Search

New research has provided hope for treating tinnitus and reversing some types of deafness. Tinnitus, a condition characterized by phantom sounds, affects up to a quarter of older adults and can be intrusive and distressing. Recent studies have revealed a link between tinnitus and hearing loss, suggesting that treatments for tinnitus could also restore hearing in those with age-related hearing loss. Neurostimulation devices and potential drug therapies are being developed to reduce the volume of tinnitus and promote the regrowth of damaged cochlear nerves. While these treatments are still in development, current strategies focus on helping individuals learn to live with tinnitus through talking therapies. It is important to protect hearing by avoiding excessive noise exposure and using ear protection in loud environments. [Extracted from the article]

This article from New Scientist provides a comprehensive exploration of various aspects of the human brain. It debunks the misconception that we only use 10% of our brains and highlights that the brain is always active, even when we are not consciously thinking. The article also discusses the energy consumption of the brain and how thinking hard burns more energy in certain regions. It examines the question of whether male and female brains are different, suggesting that societal factors may influence any small differences observed. Furthermore, the article delves into the concept of the brain having its own microbiome, with recent research suggesting a link between an imbalance in the "brain microbiome" and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The complexity of the human brain is explored, with recent discoveries revealing unique brain cells and thousands of different cell types. The article also discusses the brain's performance, the nature of consciousness, the advantages of prolonged adolescence, the role of reward centers in the adolescent brain, creativity, and the function of forgetting. While the complexity of the human brain is difficult to measure and compare to other systems, it is not necessarily the most complex object in the universe. [Extracted from the article]

The article explores the growing trend of monitoring glucose levels in order to improve health. While glucose monitoring has traditionally been associated with diabetes management, some companies now offer continuous glucose monitors to individuals without diabetes as part of personalized nutrition advice. The idea is to reduce glucose spikes after eating, which is believed to aid in weight loss and improve mood, energy levels, and sleep. However, the article highlights that the evidence regarding the health effects of glucose spikes in individuals without diabetes is still unclear. Additionally, there are concerns that focusing solely on blood sugar levels may overshadow other important risk factors for health. The article suggests that glucose monitors may be more useful in identifying individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes who may not receive regular check-ups. [Extracted from the article]

But evidence for the latter comes from experiments in mice showing that they start to gain weight and develop gut inflammation after receiving transplants of gut microbes from people with obesity and inflammatory bowel disease respectively. "Despite the growing science linking the gut microbiome and the chemicals it produces with dozens of health outcomes, what defines an optimum or "healthy" gut microbiome is still not absolutely clear", says Tim Spector at King's College London, who is a co-founder of personalised nutrition company ZOE. He and his team have also shown that, in mice susceptible to Alzheimer's-like disease, those without a gut microbiome have fewer of the disease's characteristic protein clumps and tangles in their brains than those with gut microbes. A 2018 study found that, in vaginally born babies, bacteria from the mother's vagina are found in the baby's gut for only a few days, while the mother's gut bacteria continued colonising the baby's gut for months after the birth. [Extracted from the article]

On being effectively told to act on a whim, people might be interpreting a higher level of unconscious brain activity as their cue to press the button, says Kevin Mitchell, a geneticist and neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Features SUPPOSE you approach a fruit bowl overflowing with apples, oranges and bananas, all perfectly ripe. In fact, the latest argument against free will comes from Robert Sapolsky, a neuroscientist at Stanford University in California. [Extracted from the article]

Rethinking reductionism For Mitchell, it is a mistake to think we can always reduce complex systems to their component parts and consider causation in nervous systems, say, at the level of their atoms. On being effectively told to act on a whim, people might be interpreting a higher level of unconscious brain activity as their cue to press the button, says Kevin Mitchell, a geneticist and neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Features SUPPOSE you approach a fruit bowl overflowing with apples, oranges and bananas, all perfectly ripe. [Extracted from the article]

The impact of this new class of medicines could be unprecedented - potentially bringing to an end the world's growing obesity epidemic. Features THERE are TikTok hashtags with millions of followers, endless column inches over celebrities' waistlines and streams of media coverage when trial results come out. Drugs like Wegovy dampen activity in these neurons, which helps explain why people avoid the normal hunger response to weight loss if they are taking these medicines, says Schwartz. The funding question is mired in longstanding societal judgements about fatness and the use of weight-loss drugs, in a way that doesn't happen for people who need other lifelong medication, says Paul Gately at Leeds Beckett University in the UK, who runs an obesity clinic. [Extracted from the article]

