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obesity

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·July 2, 2024·6 min read

Oxytocin’s Link to Obesity and Postnatal Depression

A new study has identified the TRPC5 gene as a cause of obesity, behavioral issues, and postnatal depression. Researchers found that missing or impaired TRPC5 genes disrupt oxytocin neurons, crucial for regulating appetite and emotions. This discovery offers potential new treatments, like using oxytocin to alleviate symptoms. The findings emphasize the biological basis of certain behaviors and conditions.

This shows an overweight person running.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 10, 2024·4 min read

Evening Exercise Lowers Blood Sugar in Overweight Adults

Moderate to vigorous physical activity in the evening significantly lowers daily blood sugar levels in sedentary adults with overweight and obesity. Researchers found that this timing is more effective than morning or afternoon exercise for glucose control.

This shows a woman in workout clothing and a scale.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 8, 2024·4 min read

Intense Exercise May Sabotage Weight Loss Efforts

Intense exercise can reduce subsequent physical activity and body temperature, potentially leading to weight gain. The research, conducted on mice, suggests this effect is due to disruptions in the circadian rhythm of the stress hormone corticosterone.

This shows a brain as a top of a burger bun.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 2, 2024·4 min read

Brain Chemistry Sheds Light on Overeating and Memory

Fruit flies use the neurotransmitter octopamine to decide whether food memories are stored long-term or short-term. This process, influenced by energy reserves, affects future eating behavior. High glycogen levels result in stable food memories, prompting increased food intake even after fasting. The research suggests that similar mechanisms may influence overeating in humans.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 16, 2024·6 min read

GLP-1 and NMDA Targeted Weight-Loss Drug Shows Promise

Researchers have developed a novel weight-loss drug that combines GLP-1 with molecules targeting NMDA receptors in the brain. This "Trojan Horse" approach allows the drug to specifically target the appetite control center, leading to significant weight loss in mice.

This shows a brain and a measuring tape.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 16, 2024·5 min read

High BMI Linked to Weak Smell-Eating Circuit in Brain

A new study reveals a novel brain circuit linking the sense of smell and eating behavior. The weaker the connection between these regions, the higher a person's Body Mass Index (BMI).

Featured Neuroscience

·April 29, 2024·5 min read

Brown Fat’s “Off Switch” Discovery Combats Obesity

Researchers have made significant discoveries about brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is known for its calorie-burning capabilities. Their study identifies a protein, AC3-AT, that acts as an "off switch" for BAT activation, limiting its effectiveness in combating obesity. By potentially blocking this switch, the researchers believe they can enhance brown fat's activity, offering a new avenue for treating obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 7, 2024·5 min read

Less Obesity and Depression in NPD Individuals

A comprehensive study across 38 states in the U.S. has revealed a surprising link between narcissism and positive health outcomes, including lower obesity and depression rates. States with higher levels of narcissism also showed a lower likelihood of heart failure and hypertension deaths, highlighting the complex role of narcissistic traits in public health.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 20, 2024·4 min read

Weekend Workouts Just as Effective for Weight Loss as Daily Exercise

"Weekend warriors," or those who concentrate their physical activity into one or two days a week, can achieve weight loss comparable to that of individuals who exercise more frequently. This research, which utilizes objective measures of fat tissue mass, supports the idea that meeting the World Health Organization's physical activity recommendations, regardless of the frequency, is beneficial for reducing adiposity.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 29, 2024·5 min read

Gene Linked to Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Obesity

Researchers made a breakthrough in understanding obesity's impact on mitochondria, as detailed in a recent study. They discovered that a high-fat diet causes fat cell mitochondria in mice to fragment into smaller, less efficient units, a process controlled by a single gene.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 22, 2023·6 min read

Key to Longevity in Isoleucine Reduction

Researchers discovered that reducing the amino acid isoleucine in diets can significantly improve health outcomes in mice. The study reveals that a low-isoleucine diet led to longer lifespans, leaner bodies, and reduced cancer and prostate problems in mice, despite higher calorie consumption.

This shows a statue of a head and candy.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 7, 2023·4 min read

High-Sugar Diets May Fuel Brain Decline

Research suggests a high-sugar diet, commonly associated with obesity, leads to insulin resistance in the brain and may heighten the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study reveals that this insulin resistance impairs glial cells' ability to clear neuronal debris, a crucial process for preventing neurodegeneration.