Nick Lavars Though it is already administered in off-label doses at clinics across the US for its rapid anti-depressant effects and, significantly, was approved in nasal spray form by the FDA last month, there remains a lot to learn about ketamine and its close chemical relatives. A new study has shed more light on how it can stave off...
Tag: <span>brain</span>
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Do these 5 things now to keep your brain healthy as you age
It’s not uncommon for people in their 30s to notice a little forgetfulness or to have difficulty finding a particular word they want to use. That’s a part of normal aging. Most of the brain stops growing neurons in our mid-20s. What does continue to grow is the portion of the brain that controls memory, as well as the...
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Novel 5-minute workout improves blood pressure, may boost brain function
by Lisa Marshall, University of Colorado at Boulder Could working out five minutes a day, without lifting a single weight or jogging a single step, reduce your heart attack risk, help you think more clearly and boost your sports performance? Preliminary results from a clinical trial of Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST), presented this week at the Experimental...
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How the brain fights off fears that return to haunt us
by University of Texas at Austin Neuroscientists at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered a group of cells in the brain that are responsible when a frightening memory re-emerges unexpectedly, like Michael Myers in every “Halloween” movie. The finding could lead to new recommendations about when and how often certain therapies are deployed for the treatment...
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Scientists find brain mechanism that naturally combats overeating
by Rockefeller University Food is, generally speaking, a good thing. In addition to being quite tasty, it is also necessary for survival. That’s why animals have evolved robust physiological systems that attract them to food and keep them coming back for more. Now, research in mice reveals the existence of brain cells that have the opposite effect, curbing an animal’s...
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Cholesterol-lowering drugs guard against brain haemorrhages
The drugs statins, which are used to prevent cardiovascular diseases, also guard against brain haemorrhages; this is the conclusion from a new Danish study, the most extensive ever, which thus also rebuffs suspicions of the opposite being true AARHUS UNIVERSITY The drugs statins, which are used to prevent cardiovascular diseases, also guard against brain haemorrhages. This is the conclusion of most extensive study ever carried out, which...
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Immune profile two days after stroke predicts dementia a year later
Stanford researchers have found that transient changes in the numbers and activation levels of a handful of circulating immune cell types can predict the likelihood of dementia one year after a stroke. A pattern of inflammatory activity in circulating blood cells two days aftera stroke strongly predicts the likelihood of losing substantial mental acuity one year later, investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine report in a new study. The findings, based...
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Biomedical Beat Blog – National Institute of General Medical Sciences – 5 good fats
On this day, celebrated in many countries with lavish parties and high-fat foods, we’re recognizing the importance of fats in the body. You’ve probably heard about different types of fat, such as saturated, trans, monounsaturated, omega-3, and omega-6. But fats aren’t just ingredients in food. Along with similar molecules, they fall under the broad term...
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Not all sleep is equal when it comes to cleaning the brain
New research shows how the depth of sleep can impact our brain’s ability to efficiently wash away waste and toxic proteins. Because sleep often becomes increasingly lighter and more disrupted as we become older, the study reinforces and potentially explains the links between aging, sleep deprivation, and heightened risk for Alzheimer’s disease. “Sleep is critical...
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New drug that turns back the clock on memory loss from depression and aging makes the brain ‘youthful’ again – and it is set for human trials
Scientists at Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health have developed a new drug to reverse memory loss related to aging and depression Currently, there are no drugs to treat memory loss from aging and depression The drug is a ‘tweaked’ version of compounds that treat depression and anxiety Aging mice saw improved significantly improved memory on the drug It may help treat the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease Human trials are set to begin in about two years, the researchers announced...