Reducing cannabis-related risks becomes focus of new app

Reported adherence to safe sleep practices appears to be low among caregivers of infants presenting to the emergency department for low-acuity illness and worsens during and after illness, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in Pediatrics.

A new study involving the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) provides strong evidence that sugary drinks affect not only metabolic health, but also mental health—especially in women. This effect is probably mediated by the sensitive microbiome of the intestine.

A collaborative French–Swiss study reveals a previously unknown role for astrocytes in the brain's information processing. Published in the journal Cell, the research shows that these glial cells are capable of integrating signals from several neurons at once—a conceptual shift in our understanding of the brain.

Molecular profiling has transformed cancer care, but 30% of high-risk pediatric cancers do not have actionable therapeutic targets, limiting personalized treatment options and negatively affecting survival outcomes.

There is no question that the moon has a significant influence on Earth. Its gravitational pull affects the planet and moves water masses in the daily rhythm of ebb and flow (tides)—this point is undisputed. More difficult to answer is the question of whether the same gravitational force also affects life on Earth, especially the human organism. The discussion becomes even more complicated when it comes to how the fluctuating brightness of the Earth's satellite between full and new moon affects humans.

Recent restrictions on public policies and health care for transgender people in several countries, including Brazil, threaten to dismantle existing care structures for this population and could lead to setbacks. This warning is contained in an article published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine by a group of Brazilian researchers.

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows, for the first time, that severe flu infection in pregnant mice leads to a breakdown in placental and brain barriers, leading to the accumulation of potentially harmful molecules in the fetal brain.

Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Despite advances in screening and treatment, advanced stages of the disease remain difficult to manage, and researchers continue to search for better ways to understand and reduce risk.

To experience or even contemplate dementia raises some of the most profound questions: What does it mean to be a person? How does someone find meaning in life while facing progressive neurological deterioration? What do health care providers, or residents of a neighborhood, or citizens of aging societies, owe to people living with dementia, and why? And how do shared ideas and values – narratives – that circulate within societies and groups shape the experience of living with dementia, for better or worse?

Being racially or ethnically discriminated against may increase the risk of later developing psychotic symptoms, finds a major review of international evidence led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

You're in a bustling café with a friend. The din is making it hard to tune in to the conversation. The scenario might suggest you'd benefit from a hearing aid. On the other hand, new research suggests that speech-perception difficulty might relate to your cognitive ability.

A new Canadian study is offering a powerful message to older adults and those who care for them: it's never too late to bounce back. Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that nearly one in four older adults age 60 or older who reported poor well-being at the beginning of a national study—due to pain, health issues, low mood, or isolation—had regained optimal well-being within just three years.

Some memories are easy to recall—lush with detail, fresh as the moment itself. Others are more tenuous, like faded sketches, and the most stubborn ones can refuse to resurface at all. Why do our brains enshrine some memories so indelibly, and let others slip away?

When it comes to brain proteins, small changes can make a dramatic difference. Researchers studying NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors, which are essential for learning, memory and moment-by-moment consciousness, know that even slight changes in their activity level can mean the difference between normal function and serious neurological disorders.

Scientists from the Nencki Institute and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have revealed a key mechanism in how our brains change when we learn new information or form memories. A new study published in Science Advances reveals a molecular mechanism that allows brain cells to precisely strengthen specific connections—a process essential for learning, memory, and overall brain health.

Scientists have discovered that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) doesn't start when the pain begins. It silently starts years earlier. RA is a debilitating autoimmune disease that causes painful joint inflammation and damage. The new research reveals that people at risk for RA experience dramatic immune system changes long before they feel symptoms. During this early phase, their bodies fight an autoimmune battle invisibly.

One of the first randomized controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of a large language model (LLM) chatbot known as "Amanda" for relationship support shows that a single session of chatbot therapy can be as beneficial as evidence-based journaling in assisting with relationship conflict resolution.

The coiled structure of the umbilical cord—the vital link between a baby and its mother during pregnancy—plays an important role in helping to keep babies healthy in the womb, according to new research led by The University of Manchester.