A group of doctors and scientists are challenging the mainstream medical view by suggesting that food addiction is a real condition that should be treated with abstinence. While the concept of food addiction is not new, it is controversial and not widely accepted. Some argue that certain foods, particularly ultra-processed foods, can trigger addictive behaviors similar to drugs. However, there is debate over what foods should be classified as addictive and whether all processed foods are harmful. The idea of abstaining from trigger foods goes against traditional healthy eating advice, which promotes moderation. While there is limited evidence, a recent study suggests that abstention may help reduce food binging and aid in weight loss. The debate over food addiction and the best approach to manage overeating continues within the medical community. [Extracted from the article]

But as the price of DNA sequencing fell, there was nothing to stop firms like US personal genomics giant 23andMe adding polygenic scores to their single-gene health tests. Features IT SOUNDS too good to be true: a medical test that can detect diseases you may develop decades from now. Founder Lasse Folkersen says he started the site because some firms sell genetic tests that claim to provide useful medical information when, in fact, they only analyse no more than a few genes for each trait. Instead, some firms, including one called Genomic Prediction, carry out polygenic screening on the embryos to see which has the lowest risk of certain medical conditions. [Extracted from the article]

Intriguingly, some SSRIs and other antidepressant medicines seem to suppress inflammation. This would explain why medications and talking therapies often work best together: the antidepressants make the brain more neuroplastic, while the person learns more helpful thought patterns. His idea to test ketamine as an antidepressant came from work showing that other drugs that bind to the normal receptors for glutamate seemed to reduce low mood in animals. Depression is one of the biggest medical problems facing societies worldwide, treatments have long been controversial and here was research showing that Prozac and other common antidepressants are based on a defunct hypothesis about what causes the condition. [Extracted from the article]

Random brain-wiring events might be shaping us well beyond childhood This new way of understanding brain development may split opinions. It is also highly laborious, requiring brain tissue to be turned into thousands of ultrathin slices, so has mainly been used to study animals with very small brains, like worms and fruit flies, as well as parts of the mouse brain. De Bivort hopes more insights will come from studies of mini-brains, tiny balls of neural tissue grown in the lab that replicate some aspects of fetal brain structure. Alternatively, if more powerful yet non-destructive brain-scanning techniques become available one day, they could be used on newborn identical twins to look at structural differences between the neuronal networks in their brains. [Extracted from the article]

A new rehabilitation therapy for stroke patients has shown promise in improving arm function. The treatment involves using electrical stimulation of muscles while patients exercise, which encourages nerve pathways to regrow in the brain. In a small trial, participants who received the timed treatment saw an average improvement of 20 points on a 66-point scale, compared to a three-point improvement in the control group. While the therapy was most effective for those with more recent strokes, further research is needed to optimize its use. [Extracted from the article]

A medicine called artemisinin, commonly used to treat malaria, has shown promise as a potential treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a condition characterized by hormone imbalances, including excess testosterone production by the ovaries, leading to symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, acne, and excess body hair. In a study conducted by researchers at Fudan University in Shanghai, artemisinin was found to reduce testosterone levels and improve menstrual regularity in women with PCOS. The drug may work by improving insulin sensitivity, although further research is needed to confirm these findings. [Extracted from the article]

The creation of the first "space-omics" biobank, called the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA), is expected to shed light on the effects of space travel on astronauts' health. The biobank contains thousands of blood and tissue samples, along with medical information, collected from multiple missions, including trips to the International Space Station and the Inspiration4 civilian space flight. Space flight is known to have certain health risks, such as bone density and muscle mass loss, DNA damage, and changes in gene activity and immune system functioning. The SOMA biobank will help researchers understand these changes and potentially develop ways to mitigate them. The results from the Inspiration4 mission suggest that sending civilians into space does not pose more health risks than sending professional astronauts, and the changes in gene activity returned to normal faster in women, possibly due to their ability to cope with potential pregnancy. The creation of a common resource like the SOMA biobank will be helpful for researchers worldwide, especially as longer missions, such as journeys to Mars, become more common. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study has found that approximately 1 in 3 people who stop taking antidepressants experience mental and physical symptoms, although these symptoms can also occur after discontinuing a placebo. Antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are commonly prescribed for various mental health conditions. However, concerns have been raised about their overuse and the difficulty some individuals face when trying to stop taking them due to withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be physical or mental and may be mistaken for a return of the original medical condition. The study suggests that doctors should inform patients about the risk of discontinuation symptoms before starting antidepressant treatment. However, it is important for doctors to avoid creating negative expectations in patients. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study suggests that the bacteria responsible for tetanus may be linked to Parkinson's disease. Researchers found that individuals who had recently received a tetanus vaccine were half as likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson's. The protective effect was stronger in those who had received the vaccine more recently, with no cases of Parkinson's occurring within two years of vaccination. While the exact cause of Parkinson's is still unknown, this study raises the possibility that tetanus vaccines could potentially prevent or treat the disease. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by Timothy Powell and his colleagues at King's College London has found a potential link between ancient viruses embedded in human DNA and mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. These viruses, known as human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), were previously thought to be dormant "fossil viruses," but the study suggests that some of the viral genes may be active and could play a role in neurological conditions. The study found that certain genetic variants associated with these mental health conditions were associated with altered activity of genes from five different HERVs. However, the researchers caution that they do not yet fully understand the implications of these findings. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted in Finland suggests that mental health conditions may be "transmitted" between classmates. The study tracked the school and health records of over 700,000 Finnish children and found that if one person in a class had a mental health condition, there was a 9% higher chance that their classmates would also develop one. The effects were stronger for specific conditions like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. However, it is important to note that this study only shows correlations and not causation. The findings may help us better understand the mechanisms behind the rising rates of mental health conditions among young people. [Extracted from the article]

