news

A study explores how variations in the copy number of certain DNA segments can influence cognitive abilities and neurodevelopment. A significant advancement in knowledge of the link between cognition and genetics has been made thanks to a study led by Université de Montréal graduate students Guillaume Huguet and Thomas Renne, working under the supervision of medical geneticist Sébastien Jacquemont, an associate professor of pediatrics and a researcher at the UdeM-affiliated CHU Saint-Justine.

In an international effort, researchers at Western, the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) uncovered how specific patterns in brain activity can predict an individual's sensitivity to pain, expanding opportunities for improved pain management strategies.

A new study led by Western researchers found frequent treatment with intranasal oxytocin - a hormone in the brain associated with empathy - offers promise for addressing a key symptom among patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD): Apathy. It's a common issue among those with FTD which affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, impacting language, behaviour and decision making.

Stays of six months to a year in weightlessness on the International Space Station affect ocular biomechanics, but the changes don't last, according to a study led by UdeM's Santiago Costantino. The low levels of gravity (microgravity) in space cause significant changes in astronauts' eyes and vision after six to 12 months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

A molecule already used for different purposes in humans could improve post-vaccination immune memory The RNA vaccine against COVID-19 has many qualities, but it has one shortcoming that has escaped no one's notice: the protection it confers is short-lived, hence the need for frequent booster doses.

A single gene that regulates testosterone levels in a "crazy" species of shore bird controls the development of three wildly different types of males, an international study involving researchers at Simon Fraser University has found. Ruffs have long fascinated scientists for their three types of males, known as morphs, that differ radically from each other in appearance and mating behaviours.

UdeM scientists are combining immersive imagery and hypnotic techniques to reduce pain and anxiety in patients who have cancer of the blood. In a room at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal, a patient puts on a virtual reality (VR) headset. Bright bubbles float slowly up and down before his eyes while soothing sounds play in the background.

Scientists at UdeM and its affiliated research institute IRIC have developed a new drug-discovery platform for high-risk leukemias in children - with promising results.

Study of fully vaccinated children finds a link between stunted growth and weakened immunity, suggesting combatting child hunger could help prevent the disease's spread Amid a global surge in measles cases, new research suggests that undernutrition may be exacerbating outbreaks in areas suffering from food insecurity.

In new study, MRI combined with machine learning reveals presence of cancer cells with 85-per-cent accuracy Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect the spread of metastatic brain cancer using MRI scans, offering insights into patients' cancer without aggressive surgery.

According to a new study, people who regularly go to the sauna enjoy better physical and mental health than people who don't. Why? Because of the heat. Going to the sauna offers the prospect of a cozy wooden space, where both mind and body can shelter from the pressures of daily life. The enjoyable aspects of this centuries-old ancestral practice have are known around the world.

Researchers find patterns in anaphylaxis symptoms that could help people manage their health risks Findings of a new study into severe allergic reactions offer a sobering warning to people allergic to tree nuts and, more broadly, could lead to quicker diagnoses in emergency care for people with all'anaphylactic allergies.

SFU study sheds new light on what causes long-term disability after a stroke and offers new path toward possible treatment A recent study from Simon Fraser researchers has revealed how an overlooked type of indirect brain damage contributes to ongoing disability after a stroke.

Endocannabinoids in the brain play a key role in food intake and energy use. Modulating the action of these molecules could help fight obesity, say researchers at the CRCHUM. For years, Université de Montréal medical professor Stephanie Fulton and her team have been unravelling the mechanisms in the human nervous system that control people's need to eat and to engage in physical activity, and how their metabolism affects their mood.

McGill researchers have discovered how certain microbes create potent drugs like antibiotics and anti-cancer therapies. Their surprising findings could change the way scientists approach drug discovery and pave the way to the designing of next-generation medications, explained Martin Schmeing, principal investigator and professor in McGill's Department of Biochemistry and Centre for Structural Biology.

Many people could greatly improve their odds against developing dementia by making four, low-cost lifestyle changes, Western researchers have discovered. In the first study of its kind , researchers at Lawson Research Institute (Lawson) and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry found about half of dementia cases in Canada can be influenced by 12 lifestyle factors.

UdeM scientists have developed a method to create retinal transplants from stem cells, and with them, blind mini-pigs have showed signs of restored vision, a promising development for humans, as well. Scientists at Université de Montréal have successfully transplanted retinas made from stem cells into blind mini-pigs - and, it seems, made them see again, according to a new study.

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo analyzed data from nearly 500,000 Canadian patients who lived in nursing homes across Canada between 2000 and 2022. It found that residents who were given antipsychotic medications showed a significant worsening of their behaviours. In fact, nearly 68 per cent of residents who used antipsychotics had more problems with their behaviour during follow-up checks.

A new study provides insights into the brain processes involved in nonverbal communication of pain, specifically facial expressions. Stubbing your toe on a table leg or fracturing your wrist will probably make you wince in pain (and possibly curse). It's a natural reaction; facial expressions play an important role in communicating the unpleasant sensory and emotional experience of pain.

Scientists discover a natural flu defense mechanism that activates in the nasal cavity during pregnancy McGill scientists have discovered that pregnancy may trigger a natural immunity to boost protection against severe flu infection. Contrary to the common belief that pregnancy increases vulnerability to infections, researchers found that it strengthened an immune defense in mice, blocking the Influenza A virus from spreading to the lungs, where it can cause severe infection.