How sleepless nights compromise the health of your gut
Study reveals the function of specific immune cells, well documented as playing a significant role in gut health, is directly controlled by our circadian clock.... Read More...
Homeostasis
How gut bacteria negatively influences serotonin and blood sugar levels
A new study shows how the microbiome communicates with cells producing serotonin to influence blood sugar levels. The microbiome can worsen metabolism by signaling to cells in the gut that produce serotonin. This drives up serotonin levels. The rise in blood serotonin levels causes metabolic problems.... Read More...
Brain activity intensity drives need for sleep
Galanin expressing neurons are selectively active during rebound sleep. The expression of galanin increases after neuronal activity and sleep deprivation. The neuropeptide plays a critical role in sleep homeostasis.... Read More...
High-fat diets affect your brain, not just your physical appearance
High-fat diets are not only bad for your waistline, they are also bad for your brain health. A new study reveals high-fat diets contribute to hypothalamic inflammation which occurs long before symptoms of obesity arise.... Read More...
Signal blocks stem cell division in the geriatric brain
A gene regulated called Id4 appears to be a key component in controlling stem cell proliferation. ... Read More...
Sleep readies synapses for learning
Hippocampal neurons become longer and stronger following a period of sleep deprivation. The study supports the hypothesis that sleep may weaken synapses, which are strengthened from learning, allowing for learning to occur after waking.... Read More...
What made humans ‘the fat primate’?
Early humans underwent critical shifts in how DNA was packaged inside fat cells. As a result, the human body's ability to turn "bad" fat into "good", calorie burning fat was reduced.... Read More...
Dormant neural stem cells in fruit flies activate to generate new brain cells
Awakening dormant stem cells could stimulate the growth of new neurons. The findings could have significant implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.... Read More...
‘Only the stressed die young’: Trade-off mechanisms between stress, resilience and longevity
Flies lacking Ets21c died much faster when exposed to oxidative stress. Findings reveal a new molecular switch that could be responsible for a longer life and stress resilience.... Read More...
Astrocytes protect neurons from toxic buildup
Stimulating mouse neurons in a dish lead to a build-up to fatty acids and lipid particle release. Astrocytes engulfed the particles and increased genetic activity associated with detoxification. ... Read More...
Body parts respond to day and night independently from brain
Skin and liver cells appear to have their own circadian clock. Both the liver and skin respond to changes in light and maintain critical function, independent of the brain's circadian rhythm.... Read More...
Bacteria in fermented food signal the human immune system, explaining health benefits
A metabolite produced by lactic acid bacteria binds to the third hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor (HCA), signalling the immune system. Researchers believe the receptor evolved to allow great apes to consume foods that were starting to decay. They suggest the receptor could mediate some beneficial and anti-inflammatory effects of lactic acid in humans, and could serve as a target to treat inflammatory diseases.... Read More...