serotonin

11 Stories

New Clue Found in Mystery of Long COVID
New Clue Found in Mystery
of Long COVID
new study

New Clue Found in Mystery of Long COVID

Virus remnants in the gut might crimp the production of serotonin

(Newser) - A new study appears to shed light on the vexing medical mystery of long COVID , with a reduction in serotonin levels in patients seen as a key component. If the research published in Cell holds true, it suggests that some people might be able to take medication to boost the...

Trio of Supplements Could Fend Off Baby Blues
Baby Blues
Are Common.
Solution Could
Be Simple
new study

Baby Blues Are Common. Solution Could Be Simple

A trio of supplements, taken for just 3 days, might have dramatic results

(Newser) - Could new mothers fight off the baby blues by taking a trio of supplements? Researchers at Canada's Center for Addiction and Mental Health are reporting in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that their small new study suggests so, and they say there's something novel...

Don't Blame Sleepiness After Turkey Dinner on Tryptophan

The amino acid has gotten a bad rap—but there's more to the story

(Newser) - Succumbing to Mr. Sandman after a hearty turkey dinner isn't tryptophan's fault. At least, not totally, reports the New York Times , which has done its due diligence in compiling plenty of other sources that back up its stop-blaming-tryptophan campaign. The amino acid found in turkey—and long the...

Your Medication Could Be Making You More Selfish
Your Medication Could Be Making You More Selfish
NEW STUDY

Your Medication Could Be Making You More Selfish

Two common drugs alter a person's moral compass: study

(Newser) - Medications do more than treat an illness: Certain ones may also make you more considerate or selfish. A new study finds two common medications, an antidepressant and a treatment for Parkinson's disease, actually alter your moral compass, reports Medical Daily . Researchers assigned 89 healthy people a dose of the...

Gene Mutation May Turn Men Into Vicious Drunks

Genetic variant is linked to impulsive violence under influence of alcohol

(Newser) - Scientists believe they've discovered a genetic mutation that may turn usually mild-mannered individuals into obnoxious, violent brutes once they get drunk. The mutation is linked to a brain abnormality that may contribute to violently impulsive behavior under the influence of alcohol, reports the Telegraph . The mutation interferes with a gene,...

Atkins Will Make You Thin —but Miserable

Study shows that low-carb diet causes bad moods

(Newser) - You may lose weight on the Atkins diet, but you’ll be a really crabby thin person, a new study finds. OK, few dieters have truly sunny dispositions, but Australian researchers have found that the problem’s especially bad for those on low-carb diets. In a recent study, they split...

Mediterranean Diet Beats the Blues

Study finds diet cuts risk of depression by nearly a third

(Newser) - The Mediterranean diet has been shown to cut the risk of cancer and heart disease and researchers now say it can help prevent depression as well. Spanish researchers followed 10,000 subjects for nearly 5 years and found that, even when personality traits and other factors were taken into account,...

Big Differences Found in Male, Female Brains

They're apparently based on different genetic blueprints, studies find

(Newser) - The brains of men and women are so physically different they amount to different organs and may have developed from distinct genetic blueprints, new research shows. Distinct anatomical differences between male and female brains likely explain many well-established differences of perception and behavior between the sexes, from problem-solving strategies to...

Time to Stop Blaming the Turkey
Time to Stop Blaming the Turkey

Time to Stop Blaming the Turkey

Carbs do as much as tryptophan to put you to sleep after Thanksgiving feast

(Newser) - It's time to stop blaming the tryptophan for your post-feast snooze, says LiveScience Bad Medicine columnist Christopher Wanjek. The chemical, found in turkey, does affect sleep, but cheddar cheese is also packed with it and doesn't get the same bad rap. The real Turkey Day culprit is the "combination...

Study: Dark Chocolate Aids Chronic Fatigue

Treat may work by boosting brain's serotonin levels

(Newser) - A daily dose of dark chocolate noticeably improves symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, researchers have discovered. Scientists speculate that the chocolate may boost brain serotonin levels in sufferers, who reported significantly less fatigue when they ate 45 grams a day of chocolate high in cocoa content.

Bacteria Battle Depression
Bacteria Battle Depression

Bacteria Battle Depression

Research shows brain produces serotonin as an immune response

(Newser) - Clinical depression may be treatable with bacteria, doctors at Bristol University posit. They got the idea when they observed lung cancer patients inoculated with harmless Mycobacterium vaccae who showed reduced symptoms and improved mental health. The brain produces serotonin as an immune response, the docs hypothesized, raising the low serotonin...

11 Stories