THE LATEST RESEARCH
New findings about the brain, behavior and mental health—with the evidence and limits in view.
TL;DR: Among 121 people with painful pancreatic cancer, 44% had a heightened sensitivity to pain on standardized testing, much like people with long-term pancreatitis. But in the cancer group, that sensitivity was not consistently linked to worse pain, mood or…
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TL;DR: When 22 young adults tried to recall where they had seen everyday objects, their eyes drifted toward the right spot before they answered. The closer their gaze, the more precise their memory turned out to be. Key Findings Eyes found the spot: Gaze lande…
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TL;DR: In a tiny pilot study, a few minutes on an exercise bike boosted thinking speed scores by about 7 points in healthy adults but only about 2 points in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. With 10 people per group, it is an early clue, not…
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TL;DR: In mice, a new type of gene-silencing molecule lowered levels of alpha-synuclein, the protein that clumps in Parkinson’s. Mice given it kept more dopamine-making brain cells and did better on grip and balance tests than untreated mice with the same dise…
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TL;DR: When 60 volunteers braced for a shock they could dodge with a quick button press, their brains and bodies shifted into a focused, alert state. But they remembered faces seen during those moments no better than faces seen when they felt safe. Key Finding…
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TL;DR: In a lab study of 187 UK students, a few minutes spent vividly imagining good future events made those with more low-mood symptoms feel more in control of their goals. It did not make anyone feel their goals were more likely or more important. Key Findi…
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TL;DR: Among 112 older adults in Spain with mild cognitive impairment, those who reported more physical activity and felt more supported by family and friends scored better on several thinking tests. The study took one snapshot, so it cannot show that activity…
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TL;DR: In a small Spanish pilot, adults at high risk of depression got a personalized prevention plan from their family doctor plus an app. After 3 months their predicted depression risk and anxiety scores fell, but depression symptoms did not, most people bar…
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TL;DR: Pooling 59 trials, all from China, researchers found that adding acupuncture or electroacupuncture to standard rehab after a stroke was linked to better leg movement scores for people with foot drop. But the studies varied widely and many had quality pr…
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TL;DR: In 10 young adults with a neck-level spinal cord injury, standing upright in a frame made blood pressure drop. Wearing compression stockings and a belly binder kept blood pressure from falling, and the five people who felt faint said they felt better. K…
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