Scientists have discovered that junk food can alter brain memory circuits within days. The research hints that early lifestyle interventions might help safeguard memory and prevent long-term cognitive decline. Credit: Stock A high-fat diet quickly disrupts neurons tied to memory, but restoring glucose or dietary changes can repair the damage. These findings may guide strategies to reduce dementia risk. Diet …
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Your gut bacteria are far smarter than you might think. While we’ve long known that different foods can shift the balance of microbes in your digestive tract, new research reveals something even more fascinating: the same beneficial bacteria can completely change how they interact with your immune system1 based on what carbohydrates you feed them. Source link
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It’s true that there is no single test that can diagnose Pans or Pandas, nor a biomarker that definitively signals their presence. Brain changes associated with these conditions are also so subtle that they don’t show up to the naked eye on imaging tests, Frankovich says. “When the radiologist reads the MRI, they’re looking with their eyeballs and they’re like, …
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A new study shows that blocking one protein can reprogram immune cells to fight cancer more powerfully, offering hope for next-generation therapies. Credit: Shutterstock Blocking a single protein boosts T cell metabolism and tumor-fighting strength. The discovery could lead to next-generation cancer immunotherapies. Scientists have identified a strategy to greatly enhance the cancer-fighting abilities of the immune system’s T cells. …
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Key Questions Answered: Q: What brain region is being studied to understand aggression?A: Researchers are focusing on the thalamic nucleus reuniens, which connects memory, emotion, and decision-making areas of the brain and may play a key role in impulsive aggression following trauma. Q: How does early-life trauma influence aggression later in life?A: Trauma during childhood can alter brain circuits that …
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Quick Q&A Q: Can past injuries increase sensitivity to future pain or stress?A: Yes — this study shows that old injuries can prime the brain to overreact to new stressors, leading to lasting pain and exaggerated fear. Q: What mechanism keeps the nervous system hypersensitive?A: A stress hormone called corticosterone interacts with the TRPA1 receptor to keep the nervous system …
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