FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·April 18, 2024·8 min readHow Drugs Hijack the Brain’s Reward SystemResearchers made significant advances in understanding how drugs like cocaine and morphine disrupt the brain's natural reward mechanisms. Their study reveals that these drugs manipulate the same brain cells responsible for processing natural rewards, leading to compulsive drug-seeking behaviors.Read More
AutismFeaturedNeuroscience·November 1, 2022·4 min readStudy Offers New Insights Into Genetic Mutations in Autism Disorders and Points to Possible TreatmentsMutations of the PTEN gene cause neurons to grow to twice the size and form four times the number of synaptic connections to other neurons as a normal neuron. Removing the RAPTOR gene, an essential gene in the mTORC1 signaling pathway, prevents the neuronal and synaptic overgrowth associated with PTEN mutations. Using Rapamycin to inhibit mTORC1 recues all the changes in neuronal overgrowth.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·October 21, 2019·4 min readNew therapeutic strategy may help reverse autism behavioral abnormalitiesGenetically silencing mTORC2 in mouse models prolonged lifespan, suppressed seizures, increased long-term memory, and reduced autism-like behaviors.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·April 17, 2019·3 min readNew drug mimics benefits of ketamine for depressionNV-5138, a small molecule drug that mimics the action of ketamine, provides fast-acting antidepressant responses in rodent models of depression. The drug is currently undergoing Phase 1 testing in humans.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 11, 2017·5 min readProtein Links Alcohol Abuse and Changes in Brain’s Reward CenterA new Neuron study reports blocking the action of the mTORC1 protein causes mice to stop problem drinking behaviors. The findings could help develop new treatments for addictive behaviors in people.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 23, 2017·4 min readWhy Our Brain Cells May Prevent Us From Burning Fat When We DietResearchers have identified a mechanism that allows the body to adapt to a low caloric intake and limits weight loss.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 8, 2017·4 min readLithium May Prevent Neuron Damage In TBI PatientsAccording to researchers, lithium, a drug commonly used to treat bipolar disorder, and rapamycin can help to protect neurons from further damage in those with TBI.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 27, 2016·5 min readRestoring Memory Formation Following Sleep Deprivation in MiceA new study reports sleep deprivation is tied to an impairment of protein production in the hippocampus.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 4, 2016·4 min readCell Aging Triggered by MitochondriaA new study reports mitochondira are major triggers of cell aging.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurology·January 7, 2016·4 min readMolecular Mechanism For Rare Neurodegenerative Disease DiscoveredA new study identifies a mechanism responsible for the degeneration of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, a rare neurodegenerative disease.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·September 28, 2015·3 min readHormone Adiponectin Could Break Cycle of ObesityAccording to a new study, the hormone Adiponectin can reverse the negative effects of obesity on offspring when infused into the placenta of obese, pregnant mice.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurology·January 5, 2015·4 min readAnimal Study Points to a Treatment for Huntington’s DiseaseResearchers improve motor function and reduce brain shrinkage in animal models of HD by adjusting the levels of a signaling protein.Read More