How fasting may protect against inflammation
Cambridge scientists may have discovered a new way in which fasting helps reduce inflammation — a potentially damaging side-effect of the body’s immune system that underlies a number of chronic diseases. In research published in Cell Reports, the team describes how fasting raises levels of a chemical in the blood known as arachidonic acid, which […]
Brain’s ‘appetite control center’ different in people who are overweight or living with obesity
Cambridge scientists have shown that the hypothalamus, a key region of the brain involved in controlling appetite, is different in the brains of people who are overweight and people with obesity when compared to people who are a healthy weight. The researchers say their findings add further evidence to the relevance of brain structure to […]
‘Smart’ drugs can decrease productivity in people who don’t have ADHD, study finds
New research from the University of Cambridge and the University of Melbourne, published in Science Advances, shows neurotypical workers and students taking cognitive enhancers, or ‘smart’ drugs, may actually be inhibiting their performance and productivity. Drugs such as methylphenidate, sold under the brand name Ritalin among others, are commonly prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder […]
Opinion | ‘Melatonin Is Not Equivalent to a Warm Glass of Milk’: What We Heard This Week
“Melatonin is not equivalent to a warm glass of milk.” — Pieter Cohen, MD, of Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville, Massachusetts, discussing the high rate of mislabeled melatonin gummies. “Doctors were much more neurotic than the other groups.” — Mehdi Ammi, PhD, health economist of Carleton University, in Canada, after finding that doctors tended to […]
Serotonin 2C receptor associated with obesity and maladaptive behavior
A collaborative study involving Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter Medical School reveals a new gene associated with obesity and maladaptive behavior. The evidence shows that rare mutations in the gene for the serotonin 2C receptor play a role in the development of obesity and dysfunctional behaviors in […]
Opinion | ‘The Law Is Clear. These Products Are Illegal’: What We Heard This Week
“The law is clear. These products are illegal.” — Pieter Cohen, MD, of Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, noting that despite FDA warnings, certain banned supplements are still available to purchase online. “Probably the best niche now for Novavax’s purified protein vaccine is as a booster strategy for mRNA vaccines.” — Paul Offit, MD, of […]