Summary: Depression may increase the risk of menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea, through mechanisms such as sleep disturbances. Using genetic analysis, researchers found that depression likely causes period pain, rather than the reverse, highlighting an underexplored connection between mental and reproductive health. The study suggests that addressing sleep issues and mental...
Brain’s “Traffic Controllers ” Hold Key to Learning and Memory
Summary: A new study reveals how interneurons, brain cells that regulate the firing of other neurons, act as traffic controllers in the hippocampus, a region critical for learning and memory. Researchers found that activating a single interneuron triggered synchronized brain cell activity during rest, potentially aiding memory formation.This discovery highlights...
Does drinking beer cause hair loss?
Summary: A systematic review and meta-analysis explored whether alcohol consumption influences androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common form of hair loss. The study found a modest association between drinking and AGA, with drinkers 1.4 times more likely to experience AGA than non-drinkers, though the link was not statistically significant.Discrepancies between...
Found to Control Cell Identity and Neural Development
Summary: Researchers have uncovered the crucial role of a protein subunit, INST10, in guiding pluripotent stem cells toward becoming neural cells during early development. The study found that diminished INST10 levels caused cells to lose neural identity and shift toward other fates, such as mesenchymal or intestinal cells.These findings highlight...
Finger measures may uncover insights into eating habits.
Summary: The relative lengths of your fingers might be linked to your alcohol consumption patterns. Researchers found that individuals with longer 4th (ring) fingers relative to 2nd (index) fingers, indicating high prenatal testosterone exposure, are more likely to consume alcohol.This relationship was stronger in men, who generally show higher alcohol...
