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Sleep is a physiological behavior that is common in all animal species. It forms around one third of a human life. It is not known clearly the exact functions of sleep but it seems to be essential for survival as prolonged sleep deprivation leads to severe physical impairment followed by cognitive loss and eventually death.

Gene therapy may be safe and effective in treating AADC deficiency

A new study published in Nature Communications suggests that gene therapy delivered into the brain may be safe and effective in treating aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency.

19 Jul 2021

Children with rare genetic disorder experience dramatic improvements in a gene therapy trial

Children with a devastating genetic disorder characterized by severe motor disability and developmental delay have experienced sometimes dramatic improvements in a gene therapy trial launched at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals.

13 Jul 2021

Raising your risk of cardiac death through the southern diet

In this interview, News-Medical speaks to Dr. James Shikany about diet and how different diets can affect your risk for cardiac death.

6 Jul 2021

People with diabetes and sleep problems have increased risk of mortality

In a paper published by the Journal of Sleep Research, researchers reveal how they examined data* from half a million middle-aged UK participants asked if they had trouble falling asleep at night or woke up in the middle of the night.

9 Jun 2021

People with daytime sleepiness present shorter telomeres irrespective of whether they have obstructive sleep apnea

According to a recent study, people who self-report daytime sleepiness have shorter telomeres irrespective of whether they have obstructive sleep apnea.

29 Apr 2021

Genetic makeup of more than 53,000 people offers valuable insights into dangerous diseases

A new analysis of the entire genetic makeup of more than 53,000 people offers a bonanza of valuable insights into heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders, paving the way for new and better ways to treat and prevent some of the most common causes of disability and death.

7 Apr 2021

Unique mini-microscope enables imaging of brain activity in freely moving mice

Researchers from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering and Medical School have developed a unique head-mounted mini-microscope device that allows them to image complex brain functions of freely moving mice in real time over a period of more than 300 days.

6 Apr 2021

Psychoactive component of marijuana stays in breast milk for up to six weeks, study finds

In a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers at Children's Hospital Colorado have found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana, stays in breast milk for up to six weeks, further supporting the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine to abstain from marijuana use during pregnancy and while a mother is breastfeeding.

9 Mar 2021

New study on plant metabolism can help produce more food for increasing population

A new study has demonstrated how plants exploit their metabolism to identify time and know when to develop.

2 Mar 2021

Sufficient rest during holidays restores functions associated with DNA regulation

According to a recent study, sufficient rest during vacation time restored functions linked to DNA regulation in shift workers deprived of sleep.

23 Feb 2021

Regular caffeine intake can change gray matter of the brain

Coffee, cola, or an energy drink: caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance. Researchers from the University of Basel have now shown in a study that regular caffeine intake can change the gray matter of the brain. However, the effect appears to be temporary.

17 Feb 2021

Tiny population of neurons may play a significant role in depression

A tiny population of neurons known to be important to appetite appear to also have a significant role in depression that results from unpredictable, chronic stress, scientists say.

12 Feb 2021

Daytime napping is partly regulated by a person's genes

How often a person takes daytime naps, if at all, is partly regulated by their genes, according to new research led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and published in Nature Communications.

11 Feb 2021

Study examines the largest and most diverse genetic sequencing data sets

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and their colleagues published a new analysis today in the journal Nature from genetic sequencing data of more than 53,000 individuals, primarily from minority populations.

11 Feb 2021

New report highlights coffee's effect on sleep

The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) published a new report today, titled 'Coffee and sleep in everyday lives', authored by Professor Renata Riha, from the Department of Sleep Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

5 Feb 2021

Study shows how stem cell niche maintain their self-renewal capacity

A typical trait of all stem cells is their potential to renew on their own; however, scientists are unsure about how this ability is sustaining throughout life.

28 Jan 2021

Caffeinated coffee helps to minimize reductions in attention and cognitive function

A new study exploring the impact of repeated sleep loss during a simulated working week has found that consuming caffeinated coffee during the day helps to minimize reductions in attention and cognitive function, compared to decaffeinated coffee.

22 Jan 2021

Common insecticides affect the amount of night's sleep in bumblebees and fruit flies

Just like us, many insects need a decent night's sleep to function properly, but this might not be possible if they have been exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides, the most common form of insecticide used worldwide, suggests research by academics at the University of Bristol.

21 Jan 2021

Study reveals genetic variants that increase the risk of nocturnal enuresis

In a large-scale study of Danish children and young people, researchers from Aarhus University have for the first time found genetic variants that increase the risk of nocturnal enuresis - commonly known as bedwetting or nighttime incontinence. The findings provide completely new insights into the processes in the body causing this widespread phenomenon.

20 Jan 2021

Metabolites may be predictive indicators for recurrent major depressive disorder

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, in collaboration with Dutch scientists, have found that certain metabolites -- small molecules produced by the process of metabolism -- may be predictive indicators for persons at risk for recurrent major depressive disorder.

13 Jan 2021