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Space week day 1: Brain health in space - stress and inflammation.

Space week day 1: Brain health in space - stress and inflammation.

Spaceflight poses a wide range of brain health challenges for astronauts, extending far beyond the obvious dangers of venturing into space - to advance human exploration (Thx!). The effects on the central nervous system of being that far away from home are profound, leading to changes in brain function and

Theme Food IV: How your personality traits determine how much you eat

Theme Food IV: How your personality traits determine how much you eat

Some people try to shed weight by limiting food intake, a behavior referred to as "restrained eating." But are restrained eaters self-restrained in other aspects of life? While often seen as a sign of disordered eating, research shows that restrained eating is not inherently harmful. When practiced within

Theme Food III: Short-term fasting doesn’t hurt brain power

Theme Food III: Short-term fasting doesn’t hurt brain power

My dad always stressed the importance of eating breakfast before school, insisting that an empty stomach would “dull my brain and make learning much harder.” I dutifully ate my oats—but was he right? There are two main theories about how fasting could affect the brain. One hypothesis suggests that

Theme Food II: Brain changes in eating disorders

Theme Food II: Brain changes in eating disorders

Understanding how brain structure and function are altered in eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, is essential for advancing and improving treatment strategies. A recent study offers the first comparative analysis using advanced MR imaging to compare brain structure and function in women with these eating disorders

Theme Food I: How energy molecules affect aging brains

Theme Food I: How energy molecules affect aging brains

Scientists are searching to uncover how molecules related to our energy production in the body may influence brain health as we age. What is healthy for our brains? In human energy production, ketone bodies, pyruvate, and citrate are vital for the delivery of energy to the cells in our body

Brain changes in obesity - and after surgery for obesity

Brain changes in obesity - and after surgery for obesity

Obesity is a widespread health challenge. It is less commonly known that obesity also affects the brain, leading to reduced cognitive function and executive abilities. The interplay between obesity and brain health stems from various factors. Neuroinflammation, vascular abnormalities, and increased metabolic stress on the brain cells are just some

Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease: M4 receptors (warning: nerdy stuff ahead)

Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease: M4 receptors (warning: nerdy stuff ahead)

The cardinal movement symptoms, stiffness, and tremor in Parkinson’s disease are caused by the gradual loss of neurons producing dopamine in a deep seated part of the brain called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is essential for coordinating movement, and its loss disrupts the striatum, another deep brain region responsible