Researchers found that lycopene enhances BDNF expression, a key protein involved in brain health, which appears to be suppressed in depression.
Lycopene’s Potential as an Antidepressant
Lycopene, a natural compound found in plants, may have antidepressant effects, according to emerging research. A new study published on January 22 in Food Science & Nutrition explores how lycopene influences brain function to counteract symptoms of depression.
A research team at POSTECH has developed a novel multidimensional sampling theory to overcome the limitations of flat optics. Their study not only identifies the constraints of conventional sampling theories in metasurface design but also presents an innovative anti-aliasing strategy that significantly enhances optical performance. Their findings were published in Nature Communications.
Flat optics is a cutting-edge technology that manipulates light at the nanoscale by patterning ultra-thin surfaces with nanostructures. Unlike traditional optical systems that rely on bulky lenses and mirrors, flat optics enables ultra-compact, high-performance optical devices. This innovation is particularly crucial in miniaturizing smartphone cameras (reducing the “camera bump”) and advancing AR/VR technologies.
Metasurfaces, one of the most promising applications of flat optics, rely on hundreds of millions of nanostructures to precisely sample and control the phase distribution of light. Sampling, in this context, refers to the process of converting analog optical signals into discrete data points—similar to how the human brain processes visual information by rapidly capturing multiple images per second to create continuous motion perception.
Question Were the liberalization of medical cannabis and the legalization of nonmedical cannabis in Canada associated with changes in the population-attributable fraction of cannabis use disorders associated with schizophrenia?
Findings In this population-based cohort study comprising 13 588 681 individuals, the population-attributable fraction of cannabis use disorder associated with schizophrenia increased significantly from 3.7% in the prelegalization period to 10.3% during the postlegalization period.
Meaning These findings suggest that the association between cannabis use disorders and schizophrenia is an important consideration for the legalization of cannabis.
Researchers using intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings from deep within the brain found that meditation led to changes in activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, key brain regions involved in emotional regulation and memory.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published Tuesday, February 4, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may help explain the positive impact these practices have and could contribute to the development of meditation-based approaches for improving memory and emotional regulation.
Previous research has shown that meditation—a set of mental techniques to focus attention and awareness—can improve mental well-being and potentially help improve psychiatric diseases like anxiety and depression. In combination with its beneficial clinical effect, previous brain research has shown a connection between meditative practice and brain activity. Yet the specific neural activity underlying meditative practices and their positive effects is still not well understood.
Scientists used high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging to uncover major structural and immune changes in the gut of Alzheimer’s disease models, suggesting a potential early biomarker.
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An international team of scientists, including researchers from Harvard University and the University of Zurich, analyzed clinical trial results 777 elderly Swiss adults to test the potential anti-aging benefits of supplements and exercise.
While there’s no perfect way to measure biological aging, the researchers used tools that help measure age-related decline in the cells and organs, including factors like brain health and heart health.
They looked at participants who underwent one of eight longevity treatments over three years, including exercising and supplementing omega-3s, vitamin D, or both.
A recent large-scale study published in Science Advances has revealed a connection between genetic variations associated with dyslexia and structural differences in the brain. These differences were found in areas involved in motor coordination, vision, and language. This provides new insights into the neurological underpinnings of this common learning difficulty.
Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. It’s characterized by challenges with phonological awareness (the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken language), verbal memory, and verbal processing speed. People with dyslexia may struggle to decode words, recognize familiar words automatically, and spell words correctly. Importantly, dyslexia is not related to a person’s overall intelligence. It’s considered a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning it arises from differences in how the brain develops and processes information, particularly related to language.
Genetic disposition to dyslexia is associated with brain structure in the general population.
Under the influence of “holotropic breathwork,” your brain may be making its own psychedelic compound.
Tissue processing advance can label proteins at the level of individual cells across whole, intact rodent brains and other large samples just as fast and uniformly as in dissociated single cells.