ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

Marijuana use is much more common in US states that have legalized recreational cannabis use

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 01:21 PM PDT

A new study found that rates of cannabis use and daily cannabis use have increased across the U.S., and current cannabis use and daily use are substantially higher among individuals residing in states that have legalized recreational cannabis use. Rates of cannabis use are even higher among Americans 12 and older who smoke cigarettes, and who reside in states with recreational cannabis laws, compared to those who live in states where cannabis was illegal in 2017.

Scientists reveal genetic architecture underlying alcohol, cigarette abuse

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 01:21 PM PDT

Researchers used a new kind of computational tool to parse the complicated genetics that put some people at higher risk of becoming addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, and likely other substances.

Songbird can keep time with the best of them

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 01:21 PM PDT

When it comes to keeping time, an unassuming species of songbird is on a par with professional musicians, according to new research.

Tracking daily movement patterns may one day help predict dementia

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 01:21 PM PDT

Researchers found significant differences in movement patterns between participants with normal cognition and those with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.

Lymphatics help 'seed' early brain cells in zebrafish

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 01:21 PM PDT

A recent article demonstrated how lymphatics -- which remove waste from the rest of the body -- are also associated with microglia and brain development in zebrafish.

Vitamin B6 supplements could reduce anxiety and depression

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 06:12 AM PDT

Trial participants reported feeling less anxious or depressed after taking high doses of Vitamin B6 for a month. The trial provides evidence that the calming effect B6 has on the brain could make it effective in preventing or treating mood disorders.

Discovery advancing epilepsy research

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 03:10 PM PDT

A team of researchers has found a link between a specific protein in the brain and increased vulnerability to neurodegeneration for individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Discovery of molecular signatures of immature neurons in human brain throughout life provide insights into brain plasticity

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 03:10 PM PDT

Researchers have used advanced techniques to show that, in a key memory region of the brain called the hippocampus, immature, plastic neurons are present in significant numbers throughout the human lifespan. The findings may resolve a long-running controversy over the existence of 'adult neurogenesis'-- the production of new immature neurons in the mature human brain. The discovery also paves the way for the deeper study of adult neurogenesis and its roles in memory, mood, behavior, and brain disorders.

Loss of 'youth' protein may drive aging in the eye

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 03:09 PM PDT

Loss of the protein pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), which protects retinal support cells, may drive age-related changes in the retina, according to a new study.

Scientists reveal new evidence of key mechanism in Alzheimer's

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 06:45 AM PDT

Rutgers scientists have found more clear-cut evidence of how the destructive proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease attack human brain cells and destroy surrounding tissue.

Air pollution caused 2,780 deaths, illnesses, and IQ loss in children in Massachusetts in 2019

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 06:44 AM PDT

Air pollution, climate change, and public health are closely linked, as a new study shows. The report details on a town-by-town basis the deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution in Massachusetts, and also outlines steps to curb fine particulate pollutants. Nationally, the study offers a model that can be followed by other states using public data and open-source software, according to a public health expert and practitioner.

Alzheimer's breakthrough: Genetic link to gut disorders confirmed

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 06:44 AM PDT

People with gut disorders may be at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. A new study has confirmed the link between the two, which could lead to earlier detection and new potential treatments.

Neuronal cell type for controlling the flow of information in the brain

Posted: 15 Jul 2022 07:58 AM PDT

Researchers have identified specific cells that regulate the transmission of information between brain areas. This discovery forms the basis for the development of new treatment options for neuropsychiatric disorders which are characterized by impaired coordination of information flow in the brain.

Increased use of videoconferencing apps during COVID-19 pandemic led to more fatigue among workers, study finds

Posted: 15 Jul 2022 07:57 AM PDT

Researchers in Singapore have found that the increased use of videoconferencing platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a higher level of fatigue, as reported by workers.

Nonopioid pain prescriptions increased after 2016 CDC guideline, study finds

Posted: 15 Jul 2022 05:50 AM PDT

After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a guideline for prescribing opioids to patients experiencing chronic pain in 2016, the prescribing rate of non-opioid pain medication increased each year above and beyond what would be expected based on the preexisting trends, a new study finds. Researchers say the findings suggest more clinicians are carefully considering the risks of prescribing opioids.

Study focuses on improving cognitive symptoms of lupus

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 07:30 AM PDT

A new study finds that technology through video game-based cognitive therapy improves attention and executive functioning in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

New antibody therapy shows promising phase I clinical trial results for advanced, treatment-refractory pediatric brain cancer

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 07:30 AM PDT

In a phase I safety clinical trial, 15 children with relapsed or refractory medulloblastomas that did not respond to other treatments received different doses of an antibody called TB-403, which targets a protein expressed in these cancers. Although treatment was safe, there were no tumor regressions. However, most of the patients experienced stabilization of their disease -- i.e., stoppage of progression -- which persisted for more than 100 days in four patients.

Fewer relapses in multiple sclerosis with off-label drug, study finds

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 05:13 PM PDT

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with the drug rituximab had a significantly lower risk of relapse compared with MS patients receiving standard treatment, according to results from a phase 3 clinical trial in Sweden.

Abortion ban may mean denial of effective drugs for women with MS, migraine, epilepsy

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 01:33 PM PDT

The dissolution of Roe v. Wade is expected to lead to abortion bans or severe restrictions in as many as 28 states. These new restrictions may have life-changing and even life-threatening consequences in these states for women of childbearing age with conditions like migraine, multiple sclerosis (MS) and epilepsy.

New chemical biological tools to monitor Parkinson's disease

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 12:28 PM PDT

Researchers are a step closer to understanding how Parkinson's disease develops and progresses thanks to chemical biological tools.

AI analyses neuron changes to detect whether drugs are effective for neurodegenerative disease patients

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:46 AM PDT

New technology may aid in the discovery of therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disorders such as Kennedy disease.