It’s clear that chronic stress can impact our behavior, leading to problems like depression, reduced interest in things that previously brought us pleasure, and even PTSD. Now scientists have evidence that a group of neurons in a bow-shaped portion of the brain become hyperactive after chronic exposure to stress. When these POMC neurons become super … Read more
As the US population ages, the number of people receiving long-term services and supports in their own home has grown, including the use of self-directed care. Self-directed care enables long-term care recipients to hire and manage their own workers, rather than using a home care agency. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the strain on this industry. … Read more
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. In the US, it is estimated that someone dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease. Diagnosis for heart disease remains a challenge, as most methods only provide a snapshot of cardiac function, which may not be representative of overall heart health. Improvements in diagnostic technologies could … Read more
Cells zealously protect the integrity of their genomes, because damage can lead to cancer or cell death. The genome -; a cell’s complete set of DNA -; is most vulnerable while it is being duplicated before a cell divides. Cancer cells are constantly dividing, so their genomes are constantly in jeopardy. Researchers at Washington University … Read more
It’s clear that chronic stress can impact our behavior, leading to problems like depression, reduced interest in things that previously brought us pleasure, even PTSD. Now scientists have evidence that a group of neurons in a bow-shaped portion of the brain become hyperactive after chronic exposure to stress. When these POMC neurons become super active, … Read more
The dangers of gaining weight include diabetes and increased blood pressure and so on Cortisol can increase your hunger because it stimulates the release of insulin, which is necessary to keep your blood sugar levels stable. Weight gain could result if you give in to those cravings. In fact, studies suggest that those who are … Read more
A new study published in Science Advances shows female and male hearts respond differently to the stress hormone noradrenaline. The study in mice may have implications for human heart disorders like arrhythmias and heart failure and how different sexes respond to medications. The team built a new type of fluorescence imaging system that allows them … Read more
Tension headaches are no joke. They typically feel like a tight band around the head, and can stem from muscle contractions in the head and neck, stress or even poor posture. Many people take pain medications like acetaminophen and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to relieve symptoms. But overusing them without medical guidance can lead to … Read more
A recent, prospective study of approximately 2,000 older adults in Canada published online this month in the journal Respiratory Medicine found that older adults with asthma were at high risk of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. For older adults with asthma who had experienced depression in the past, the numbers were extremely worrying, with approximately … Read more
Most people remember emotional events, like their wedding day, very clearly, but researchers are not sure how the human brain prioritizes emotional events in memory. In a study published January 16, 2023, by Nature Human Behaviour, Joshua Jacobs, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia Engineering, and his team identified a specific neural mechanism in … Read more
