Study implicates C4, an immune system gene, in schizophrenia pathogenesis.
Patients who experience substantial changes in blood pressure over time have an increased risk of developing dementia.
A systematic review of medical literature reveals schizophrenia is overall less common than previously thought. Researchers say the 0.5% estimate for lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia, often reported in textbooks, is significantly overestimated. Additional findings from the review were that schizophrenia is more prevalent in developed countries than poorer countries, and immigrants have higher rates of schizophrenia diagnoses than native-born people.
Poor air quality has been linked to higher rates of bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Exposure to air pollution during the first ten years of like is also associated with a more than two-fold increased risk of schizophrenia and personality disorders.
For those with a genetic predisposition to obesity, partaking in six specific types of exercise can help combat weight gain. Jogging, yoga, power walking, certain types of dancing and mountain climbing can help reduce BMI in those with a predisposition to obesity. Surprisingly, cycling, swimming, and games like Dance Dance Revolution did not counteract the genetic effects on obesity.
People stop gathering information earlier when it supports the conclusion they wish is true than when it supports an undesirable conclusion.
Rodent study reveals noise-induced hearing loss is associated with elevated expression of proinflammatory cytokines and microglia activation in the primary auditory cortex. Pharmacologically depleting microglia helps prevent tinnitus in mice with noise-induced hearing loss.
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.
Women have better cognitive performance when in higher temperature environments. Researchers found women performed better on verbal and math tests when the room temperature is warmer, while male performance peaks in colder room climates.
3D images show how a baby's brain and skull change shape during labor and delivery.
A new mathematical model can predict how the brain reacts when learning a rhythmic beat. The model shows how a neural network can act as a 'neural metronome' by estimating time intervals between beats within tens of milliseconds. The metronome relies on gamma oscillations to keep track of time.
Living alone is associated with an increased risk of developing common mental disorders, such as depression.