A recent analysis of sperm whale calls suggests that they may be the closest thing to human language yet discovered. Sperm whales have complex social lives and use echolocation to hunt prey, emitting streams of regular clicks. Researchers found that the whales use a variety of click patterns, known as codas, which can be combined and modified to create a wide range of meanings. This suggests that sperm whales have the capacity for communication and may possess a unique form of non-human language. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study has found that the nasal flu vaccine given to children can temporarily increase the number of pneumonia-causing bacteria in their noses and the noses of their household members. However, this does not necessarily lead to more cases of pneumonia. In fact, vaccinating children could potentially reduce pneumonia cases during flu season because they would be less likely to catch and spread the flu. The live, weakened virus in the nasal vaccine seems to affect the immune system's ability to control bacteria in the nose. While the study's findings are interesting, it is too early to change health advice based on this research. [Extracted from the article]

A large study has found that access to the internet is associated with better well-being worldwide, contradicting concerns that smartphones have led to mental health issues. The study analyzed data from over 2 million people in 168 countries between 2006 and 2021 and found that people with internet access were more likely to have higher levels of well-being. However, the study did not prove that internet access directly increases happiness, and concerns about the negative impacts of social media on younger people were not fully addressed. The findings suggest that the internet can have positive effects, but further research is needed to fully understand its impact. [Extracted from the article]

A new study suggests that the level of protection against measles provided by the MMR vaccine may decline slightly each year, although it remains highly effective overall. This could explain why some people who have received two doses of the vaccine still contract measles. The research analyzed measles cases in the UK and used mathematical models to compare lifelong immunity with immunity that slowly wanes over time. While the decline in protection is small, it may lead to transmission in some vaccinated individuals. However, more studies are needed before recommending a third MMR vaccination. [Extracted from the article]

Getting angry, even for a short period of time, can affect the functioning of blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This finding may explain why some people experience these events during emotional outbursts. A study conducted by researchers at Columbia University found that individuals who were asked to think and speak about a recent event that made them angry experienced a decrease in blood vessel dilation capacity for about 40 minutes. This suggests that intense emotions could contribute to cardiac events in individuals with poor health. However, it may be challenging for individuals to control their anger effectively. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the book "Magic Pill" by Johann Hari, which explores the benefits and risks of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. Despite Hari's controversial past, the author found the book engaging and informative. Hari shares his personal experiences with weight and the side effects of Ozempic, as well as delving into the discovery and workings of these drugs. The book also examines Japan's approach to preventing obesity and raises concerns about potential abuse and exaggerated scientific claims. Overall, the article recommends the book for those interested in weight-loss drugs or their broader impact on global health. [Extracted from the article]

Two medications typically used to treat opioid addiction, nalmefene and naltrexone, have shown promise in treating compulsive gambling. This suggests that there may be similar brain circuits involved in behavioral addictions as those involved in drug addiction. While talking therapy is the usual treatment for gambling addiction, it does not work for everyone. Randomized trials have found that nalmefene and naltrexone were the most effective medications for gambling addiction, although side effects may cause some individuals to stop taking them. Further large-scale clinical trials are needed to explore treatment options for gambling disorder. [Extracted from the article]

Why is the Yanomami's gut microbiome so different? There is currently a lot of interest in the idea of gut "rewilding", but would the bacteria found in Yanomami guts thrive on a Western diet? Maybe the answer is looking at the metabolic outputs that the microbes are producing, including the short-chain fatty acids that I mentioned earlier, but also considering the many other as-yet unexplored compounds that beneficial gut bacteria make in response to diet. Features THE Yanomami people, based in the Amazon rainforest of southern Venezuela and northern Brazil, are one of the last Indigenous groups in the region that still live by hunter-gathering and small-scale farming. [Extracted from the article]

