ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News


More than 1.5 million children lost a primary or secondary caregiver due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 03:58 PM PDT

More than 1.5 million children around the world are estimated to have lost at least one parent, custodial grandparent, or grandparent who lived with them due to death related to COVID-19 during the first 14 months of the pandemic, according to a new study.

Unleashing Treg cells may lead to treatments for multiple sclerosis

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 10:52 AM PDT

In a new study, researchers found that a certain protein prevented regulatory T cells (Tregs) from effectively doing their job in controlling the damaging effects of inflammation in a model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a devastating autoimmune disease of the nervous system.

'Springing forward' affects early birds less than night owls

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 10:52 AM PDT

Every spring, the Daylight Saving Time shift robs people of an hour of sleep - and a new study shows that DNA plays a role in how much the time change affects individuals. People whose genetic profile makes them more likely to be 'early birds' can adjust to the time change in a few days. But those who tend to be 'night owls' could take more than a week to get back on track.

Spinal fluid biomarkers detect neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease in living patients

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of neurodegeneration can be identified using a combination of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid of living patients, researchers find.

Study finds surprising source of social influence

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

New research found that social influencers are unlikely to change a person's behavior by example. To stimulate a shift in people's thinking, target small groups of people in the outer edge or fringe of a network.

Untrained beer drinkers can taste different barley genotypes

Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT

When it comes to craft beer, the flavor doesn't have to be all in the hops. As a panel of amateur beer tasters at Washington State University recently demonstrated, malted barley, the number one ingredient in beer besides water, can have a range of desirable flavors too.