A new study shows that nanorobots significantly smaller than blood cells can deliver anticoagulant drugs directly to brain aneurysms, potentially preventing strokes. Although the technology has only been tested on rabbits, it is a promising alternative to treatments such as stents and coils, which may require long-term blood thinners. Qi Zhou, an enthusiastic bioengineering researcher … Read more
A new study has found that ice cream and potato chips are just as addictive as drugs. The study, which was published in the journal BMJ Open, found that people who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods are more likely to have symptoms of food addiction. Food addiction is a real condition that can have … Read more
Doctors use MRI scans to diagnose and monitor head injuries and to check for abnormalities in the head or brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans provide 3-D images of specific body parts. The scan produces highly detailed images from every angle. Depending on the purpose of the scan, a doctor may recommend contrast, which is … Read more
If you’ve ever felt nauseous before an important presentation, or foggy after a big meal, then you know the power of the gut-brain connection. Scientists now believe that a surprising array of conditions, from appetite disorders and obesity to arthritis and depression, may get their start in the gut. But it hasn’t been clear how … Read more
If getting to the gym seems like a struggle, a University of British Columbia researcher wants you to know this: the struggle is real, and it’s happening inside your brain. The brain is where Matthieu Boisgontier and his colleagues went looking for answers to what they call the “exercise paradox”: for decades, society has encouraged … Read more
Writing in the current online issue of the journal Stem Cells and Development, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine describe development of a rapid, cost-effective method to create human cortical organoids directly from primary cells. Experimental studies of developing human brain function are limited. Research involving live embryonic subjects is constrained … Read more
New research published in Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry reveals that low doses of a commonly used pesticide potentially harm the Northern Leopard frog by inhibiting their brain development. The pesticide chlorpyifos, which has been used since 1965 in both agricultural and non-agricultural areas, had clear effects on Northern Leopard tadpoles’ neurodevelopment, even in situations where … Read more
