EXERCISE HORMONE MAY SLOW ALZHEIMER’S PROGRESSION
Researchers report the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease contain less of the exercise related hormone called irisin. Boosting levels of irisin in the brain could slow the progression of the neurodegenerative disease. … READ MORE…
THE BRAIN HUNGERS FOR DOPAMINE
A new study reveals the role dopamine plays in controlling eating behaviors. Researchers found when people crave specific foods, the brain releases more dopamine when they finally consume the item. The study reports the gastrointestinal tract is in constant contact with the brain and uses reward stimuli to control our desire for food. … READ MORE…
CHOLINE HELPS FIGHT ALZHEIMER’S ACROSS GENERATIONS
Researchers report when mice bred to display Alzheimer’s like symptoms were given diets high in choline, their offspring showed improvements in spatial memory compared to those exposed to normal levels of choline in the womb. … READ MORE…
OBESE MICE LOSE ANXIETY WHEN ‘ZOMBIE CELLS’ EXIT THE BRAIN
According to researchers, obese mice have increased levels of senescent cells in their brains, and these cells contribute to anxiety. Using senolytics to clear the cells helps to reduce anxiety related behaviors.… READ MORE…
HOW EXERCISE REDUCES BELLY FAT IN HUMANS
According to researchers, interleukin 6 plays a critical role in how exercise helps to reduce body fat.… READ MORE…
HOW CALORIE CONTENT MAKES YOU RETHINK FOOD CHOICES
A neuroimaging study reveals seeing images of food with calorie information alters the way the brain responds to the food, making the item seem less appealing.… READ MORE…
CANNABIS EXPOSURE ALTERS GENETIC PROFILE OF SPERM
THC exposure targets genes in two major cellular pathways and alters DNA methylation, a new study reports. Researchers say that wile cannabis triggers structural and regulatory changes in the DNA of users’ sperm, they do not know yet whether the changes are passed down to the offspring and what effects that could have. … READ MORE…
BOYS WITH GOOD MOTOR SKILLS EXCEL AT PROBLEM SOLVING TOO
Researchers report boys with better motor skills tend to have higher cognitive scores over a two year follow up period than those with poorer motor skills. Additionally, boys with higher aerobic fitness had poorer cognition during the two year follow up than those with lower fitness levels.… READ MORE…
GUT HORMONE INCREASES RESPONSE TO FOOD
Researchers discover activity in brain regions involved in reward response from dopamine was higher in subjects injected with the hormone ghrelin, but only when responding to images associated with food smells. The study reports ghrelin controls the extent to which the brain associates reward with food odors.… READ MORE…
GENETIC CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Researchers have identified 14 genetic regions linked to activity.… READ MORE…
RESILIENCE MAY BE NEUROBIOLOGICAL
Individual differences in resting state connectivity may help explain why some people are more resilient to the effects of neighborhood violence than others.… READ MORE…
LIGHT POLLUTION MAY CAUSE INSOMNIA IN OLDER ADULTS
Researchers report increased light pollution resulting from outdoor artificial light exposure is linked to a higher risk of sleep disorders and prescription of hypnotic drugs in older people.… READ MORE…