Loss, return of consciousness linked to same network of brain regions

Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of California, Berkeley have identified two neighbouring regions in the human brain that appear to compete when a person decides whether to take a risk, and found that their activity can predict the decision nearly half a second before it is made.

Weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound may be linked to a higher risk of male pattern hair loss, with men already genetically predisposed to the condition facing a 7 per cent added risk, according to a new study led by researchers at NYU Langone Health.

Losing weight is not simply a matter of willpower. New research suggests the human brain is biologically programmed to defend body fat, making it difficult for many people to maintain weight loss even after successful dieting.

Scientists have identified a molecular switch that may explain why the ageing brain becomes more vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Huntington's. In worms, researchers found that the protein EPS8 accumulates with age, activating signaling pathways that promote the clumping of toxic proteins. These harmful aggregates damage neurons and shorten lifespan. However, reducing EPS8 activity prevented protein buildup, protected nerve function, and helped preserve healthy ageing.

New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) suggests that sleep habits and genetics may interact to influence subtle brain and cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer's disease years before noticeable symptoms develop.