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metabolism

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 13, 2019·3 min read

Obesity: The key role of a brain protein revealed – Mouse study

The protein ACBP directly influences neurons that help both rodents and humans maintain a healthy weight.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 10, 2019·3 min read

A cup of Joe and you’re good to go! Under 6 a day and you’re A-OK

Drinking more than six cups of coffee per day is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

This shows pizza, burgers and other junk foods

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 10, 2019·4 min read

Dietary fats entering the brain may explain link between obesity and depression: Mouse study

A mechanism that links exposure to high-fat diets in mice to changes in hypothalamic function which leads to depression has been identified. Saturated fatty acids enter the brain via the bloodstream, where they accumulate and affect key signaling pathways associated with the development of depression.

This shows a weighing scale, a tape measure and an apple

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 2, 2019·3 min read

New brain mechanisms regulating body weight identified: Rodent study

Interleukin-6 interacts with leptin in the lateral parabrachial nucleus to reduce food intake. Reducing IL-6 in the IPBL increases weight gain and could help explain why some are more prone to overeating and obesity.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 30, 2019·5 min read

Can the effects of the ketogenic diet help prevent epilepsy after traumatic brain injury? Mouse study

Mimicking effects of the ketogenic diet with a drug called 2-DG reduced cell excitation and epileptic activity in mouse models of post-traumatic epilepsy. 2-DG may have the potential to restore network function following TBI, reducing the risk of epilepsy associated with head injuries. The findings may have positive implications for people who developed post-traumatic epilepsy, suggesting a change in diet could help alleviate some symptoms.

This shows neurons in the central amygdala

Featured Neuroscience

·April 25, 2019·4 min read

Comfort food leads to more weight gain during stress

A combination of chronic stress and high-calorie diets raised insulin levels tenfold in the amygdala of mice. Prolonged high levels of insulin in the central amygdala resulted in neurons becoming desensitized to insulin. The desensitized neurons boosted NPY levels, which promoted eating and reduced the normal homeostasis response to burn calories. The findings may shed light on why some indulge in high-calorie foods when stressed, and why this may lead to obesity.

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·April 22, 2019·8 min read

New insight into how obesity and insulin resistance can impair cognition

Adora2a mediating signaling in vascular endothelial cells disrupts the blood-brain barrier in obesity. This, researchers report, could be an underlying mechanism for synaptic plasticity and cognitive deficits in those with insulin resistance and obesity.

This shows two people walking in the evening

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 18, 2019·6 min read

Two studies explore whether time of day can affect the body’s response to exercise

Two new studies report the time of day is a major modifier of exercise capacity, amplifying the impact exercise has on metabolic pathways and energy homeostasis. Evening exercise, researchers report, has the most productive effect.

This shows a mother breastfeeding a newborn baby

Featured Neuroscience

·April 10, 2019·5 min read

Breast milk analyses show new opportunities for reducing risk of childhood obesity

Maternal obesity is associated with differences in breast milk composition from that of mothers with a lower BMI. The variations of the metabolites may contribute to a higher risk of childhood obesity in children whose mothers are overweight. The findings point to a potential breast milk dependent mechanism for the mother-child transmission of obesity.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 6, 2019·4 min read

New hope for treating childhood brain cancer

DIPG cancer cells exposed to MI-2 fail to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol and die quickly, by inhibiting lanosterol synthase. Additionally, while MI-2 destroys glioma cancer cells, the drug does not damage healthy brain cells.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 4, 2019·3 min read

No such thing as ‘sugar rush’! Sugar worsens mood rather than improving it

Carbohydrate consumption from sugary drinks and snacks does not help to improve mood. The findings may help increase public awareness that the 'sugar rush' is a myth and help inform health policies to promote healthier alternatives.