Overactive

A first-of-its-kind study has identified overactive inflammation and loss of critical protective mechanisms in the brain as potential contributors to suicide risk. The findings could lead to the use of anti-inflammatory medications as a way of reducing this risk, especially where suicidal ideation can be ascertained early.Global suicide rates continue to be a concern. Although there was an overall decline in suicide rates in the US between 2019 and 2021, the number has risen again according to the Centers for Disease…

Scientists studying obesity in mice have found a new type of brain cell that boosts appetite, even when the body is satiated for a long time.Neuropeptide Y neurons are the focus of many studies on metabolic syndromes. They are particularly abundant in a part of the brain's hypothalamus called the arcuate nucleus, producing potent neurotransmitters that stimulate appetite and delay feelings of fullness.For many years, only one type of neuron was thought to express neuropeptide Y (NPY), the molecule that gives NPY neurons…

Overactive bladder syndrome (OBS) causes a frequent, uncontrolled urge to urinate, which can interfere with a person’s daily activities and affect their mental health. A new hydrogel-based device has been developed that can continuously monitor overactive bladders and has the potential to improve the treatment of the condition.The detrusor muscle lines the bladder wall. Controlled by nerves, in healthy people, the muscle relaxes to keep urine in and contracts when a person urinates. But in people with OBS, the muscle is…

Something like 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy. While the majority of these people are able to use medications to manage and prevent their seizures, around one-third don't respond well to these treatments.In such cases, the only option available to bring seizures under control is to remove the part of the brain where seizures arise. But this procedure is extremely risky.Since epileptic seizures are caused by excessive activity of brain cells (neurons) in specific parts of the brain, being able to target these…

The immune system usually stays dormant in the lungs in times of health. Overactive immune system can cause issues like asthma and allergies, making it hard to breathe.Long <span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt" data-cmtooltip="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>COVID-19</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>First identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2…