1+ mon, 20+ hour ago   (315+ words) Meditation is often sold in watered-down language: relax, breathe, clear your mind. A new study suggests intensive practice may do more than that, although the findings need careful handling. Researchers studied 20 healthy adults taking part in a seven-day residential retreat....

1+ mon, 21+ hour ago   (312+ words) Many people use cannabis to relax. A new study suggests the relationship with stress may be more complicated than that. Researchers at Oregon State University looked at frequent cannabis use and cortisol, the hormone often described as the body’s stress…...

1+ mon, 3+ week ago   (334+ words) Poor sleep is not the same biological problem at every age. A new brain imaging study suggests the poorly slept young brain and the poorly slept older brain may look quite different. Researchers analysed brain scans from more than 1,300 people…...

2+ mon, 6+ day ago   (312+ words) Alcohol can feel like a shortcut out of stress. The problem is that the brain may learn that shortcut too well. A new mouse study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggests drinking in response to chronic stress during early…...

2+ mon, 2+ week ago   (298+ words) Ageing is often discussed as if decline is inevitable. A Yale study suggests that is only part of the story. Researchers analysed more than 11,000 older adults from the Health and Retirement Study, following participants for up to 12 years. They measured…...

3+ mon, 2+ week ago   (255+ words) A new systematic review has looked at whether yoga and meditation can affect the gut microbiome. The answer is possibly, but the evidence is still very limited. Researchers screened 247 titles and abstracts, but only four studies met the criteria for…...

3+ mon, 3+ week ago   (354+ words) A team in Geneva has developed an experimental gel designed to help insulin-producing cells survive after transplantation for type 1 diabetes. The goal is to solve one of the biggest problems in this field – getting the transplanted cells to stay alive…...

3+ mon, 3+ week ago   (260+ words) Researchers have identified a possible new player in the biology of ageing. The focus is on exosomes, tiny particles released by cells that carry proteins and genetic material around the body. These particles are part of how cells communicate with…...

4+ mon, 3+ week ago   (469+ words) A new specialist mental health pathway for people with diabetes is being developed in Wales, in what experts say is a UK first. The aim is to offer more joined-up support for people whose mental health and diabetes management are…...

5+ mon, 2+ week ago   (230+ words) As more people turn to ChatGPT and other AI tools for mental health advice, researchers are starting to test how these systems actually behave in counselling-style conversations. A Brown University team worked with mental health practitioners and found repeated ethical…...