Lab-made "mini-brains" are transforming our understanding of the most mysterious organ. Just how lifelike are they going to get, asks Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent analysis suggests that the genetic mutation responsible for Huntington's disease, a debilitating brain condition, may also be linked to higher intelligence in childhood and early adulthood. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the genetics of intelligence and could have implications for the treatment of Huntington's. The mutation affects a gene called huntingtin, which produces a protein in the brain. While it is not yet fully understood how the mutated form of the gene causes symptoms, recent evidence suggests that it may alter brain development, leading to higher IQ in early life. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the full implications. [Extracted from the article]

A recent trial conducted by Sanna Nybacka and her colleagues at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that two types of diets are more effective than medication in managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The trial involved 300 participants, and it was discovered that 76% of those on a low FODMAP diet, which restricts certain sugars and carbohydrates, reported a reduction in symptoms after four weeks. This was compared to 71% of those on an adapted low-carb diet and 58% of those taking medication for their symptoms. The study suggests that diet changes may be a more beneficial approach to managing IBS symptoms than relying solely on medication. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh suggests that using unrelated muscles to operate a bionic hand may result in better control. The researchers had 40 able-bodied individuals undergo training with the i-LIMB Quantum Hand prosthesis, with their real hand immobilized. Participants who used unrelated muscle movements, such as those used to hold up a finger, took longer to learn how to control the hand but appeared to be more adept at using it for new tasks. This finding could potentially lead to improved designs for prosthetic hands. [Extracted from the article]

A recent trial has shown that testing all possible drugs on mini versions of a person's tumor, grown in the lab, could revolutionize cancer therapy. This technique, known as drug sensitivity testing, has been used in a trial with children with advanced cancer and may have helped them live longer than with the standard approach. By testing over 100 different cancer drugs or combinations of drugs on thousands of clumps of cells, doctors can determine the most effective treatment. This approach could potentially be used for all cancer patients in the future. [Extracted from the article]

A new report suggests that combining a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) with an MRI scan of the prostate could improve the accuracy of prostate cancer screening. The PSA test alone is unreliable, leading to unnecessary treatments for some men. The report recommends using the dual test only for those at high risk of the tumor, such as Black men, those with a family history of prostate cancer, and men with mutations in the BRCA genes. The current situation results in men with lower risk levels receiving too many PSA tests, while those at higher risk receive fewer or none at all. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study in mice suggests that Alzheimer's disease may be transmissible through medical procedures such as bone marrow transplants. The mainstream view is that Alzheimer's is caused by a build-up of proteins in the brain, but this controversial idea posits that these proteins can be passed from one person to another. However, critics argue that more research is needed to definitively prove this route of transmission. While the study is not conclusive, it adds to the ongoing investigation into whether Alzheimer's can be transmitted. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study suggests that CRISPR gene editing could potentially be used to cure HIV. The strategy involves using CRISPR to introduce errors into the viral genetic material within immune cells, effectively disabling the virus. While current HIV treatments can control the virus, they do not eliminate it from the body. The researchers have shown promising results in human immune cells, but further trials in animals and humans are needed to determine if the treatment can reach all immune cells with dormant HIV. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study predicts that by 2100, nearly every country will have a birth rate that is too low to maintain its population, leading to a shortage of working-age individuals. This demographic shift poses significant economic challenges, particularly for countries with low birth rates and high incomes. On the other hand, a smaller number of countries, mainly in Africa, are expected to experience higher birth rates and low incomes. To address these issues, high-income countries should focus on making it easier and more attractive for people to have more children, while also preparing for the needs of shrinking and aging populations. Additionally, better access to contraception and education for girls in countries with higher birth rates can help reduce birth rates and potentially lead to increased migration from these countries. [Extracted from the article]

A recent analysis of UK health records has found that four commonly taken drugs, including Viagra and medicines containing oestrogen, may be linked to a slightly lower chance of dying during a 12-year study. The drugs identified are Viagra, atorvastatin, naproxen, and oestrogen. While the study did not provide definitive proof that these drugs extend lifespan, it did find correlations between taking each drug and a lower chance of death. However, it is important to note that these correlations could be influenced by other factors, and further research is needed to confirm these findings. [Extracted from the article]

