Category: Health
A brazen attack on air safety is underway — here’s what’s at stake
At the end of July, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) convened a three-day public hearing to investigate January’s mid-air collision over Washington, DC that killed 67 people. After the hearing, two conclusions were inescapable. First, the disaster should have been prevented by existing safety rules. And second, the government regulators responsible for air safety […]
Bipolar Mood Shifts Linked to Insulin Signaling in the Pancreas
A new study uncovers a pancreas–hippocampus feedback loop that may help explain mood swings in bipolar disorder. Using patient-derived pancreatic islets, researchers found reduced insulin secretion linked to elevated RORβ, a bipolar risk gene.
Boosting Prefrontal Dopamine Shows Promise in Cutting Alcohol Use
A new study reveals that tolcapone, a dopamine-enhancing drug, strengthens brain circuits involved in self-control while reducing alcohol intake in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The drug boosts activity in the inferior frontal gyrus, part of the prefrontal cortex, which supports inhibitory control.
Highly Sensitive People Face Greater Mental Health Risks
A large-scale meta-analysis of 33 studies has shown that highly sensitive individuals are more prone to common mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and avoidant personality disorder. Sensitivity was defined as a heightened responsiveness to environmental and emotional cues, making people more vulnerable but also more receptive to positive experiences and therapy.
Bacteria and Viruses Join Forces in New Cancer-Killing Therapy
Researchers have developed CAPPSID, a novel cancer therapy that teams bacteria and viruses to infiltrate and destroy tumors. The system hides an oncolytic virus inside Salmonella typhimurium, which naturally migrates into tumors, shielding the virus from immune detection.
