1+ hour, 30+ min ago   (511+ words) The stress hormone cortisol can interfere with the brain system that helps people navigate and stay oriented. Researchers from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany found that cortisol weakens the activity of grid cells, specialized nerve cells that are essential for…...

1+ week, 15+ hour ago   (865+ words) Ant parenting may have evolved from the same brain systems that once controlled hunger. Researchers found that two chemical signals push clonal raider ants toward either caring for larvae or leaving to forage, with the balance changing as the ants…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago   (1405+ words) New findings challenge a 42-year-old theory about why children's body mass index (BMI) declines after infancy and then begins climbing steadily from about age 6. The pattern has long been described as the "adiposity rebound," based on the idea that body…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago   (364+ words) A grocery-store audit found that many foods marketed for toddlers may be far less healthy than parents expect. Of nearly 2,800 products examined in Texas, 81% were ultra-processed, and almost half failed at least one World Health Organization nutrient standard, often because…...

1+ mon, 3+ week ago   (637+ words) A smile. A frown. The facial expressions that capture a child's attention may reveal important clues about their mental health. New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York, suggests that depression can influence how children respond to emotional…...

1+ mon, 3+ week ago   (713+ words) With more than 40% of U.S. teenagers reporting ongoing feelings of sadness or hopelessness, one child psychologist believes grandparents may be an important part of the solution. Kenneth Barish, Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine, says the decline of…...

1+ mon, 3+ week ago   (172+ words) Scientists have uncovered a surprising new genetic cause of a rare movement disorder after analyzing nearly 3,000 patients with conditions affecting coordination and muscle control. The team identified mutations in a gene called CD99L2, previously linked only to the immune system, and…...

2+ mon, 4+ day ago   (441+ words) Autism symptoms and new approaches to treatment. Read current research on autism including early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, genetic factors and more....

2+ mon, 6+ day ago   (216+ words) Scientists have uncovered evidence that autism may include at least two biologically distinct subtypes, each marked by a different pattern of brain communication. By combining brain scans from nearly 1,000 people with autism with insights from 20 genetically engineered mouse models, researchers…...

2+ mon, 6+ day ago   (615+ words) "Certain bacteria seem to offer protection, which is exciting because it suggests there could be ways to support a child's development through diet or probiotics in the future," says senior author and gastroenterologist Francis Ka Leung Chan of The Chinese…...