Published Why reading nursery rhymes and singing to babies may help them to learn language
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Phonetic information -- the smallest sound elements of speech -- may not be the basis of language learning in babies as previously thought. Babies don't begin to process phonetic information reliably until seven months old -- which researchers say is too late to form the foundation of language. Instead, babies learn from rhythmic information -- the changing emphasis of syllables in speech -- which unlike phonetic information, can be heard in the womb.
Published How pre- and postnatal B-12 vitamins improve breast milk vitamin B-12 levels, which supports infant brain development
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source According to a new study B-12 vitamins increase the presence of the micronutrient in mothers' breast milk, which is especially helpful in countries where it can be difficult to eat what is needed for the body to produce B-12 naturally.
Published Despite pressures facing young families, parents take precious moments to play with their babies
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Four in five primary caregivers of nine-month-old babies reported cuddling, talking and playing with their little one several times a day, in the first national long-term study of babies in over two decades.
Published Early body contact develops premature babies' social skills
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Skin-to-skin contact between parent and infant during the first hours after a very premature birth helps develop the child's social skills. The study also shows that fathers may play a more important role than previous research has shown.
Published AI may aid in diagnosing adolescents with ADHD
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze specialized brain MRI scans of adolescents with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researchers found significant differences in nine brain white matter tracts in individuals with ADHD.
Published Kids who feel their parents are less reliable take fewer risks vital to learning and growth
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The researchers studied decisions that more than 150 children ages 10 to 13 made while playing games that offered opportunities to risk a little and explore for potential gains.
Published Genes influence whether infants prefer to look at faces or non-social objects
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Whether infants at five months of age look mostly at faces or non-social objects such as cars or mobile phones is largely determined by genes. The findings suggest that there is a biological basis for how infants create their unique visual experiences and which things they learn most about.
Published Stem cell-based treatment controls blood sugar in people with Type 1 diabetes
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An innovative stem cell-based treatment for Type 1 diabetes can meaningfully regulate blood glucose levels and reduce dependence on daily insulin injections, according to new clinical trial results. The therapy aims to replace the insulin-producing beta cells that people with Type 1 diabetes lack. Dubbed VC-02, the small medical implant contains millions of lab-grown pancreatic islet cells, including beta cells, that originate from a line of pluripotent stem cells.
Published New study on experience of adopted people as they become parents
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new piece of research looks at the challenges faced by adopted people when they become parents. The study investigated the lived experiences of adopted people in the UK as they become parents. Until now research in this area has been very limited and hasn't tended to included the experiences of adopted men as fathers.
Published Novel molecular mechanisms in the early development of diabetes mellitus
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers conducted a gene expression analysis at the single-cell level on pancreatic islets from prediabetic and diabetic mouse models. Analysis results revealed upregulation of Anxa10 expression in pancreatic beta cells during the early phases of diabetes, attributed to elevated blood glucose levels. This elevated Anxa10 expression was found to influence intracellular calcium homeostasis, leading to a reduction in insulin secretory capacity.
Published High levels of maternal stress during pregnancy linked to children's behavior problems
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Children whose mothers are highly stressed, anxious or depressed during pregnancy may be at higher risk for mental health and behavior issues during their childhood and teen years, according to new research.
Published Hormones have the potential to treat liver fibrosis
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have discovered previously unknown changes in a specific type of liver cells, potentially opening avenues for a new treatment for liver fibrosis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Currently, there are no drugs available to treat liver fibrosis.
Published NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme may have global impact
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source As ten percent of the world's adult population is predicted to have diabetes by 2030, a major new study finds that the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme has a positive effect on reducing risk of developing diabetes.
Published Semaglutide reduced cardiovascular events by 20% in certain adults
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Semaglutide reduced cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease who do not have diabetes, according to new research. Semaglutide is primarily prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes but is also approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight and have at least one other health issue. In the trial, patients treated with semaglutide lost an average of 9.4% of their body weight and experienced improvements in other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Results from the 'SELECT -- Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Overweight or Obesity Who Do Not Have Diabetes' trial were presented today during a late-breaking science session at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2023 and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Published Shortening sleep time increases diabetes risk in women
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study in women found that shortening sleep by just 90 minutes for a few weeks increased insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Published Study finds melatonin use soaring among youth
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Nearly one in five school-aged children and preteens now take melatonin for sleep, and some parents routinely give the hormone to preschoolers, according to new research.
Published Drug screen points toward novel diabetes treatments
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A drug currently in clinical trials as a cancer therapy can also stimulate pancreatic beta cells to secrete insulin, revealing a previously unknown mechanism for insulin regulation in type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. The preclinical discovery provides a new chemical tool for probing the biology of diabetes, and could point the way toward better treatments for the disease.
Published Obesity linked to neurodegeneration through insulin resistance
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have discovered a link between obesity and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Using the common fruit fly, the research shows that a high-sugar diet -- a hallmark of obesity -- causes insulin resistance in the brain, which in turn reduces the ability to remove neuronal debris, thus increasing the risk of neurodegeneration.
Published When dads are feeling a bit depressed or anxious, how do kids fare?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A team of researchers has found that slightly higher, but mild anxious or depressive symptoms in fathers were associated with fewer behavioral difficulties in the first years of elementary school and better scores on a standardized IQ test in their children.
Published A step closer to injection-free diabetes care: Innovation in insulin-producing cells
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A team has developed a new step to improve the process for creating insulin-producing pancreatic cells from a patient's own stem cells, bringing the prospect of injection-free treatment closer for people with diabetes.