pathway

New research reveals that blocking the cGAS/STING pathway reduces age-related inflammation and cognitive decline, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. Credit: SciTechDaily.comInhibiting the STING protein in aged mice leads to decreased inflammation and improved memory and physical function, highlighting a promising approach to mitigating aging-related challenges.As we age, our bodies undergo various changes that can impact our overall health and make us more susceptible to diseases.…

New research found that imbalances in RNA communication, both within and from outside the organism, can shorten the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans, offering new insights into the aging process and genetic regulation.Research on the roundworm species C. elegans has demonstrated that disruptions in the transfer of RNA between cells across various tissues can lead to a shortened lifespan.Cells in various tissues interact by sharing RNA molecules. A study conducted by scientists from the State University of Campinas…

A groundbreaking study reveals a direct pathway between the brain’s habit-forming basal ganglia and the cerebellum, involved in motor learning. This connection could reshape our understanding of brain functions and inform new treatments for disorders like Parkinson’s. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers say one brain region, the cerebellum, may hold more influence over these dopamine neurons than realized.New findings published today (January 25) in the journal Nature Neuroscience have shed light on a mysterious pathway…

Recent research uncovers how dopamine in the brain guides animals to identify and refine behaviors leading to rewards. This study, linking specific actions to dopamine release, has implications for improving learning processes in education and AI. Credit: SciTechDaily.comRewards don’t just reinforce a specific action—they quickly change the whole pattern of how we behave.Imagine you’re teaching a dog to play fetch. You throw a ball, and your dog sprints after it, picks it up, and runs back. You then reward your panting…

Rapid renewables growth means that by 2030, the global electricity system will be capable of delivering ambitious net-zero pathways, according to new research by RMI, in partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund. By 2030, solar and wind (backed by battery storage) are forecast by RMI (a non-profit independent organization that was founded as the Rocky Mountain Institute) to supply over one-third of all global electricity, up from around 12% today. Globally, wind and solar need to grow from 12% to…

Losing weight isn't easy for most of us, and neither is keeping it lost – not least because a process called adaptive thermogenesis kicks in, which means our body goes into a power-saving mode because less energy is supplied through food.In a new study involving mice, researchers think they've found a hormone-signaling pathway that might help. Signaling pathways are like biochemical chain reactions in the body, with particular triggers (such as drugs) leading to effects (such as weight loss).In this case, the hormone…

While opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone are among the most powerful painkillers known to modern medicine, they are also extremely addictive and therefore, increasingly hard to get – even for those suffering from severe pain. A new finding may offer hope to pain patients in the form of powerful painkillers that lack the most hard-to-handle side effects of current options.In seeking to block pain, pharmacologists long ago figured out that compounds that work on the opioid receptors on nerve cells work the best. However,…

Stanford University researchers discovered a new cellular pathway that clears misfolded proteins from the nucleus, which could be targeted for age-related disease therapies. The pathway involves communication between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and the clearing process depends on a class of proteins that create small vesicles for transporting molecules.Misfolded proteins pose a threat to cellular health, as they interfere with normal functions and contribute to age-associated degenerative conditions such as <span…

UK researchers have, for the first time, identified a genetic pathway in the brain that plays a key role in controlling anxiety, opening the door to the development of more effective treatments in the future.One in four people will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at least once in their lifetime, often presenting as repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety, fear or terror that peak within minutes.It’s known that severe psychological trauma triggers genetic, biochemical, and structural changes in a part…

Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo use isotopically purified graphite to study the phenomenon of heat flowing like a fluid, which can lead to new heat-sink devices for electronics. Credit: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of TokyoResearchers discovered that heat can move like a fluid in purified graphite under specific conditions, leading to more efficient heat removal in electronic devices. The phenomenon, called “phonon Poiseuille flow,” was observed with more than…