Memory Helps Us Make ‘In the Moment’ Decisions
Razi Berry Scientists have long known the brain’s hippocampus is crucial for long-term memory. Now a new Northwestern Medicine study has found the hippocampus also plays a role in short-term memory and helps guide decision-making. The findings shed light on how the hippocampus contributes to memory and exploration, potentially leading to therapies that restore hippocampal […]
Giving C-Section Babies Healthy Bacteria
Razi Berry Babies born by cesarean section don’t have the same healthy bacteria as those born vaginally, but a Rutgers-led study for the first time finds that these natural bacteria can be restored. The study appears in the journal Med. The human microbiota consists of trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms — some […]
The Importance of Childhood Exercise
Razi Berry A research group including Professor MATSUDA Tetsuya of Tamagawa University’s Brain Science Institute (Machida City, Tokyo; Director: SAKAGAMI Masamichi) and Assistant Professor ISHIHARA Toru from Kobe University’s Graduate School of Human Development and Environment has illuminated the changes in the brain’s neural network and cortex structure that underlie the positive association between childhood […]
Out-of-Pocket Cost for Having a Baby
Razi Berry The price tag for giving birth in America may bring some families sticker shock — even for those with private insurance. And when delivering moms require caesarians or their newborns need neonatal care, some families may spend as much as $10,000 out-of-pocket, according to a new Michigan Medicine-led study. “Childbirth is the most […]
Factors that Lead to Loss of Self-Control
Razi Berry Joining a club that sparks a new interest, playing a new intramural sport or finding a new group of friends may be just as indicative of a college freshman’s loss of self-control as drinking or drug use, according to new research at West Virginia University. Self-control — the ability to exercise personal restraint, […]
Study Suggests Zinc May Impact Kidney Stones in Conflicting Ways
Razi Berry A funny thing happened on the way to discovering how zinc impacts kidney stones — two different theories emerged, each contradicting the other. One: Zinc stops the growth of the calcium oxalate crystals that make up the stones; and two: It alters the surfaces of crystals which encourages further growth. Now it can […]
More Research on Healthy Bacteria’s Clinical Use in Ulcerative Colitis
Razi Berry A new study published in Nature Communications demonstrates that a consortium of bacteria designed to complement missing or underrepresented functions in the imbalanced microbiome of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, prevented and treated chronic immune-mediated colitis in humanized mouse models. The study’s senior author, Balfour Sartor, MD, Midget Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology […]
Caffeine Not the Best for Fighting Sleep Deprivation
Razi Berry Rough night of sleep? Relying on caffeine to get you through the day isn’t always the answer, says a new study from Michigan State University. Researchers from MSU’s Sleep and Learning Lab, led by psychology associate professor Kimberly Fenn, assessed how effective caffeine was in counteracting the negative effects of sleep deprivation on […]
New Plant Sterol May Lessen Anxiety
Razi Berry A natural food supplement reduces anxiety in mice, according to a new Weizmann Institute of Science study. The plant-derived substance, beta-sitosterol, was found to produce this effect both on its own and in synergic combination with an antidepressant known under the brand name Prozac. If these findings, published today in Cell Reports Medicine, […]
Worsening Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease Could be Due to Secondary Infections
Razi Berry New research into Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suggests that secondary infections and new inflammatory events amplify the brain’s immune response and affect memory in mice and in humans — even when these secondary events occur outside the brain. Scientists believe that key brain cells (astrocytes and microglia) are already in an active state due […]