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diet

·March 31, 2025·7 min read

Intermittent Fasting Boosts Male Libido by Lowering Serotonin

A new study shows that long-term intermittent fasting increases the sex drive of male mice by reducing serotonin levels in the brain. The effect was linked to dietary tryptophan deficiency, which lowers the production of serotonin—a neurotransmitter known to inhibit sexual behavior.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 11, 2025·5 min read

Eating Seafood Linked to Kinder, More Socially Skilled Young Children

Children who regularly eat seafood at age 7 exhibit more positive social behaviors—such as sharing, helping, and interacting kindly—by ages 7 and 9, compared to those who rarely consume seafood. This finding, from a large study tracking nearly 6,000 children, underscores seafood’s role in supporting behavioral and social development during childhood.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 6, 2025·6 min read

High-Fat Diet Triggers Memory Decline Within Days

A new study shows that just three days of a high-fat diet can cause memory impairments and brain inflammation in older adults, independent of obesity. Researchers compared young and old rats fed a diet with 60% of calories from fat and found that only the older rats showed cognitive decline.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 3, 2025·8 min read

Maternal Diet Influences ADHD and Autism Risk

A large study analyzing over 60,000 mother-child pairs found that a Western diet during pregnancy—high in fat, sugar, and processed foods—was associated with a significantly increased risk of ADHD and autism in children. Even small shifts toward a Western diet correlated with a 66% higher risk of ADHD and a 122% higher risk of autism.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 28, 2025·5 min read

Short-Term Junk Food Diet Reduces Brain’s Insulin Sensitivity

A new study reveals that consuming high-calorie, highly processed foods for just five days can reduce the brain's sensitivity to insulin, a key factor in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that even in healthy individuals, short-term unhealthy eating altered brain function, mimicking effects seen in people with obesity.

This shows an hour glass with healthy and unhealthy foods.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 19, 2025·8 min read

Life Expectancy Gains Have Stalled: Poor Diet and Obesity to Blame

A new study finds that life expectancy improvements across Europe have slowed significantly since 2011. Key factors include rising obesity, poor diets, and physical inactivity, along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This shows the outline of a teen, a clock and a brain.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 18, 2025·5 min read

How the Body’s Clock Influences Eating and Weight Gain in Teens

A new study reveals that the body’s internal clock plays a key role in eating behavior, influencing when and how much adolescents eat. Researchers found that teens with overweight or obesity consumed significantly more calories later in the day compared to those with a healthy weight. By isolating circadian influences from environmental and behavioral factors, they confirmed that food intake peaks in the late afternoon and evening regardless of sleep duration or external time cues.

This shows a teen girl and a plate of keto foods.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 7, 2025·3 min read

Ketogenic Diet May Stabilize Mood in Young People with Bipolar

Researchers are launching a multi-site pilot study to assess whether a ketogenic diet, alongside standard medications, can stabilize mood symptoms in young people with bipolar disorder. The 16-week trial will involve 40 participants aged 12-21, who will follow a ketogenic diet while their mood symptoms, metabolic markers, and adherence to the diet are monitored.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 30, 2025·5 min read

Unhealthy Diet Linked to Faster Biological Aging in Young Adults

Diets high in processed meat, fast food, and sugary drinks accelerate biological aging, even in young adults. Researchers measured biological age using epigenetic clocks, which track gene regulation changes over time. Participants with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables showed slower aging, suggesting dietary choices influence how quickly the body ages.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 18, 2025·7 min read

Processed Red Meat Linked to Higher Dementia Risk

A study of over 133,000 individuals found that consuming processed red meat daily increases dementia risk by up to 13%, while replacing it with alternatives like nuts, legumes, or fish may lower the risk by 20%. Higher processed meat intake was associated with accelerated cognitive aging and increased subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

Featured Neuroscience

·January 15, 2025·5 min read

Food Memories Drive Overeating and Obesity

A new study identifies neurons in the hippocampus that store food-specific memories, directly influencing overeating and body weight. These neurons, which encode memories for sugar and fat, act as "memory traces" that drive dietary behavior and metabolism.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 10, 2025·3 min read

How Fiber Fuels Anti-Cancer Gene Activity

Fiber digestion produces short-chain fatty acids like propionate and butyrate, which directly alter gene expression with anti-cancer effects, according to new research. The study found that these fatty acids influence genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, key processes that control tumor growth. Researchers demonstrated these epigenetic changes in human cells and mouse models, highlighting fiber's systemic impact on health.