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metabolism

·July 7, 2025·3 min read

Astrocytes in Obesity: Brain Cells That Control Metabolism & Cognition

A new study reveals that astrocytes, star-shaped brain cells in the striatum, are key players in how obesity alters brain function and metabolism. Researchers showed that manipulating astrocyte activity in obese mice improved their cognitive flexibility and metabolic regulation.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 7, 2025·8 min read

Early Meals Boost Health, but Genetic Clock Shapes When We Eat

Our bodies process food differently depending on the time of day, and eating later has been linked to poorer metabolic health. A study of twins found that those who consumed most of their daily calories earlier had better insulin sensitivity and lower risk factors for diabetes and obesity.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 2, 2025·5 min read

Brain Taps Lipid Stores for Energy During Activity

A groundbreaking study reveals that neurons can burn fat, challenging the long-held belief that the brain relies solely on glucose for fuel. Researchers discovered that when glucose is scarce, synaptic activity triggers neurons to break down lipid droplets and use the resulting fatty acids for energy.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 1, 2025·5 min read

Clearing Brain Sugar Stores Could Protect Against Dementia

New research reveals that sugar metabolism in brain cells may be a crucial defense against Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Scientists found that neurons in both flies and human models of tauopathy accumulate excess glycogen, which disrupts cellular stress management when it can’t be broken down.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 26, 2025·3 min read

Umbilical Cord DNA May Predict Future Metabolic Health Risks

DNA changes in umbilical cord blood may help predict which children are at higher risk for future health issues like diabetes, liver disease, and stroke. Researchers analyzed chemical tags on DNA, known as methylation patterns, and linked specific alterations to markers of metabolic dysfunction later in childhood. Notably, changes in genes like TNS3, GNAS, and CSMD1 were tied to liver fat accumulation, high blood pressure, and abnormal waist-to-hip ratios.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 24, 2025·3 min read

Metabolic Syndrome in Midlife Linked to Higher Dementia Risk

A large-scale study has found that having metabolic syndrome in midlife—marked by excess belly fat, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol or blood sugar—is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing young-onset dementia before age 65. The analysis, based on nearly two million people, showed that the more components of metabolic syndrome a person had, the greater their dementia risk, with women and those in their 40s being most vulnerable.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 23, 2025·6 min read

The Brain Remembers Cold: How Memories Drive Metabolism

New research reveals that the brain stores memories of cold experiences, which can later trigger metabolic responses in anticipation of cold environments. Mice trained to associate visual cues with cold temperatures began to increase their metabolism when shown those cues—even at room temperature.

This shows the shadow of an obese person and a clock.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 23, 2025·4 min read

Obesity Throws Metabolism Timing Off Balance

A new study reveals that while the molecular structure of liver metabolism remains intact during starvation, obesity disrupts the precise timing of metabolic responses. In healthy mice, key "hub" molecules like ATP and AMP responded rapidly and in a coordinated sequence to starvation.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 14, 2025·4 min read

How Lactating Brains Rewire Metabolism for Milk Production

Lactation triggers significant metabolic changes in mothers, driven by shifting hormone levels and brain activity. Researchers have now uncovered how increased prolactin and reduced estrogen suppress specific neurons in the hypothalamus to boost appetite and conserve fat, meeting the energy demands of nursing.

This is an AI rendition of macrophages in muscle tissue.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 4, 2024·5 min read

Immune Cells Modulate Movement and Energy

Macrophages, immune cells typically known for fighting infections, have been discovered to play a vital role in controlling movement and linking neural activity with metabolic demands. Located in muscle spindles, these cells modulate neural activity using glutamate signaling, fine-tune muscle contractions, and optimize energy use during physical activity.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 2, 2024·6 min read

Personal Gut Environments Shape How We Digest, Absorb Food

Individual differences in gut physiology and environment play a major role in shaping our gut microbiome and how we process food. Using a smart capsule to measure pH, temperature, and pressure, researchers found significant variations in digestion time and gut conditions between people.

This shows an AI representation of mitochondria.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 22, 2024·4 min read

Mitochondrial Gene Editing Reveals Links to Memory

Researchers used mitochondrial gene editing to model genetic disorders in mice, revealing profound impacts on brain function, metabolism, and thermoregulation. They employed a specialized DNA editing tool to induce mutations in the ND5 mitochondrial gene, disrupting energy production and causing learning deficits, hippocampal atrophy, and obesity.

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metabolism

Astrocytes in Obesity: Brain Cells That Control Metabolism & Cognition

Early Meals Boost Health, but Genetic Clock Shapes When We Eat

Brain Taps Lipid Stores for Energy During Activity

Clearing Brain Sugar Stores Could Protect Against Dementia

Umbilical Cord DNA May Predict Future Metabolic Health Risks

Metabolic Syndrome in Midlife Linked to Higher Dementia Risk

The Brain Remembers Cold: How Memories Drive Metabolism

Obesity Throws Metabolism Timing Off Balance

How Lactating Brains Rewire Metabolism for Milk Production

Immune Cells Modulate Movement and Energy

Personal Gut Environments Shape How We Digest, Absorb Food

Mitochondrial Gene Editing Reveals Links to Memory

Gene Key to MS Immune Regulation Discovered

Maternal Depression Linked to Weaker Bonds

Study Challenges Link Between Football and Brain Protein Buildup

Spotting Silent Scars: A New Way to Detect Childhood Abuse

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