A new understanding of Alzheimer's disease suggests that the root cause involves a build-up of fat droplets in brain cells. This finding challenges the prevailing belief that the disease is caused by the aggregation of proteins. The study focused on a gene called APOE, which is the biggest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's. The researchers found that people with a certain variant of this gene had higher levels of an enzyme that boosted fat droplets in their brain cells. This accumulation of fat then leads to the build-up of another protein called tau, causing cell death and memory loss. This discovery opens up a new avenue for therapeutic development for Alzheimer's disease. [Extracted from the article]

A study in mice suggests that a treatment for Alzheimer's disease involving flickering lights and low-pitched sound may also help prevent cognitive problems after cancer treatment. The method, which involves lights flickering at a frequency of 40 Hz, has been shown to improve memory and concentration in small trials for Alzheimer's patients. In the study, cancer-free mice exposed to the lights and sounds while receiving chemotherapy showed less decline in mental sharpness compared to those who only received chemotherapy. However, further research is needed to determine if this treatment is effective in humans. [Extracted from the article]

An experimental weight-loss pill called amycretin has shown promising results in early trials, with participants losing 13% of their body weight over three months. This is more than twice the amount seen with existing injectable treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Amycretin mimics the gut hormone GLP-1 and another hormone called amylin, making it potentially more potent. However, it is important to note that long-term effectiveness and safety comparisons between amycretin and other drugs have not yet been conducted. Amycretin's side effects are reported to be similar to those of Wegovy, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The availability of an oral pill could be advantageous for individuals who prefer not to use injections. [Extracted from the article]

A new treatment for Alzheimer's disease involving light flashes and sounds may help slow cognitive decline by boosting the brain's waste disposal networks. The treatment exposes individuals to lights flickering at a frequency of 40 hertz and a low-pitched sound at the same frequency. This stimulation enhances the function of the brain's drainage network, known as the glymphatic system, by increasing cerebrospinal fluid flow and pushing waste fluid through its vessels. The treatment has shown promising results in mice and small trials in people with Alzheimer's, and further research is needed to optimize its efficacy. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London have developed a technique that involves growing organoids from cells taken from fluid in the uterus. These organoids, miniature balls of tissue, can provide better diagnoses and treatments for fetuses with serious medical conditions, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The researchers have shown that the organoids can capture certain aspects of the tissue, including whether it is healthy or growing abnormally. This technique has the potential to be used for personalized prenatal medicine and could also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatments. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the decline of personal genetics firm 23andMe and raises questions about whether genetic-based medicine has been overhyped. 23andMe, founded in 2006, aimed to provide genetic tests to the public, allowing individuals to learn about their ancestry and potential medical conditions. However, the company faced setbacks when the US Food and Drug Administration questioned the scientific support for its tests in 2013. While some individuals have found useful health information through genetic testing, the overall population-wide benefits have not yet been realized due to limited understanding of the human genome. Despite 23andMe's financial troubles, publicly funded genetic research is expanding, and there is hope that polygenic risk scores based on genetic data can be used to guide screening and treatment decisions in the future. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the hypothesis presented by journalist Abigail Shrier in her book "Bad Therapy: Why the kids aren't growing up." Shrier argues that the rising rates of mental health problems in children and teenagers, particularly in the US, are being perpetuated by the very measures intended to counter them. She criticizes modern child-rearing practices such as helicopter parenting and the vogue for "gentle parenting," as well as the growing influence of the mental health industry on family and school life. While Shrier's research consists mainly of interviews and lacks scientific literature, the increasing rates of mental health diagnoses and therapy among US teens suggest that there may be cause for concern. The article recommends that parents and anyone interested in young people's welfare read the book with an open mind. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study has found that a significant number of stem cells being grown in laboratories for regenerative medicine research contain cancer-causing mutations. These cells, which have not been used in humans but are being studied for their potential medical applications, can develop dangerous mutations when multiplied in a dish. Stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they have the ability to multiply and differentiate into various types of tissues. While stem cell therapies have not yet been approved for routine use, ongoing clinical trials are being conducted. It is important for researchers to take precautions to ensure that cancerous cells are not transplanted into patients. Standardized methods for checking stem cell treatments for mutations should be established to address this concern. [Extracted from the article]

An eight-week exercise program has been found to modestly improve the quality of life for people with long covid, a condition characterized by lasting symptoms after a COVID-19 infection. However, it is unclear if this exercise program would benefit non-hospitalized individuals with long covid, as the study only included participants who had been treated in the hospital for severe COVID-19. The program allowed participants to tailor the intensity of their exercise as needed, and those who completed the program reported significant improvements in health-related quality of life compared to a control group. While the success rate of the program was not high, it is the first randomized trial to show any benefit for long covid, which is cause for cautious celebration. [Extracted from the article]