Living with purpose may protect your brain from dementia
Research into Blue Zones — regions of the world where people tend to live longer — shows that having a sense of purpose in life may help people live longer.…
Metformin’s secret brain pathway revealed after 60 years
Although metformin has been the go-to medication to manage type 2 diabetes for more than 60 years, researchers still do not have a complete picture of how it works. Scientists…
Smog in the brain: Dirty air speeds Alzheimer’s decline
Exposure to high concentrations of air pollution may worsen Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by accelerating the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain and speeding up cognitive decline. For the first…
Scientists watch Parkinson’s protein drill holes in brain cells
A toxic protein forms dynamic pores in the membranes of brain cells – and that may be the key to understanding how Parkinson’s disease develops. This is the conclusion of…
Scientists just found a protein that reverses brain aging
Aging is particularly harsh on the hippocampus — the brain region responsible for learning and memory. Now, researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a protein that’s at the center…
The surprising brain chemistry behind instant friendships
A new UC Berkeley study shows that the so-called love hormone, oxytocin, is also critical for the formation of friendships. Oxytocin is released in the brain during sex, childbirth, breastfeeding…
The hidden ways light at night damages your brain, mood, and metabolism
In a comprehensive Genomic Press Innovators & Ideas interview published today, distinguished neuroscientist Dr. Randy J. Nelson shares insights from his pioneering research on how disrupted circadian rhythms affect brain…
Two Japanese boxers die after suffering brain injuries on same fight card
Showtime Japanese boxers Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa have died following injuries sustained on the same card, though in different fights, on Aug. 2. Kotari, 28, battled to a draw…
Scientists crack the mystery of brain cell clumps, and make them vanish
Look inside a brain cell with Huntington’s disease or ALS and you are likely to find RNA clumped together. These solid-like clusters, thought to be irreversible, can act as sponges…
Scientists find brain cell switch that could reverse obesity’s effects
Researchers show astrocytes can be tuned to reverse some obesity-driven brain and metabolic changes, revealing untapped therapeutic potential. Credit: Shutterstock Fatty diets and obesity affect the structure and function of…