FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·July 19, 2022·6 min readA Genetic Architecture Underlying Alcohol and Cigarette AbuseGenes associated with alcohol and smoking addiction are over-represented in specific neurons, a new study reports. Researchers found genes associated with smoking were also linked to pain perception and food response while genes linked to alcohol addiction were associated with stress and learning.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·July 13, 2021·5 min readA Variety of Factors Beyond Age Influence Reaction TimeA new study reveals a number of different factors, including smoking, age, education levels, sex, handedness, and family medical history, which can have an impact on reaction time.Read More
FeaturedPsychology·April 5, 2017·3 min readAddictive Nut’s Derivatives Could Help Smokers Break the Nicotine HabitCompound derived from the areca nut could help people to quit smoking, a new study reports.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 28, 2023·4 min readAdult Smokers With Mental Illness Consume the Most Caffeine in the U.SNot only do adult smokers with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder consume the most caffeine, but they are also most at risk of adverse health effects.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 29, 2020·3 min readAge, sex and smoking influence opioid receptor function in the brainAge, sex, and gender influence the organization of the brain's opioid system. Findings shed light on why there are significant differences between the opioid system on an individual level, and why some are more prone to developing opioid-linked pathologies than others.Read More
FeaturedNeurology·July 28, 2015·4 min readAlzheimer’s Disease Could be Predicted by Specific Cardiovascular Risk FactorsResearchers focus on gray matter volume on three areas of the brain. Findings suggest cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and diabetes could be early indicators for Alzheimer's disease.Read More
FeaturedOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·February 18, 2016·5 min readAlzheimer’s Drug Could Help Smokers QuitAccording to a new study, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors commonly used to help treat Alzheimer's disease appear to help smokers reduce cigarette consumption.Read More
FeaturedPsychology·April 24, 2013·3 min readAnti-Smoking Ads with Strong Arguments, Not Flashy Editing, Trigger Part of Brain That Changes BehaviorResearchers discovered a part of the brain involved in future behavioral changes, the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, had greater activation when smokers were exposed to anti-smoking messages with stronger arguments as opposed to weaker arguments.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·September 8, 2024·4 min readAre Smokers Really Less Likely to Develop Parkinson’s?Low doses of carbon monoxide, similar to levels experienced by smokers, can protect against neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease models. Researchers discovered that carbon monoxide reduced the accumulation of the Parkinson’s-associated protein alpha-synuclein and activated pathways that limit oxidative stress.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·December 5, 2025·5 min readAstrocytes Found to Drive Key Brain Changes in Nicotine AddictionNew research shows that astrocytes play an active role in nicotine-induced brain changes, challenging the long-held neuron-centered view of addiction. Nicotine stimulates receptors on astrocytes, triggering signaling cascades that boost glutamine synthetase activity and amplify glutamate-related pathways.Read More
FeaturedPsychology·October 30, 2018·3 min readBehavioral Risk Factors for Depression Vary with AgeAccording to a new study, certain behavioral risk factors strongly predict the likelihood of a person developing depression, and these risk factors change as we age.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 27, 2022·2 min readBeing Lonely and Unhappy Accelerates Aging More Than SmokingLoneliness, restless sleep, and unhappiness have a significant effect on biological aging, a new study reports.Read More