNA-21 has an anti-inflammatory effect at the cellular level, preventing neuropathic pain, researchers report.… READ MORE…
WHY GUT BACTERIA AND GENDER MAY IMPACT NICOTINE ADDICTION
Researchers reveal a surprising association between nicotine addiction and gut bacteria. Gender smoking patterns and the effect nicotine has on a person may be a result of how the gut-brain relationship is impacted by nicotine.… READ MORE…
SCHIZOPHRENIA DISRUPTS BRAIN’S ENTIRE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
USC researchers reveal schizophrenia may be due to a disruption in the brain’s entire communication system, not just the temporal and prefrontal lobes.… READ MORE…
LATER CIRCADIAN TIMING OF FOOD INTAKE IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED BODY MASS INDEX
According to researchers, those who eat in close proximity to their natural melatonin onset are more likely to have a higher percentage of body fat and BMI than those who eat earlier.… READ MORE…
NEURONS THAT CONTROL BRAIN’S BODY CLOCK IDENTIFIED
Study identifies a direct dopamine neuron link to circadian rhythm.…READ MORE…
BRAIN SWITCH TELLS BODY TO BURN FAT AFTER A MEAL
Researchers report the brain’s ability to sense insulin and coordinate feeding with energy expenditure is controlled by a mechanism that is turned on after fasting to inhibit insulin response and conserve energy. After feeding, the mechanism is turned off to facilitate insulin response and expend energy. However, in obese people, researchers believe the switch may stay on all the time. … READ MORE…
FASTER ACTING ANTIDEPRESSANTS MAY FINALLY BE WITHIN REACH
Researchers explain how SSRI antidepressants initiate action by targeting a specific type of nerve cells. Findings may lead to the development of faster acting antidepressants.… READ MORE…
PRE-PREGNANCY OBESITY INCREASES RISK FOR NEUROCOGNITIVE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN BORN VERY PREMATURELY
According to a Journal of Pediatrics report, children born prematurely to women who were obese prior to pregnancy showed lower scores on intelligence tests. When tested at age 10, the children were more likely than their peers to score lower in verbal intelligence, cognitive control and spelling tests. … READ MORE…
BULIMIC BRAINS RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO FOOD CUES FOLLOWING STRESSFUL EVENTS
According to a new study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, the brains of women with the eating disorder Bulimia Nervosa respond differently to images of sugary and high-fat foods following a stressful situation than those without the disorder. Brain scans reveal bulimic women have decreased blood flow to the precuneus, an area of the brain associated with self-criticism, when presented with images of food following a stressful math test. The findings provide support to current theories that binge eating may provide an alternative focus to negative self-reflections.… READ MORE…