Posts by Elsevier
Cocaine use alters gene expression in brain reward circuits
A study in Biological Psychiatry has identified unique genetic changes in the brain’s reward circuitry that are associated with cocaine use, including first-time use, withdrawal, and re-exposure to the drug after prolonged withdrawal. The findings reveal important …
Read Full ArticlePeople with family history of alcoholism release more dopamine in expectation of alcohol
People with a family history of alcohol use disorder (AUD) release more dopamine in the brain’s main reward center in response to the expectation of alcohol than people diagnosed with the disorder, or healthy people without any family history of AUD, reports a new …
Read Full ArticleChildhood communication enhances brain development, protecting against harmful behaviors
The 14-year study, which followed participants from 11 to 25 years old, identified that the extent of communication between parents and children promotes the development of a brain network involved in the processing of rewards …
Read Full ArticleThe connection between diet, obesity, and cancer: Nutrition experts explore the evidence
About one third of cancer cases are estimated to be linked to dietary and other modifiable risk factors, especially for obesity-related cancers such as breast, colorectal, ovarian, endometrial, kidney, gallbladder, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers. …
Read Full ArticleDrug-related mortality rates are not randomly distributed across the US
Drug-related deaths have grown to be a major US public health problem over the past two decades. Between 2006 and 2015 there were more than 515,000 deaths from drug overdoses and other drug-related causes. …
Read Full ArticleMedicinal cannabis is safe and effective — it’s time to reboot research
Medicinal cannabis is safe and effective in pain relief, and researchers are calling for the treatment to be properly established in our modern medical arsenal. …
Read Full ArticleMen and women have opposite genetic alterations in depression
Men and women with major depressive disorder (MDD) have opposite changes in the expression of the same genes, according to a new postmortem brain study …
Read Full ArticleAir pollution linked to brain alterations and cognitive impairment in children
A new study performed in the Netherlands has linked exposure to residential air pollution during fetal life with brain abnormalities that may contribute to impaired cognitive function in school-age children. …
Read Full ArticleAlcohol consumption in late teens can lead to liver problems in adulthood
Alcohol is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver-related deaths. Results of a large long-term study in Sweden have confirmed that drinking during late adolescence could be the first step towards liver problems in adulthood …
Read Full ArticleWhen is the right time to start infants on solid foods?
The first study of a nationally-representative group of U.S. infants reports that more than half of babies are currently introduced to complementary foods, that is, foods or drinks other than breast milk or formula, …
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