Bone mineral density decreases less than expected after menopause
Bone mineral density at the femoral neck bone in postmenopausal women decreased by an average of 10% during a 25-year follow-up, according to a new study. Being the world's hitherto longest follow-up of changes in bone mineral density in postmenopaus.....»»
Cat’s meow: Robotic pet boosts mood, behavior and cognition in adults with dementia
Researchers tested the effectiveness of affordable, interactive robotic pet cats to improve mood, behavior and cognition in older adults with mild to moderate dementia. Mood and behavioral symptoms were measured along with cognition using the Mini Me.....»»
Gene crucial to sperm cell production revealed
In mice, the Cdc42 gene is necessary for the correct polarity of Sertoli cells that support sperm production, according to a new study. Findings may accelerate efforts to create a non-invasive diagnostic test for early detection of male infertility......»»
Cancer cells change shape, how they move to invade different types of tissue
Research has shed new light on the way malignant cells change their shape and migration techniques to invade different types of tissue......»»
Flexible device could treat hearing loss without batteries
Some people are born with hearing loss, while others acquire it with age, infections or long-term noise exposures. In many instances, the tiny hairs in the inner ear's cochlea that allow the brain to recognize electrical pulses as sound are damaged......»»
New computer modeling could boost drug discovery
Scientists have developed a computer-aided data tool that could improve treatment for a range of illnesses......»»
Brain connectivity is lower in adults with PTSD or a history of sexual abuse
A study has found that adults with maltreatment-related posttraumatic stress disorder or a history of sexual abuse have lower brain connectivity in the attention systems known as the ventral and dorsal attention network. These networks enable us to s.....»»
Genetic risk of mental health conditions may influence where people choose to live, study suggests
Research on around 386,000 UK adults has found that a high genetic risk for schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, anorexia and autism, is associated with living in and moving to urban areas. In contrast, people.....»»
A gut feeling: Understanding how our gut microbiome communicates with our immune system
An international team of scientists has identified a new connection between certain molecules produced by the microbiome and the function of a protein that impacts gut inflammation......»»
Psychologists create body-maps of hallucinations
Psychologists have created body-maps of the sensations which arise during hallucinations in people experiencing psychosis......»»
Release of chemical dopamine in infant brains may help control early social development
Changing levels of the chemical dopamine, a chemical most associated with motivation, may help explain why stressful experiences during infancy can lead to lasting behavioral issues, a new study shows......»»
Modeling improvements promise increased accuracy for epidemic forecasting
Accurate forecasting of epidemic scenarios is critical to implementing effective public health intervention policies. Researchers used dynamical stochastic modeling techniques to reveal that infection and recovery rate fluctuations play a critical ro.....»»
Brain circuitry for both positive and negative "valence" affected by trauma
Research has revealed that the brain employs distinct circuitries that mediate positive, or rewarding, behaviors and negative, or aversive, ones. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has long been thought to arise from overactivity in the negative v.....»»
Fermented soybeans suppress asthma-induced airway inflammation
Researchers have revealed in an animal model that ImmuBalance, a fermented soybean product, is effective in suppressing airway inflammation caused by asthma. Results showed a decreased presence of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, a decrea.....»»
Unprecedented look at the health status of a diverse patient population
Early results from a landmark, three-year observational study called MIPACT, short for Michigan Predictive Activity & Clinical Trajectories, provide insight into the baseline health status of a representative group of thousands of people......»»
Many new college students report pet separation anxiety
A survey of a sample of new first-year college students leaving pets at home and found that 75% experienced some level of pet separation anxiety -- with one in four reporting moderate to severe symptoms. The students who had higher anxiety tended to.....»»
Dragging your feet? Lack of sleep affects your walk
New research finds periodically catching up on sleep can improve gait control for the chronically sleep-deprived......»»
‘Nanozyme’ therapy prevents harmful dental plaque build-up
FDA-approved iron oxide nanoparticles, delivered in a mouth rinse, can suppress the growth of dental plaque and kill bacteria responsible for tooth decay, according to a new study. The nanoparticles act as enzymes to activate hydrogen peroxide in a w.....»»
Call-and-response circuit tells neurons when to grow synapses
Brain cells called astrocytes play a key role in helping neurons develop and function properly, but there's still a lot scientists don't understand about how astrocytes perform these important jobs. Now, a team of scientists has found one way that ne.....»»
Tiny microscopic hunters could be a crystal ball for climate change
Tiny unicellular creatures called protists could keep greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere by gobbling up bacteria that emit CO2, researchers say. Now, a study finds that a few simple measures of a protist's size and shape can be powerful predictor.....»»