Health
Tinnitus – Linked to a Crucial Bodily Function
Those who have never endured the relentless ringing of tinnitus can only dream of the torment. In fact, a bad dream may be the closest some get to experiencing anything like it. The subjective sound, which can also be a hissing, buzzing, or clicking, is heard by no one else, and it may be present constantly, or may come and go. Neuroscientists at the University of Oxford now suspect that sleep and tinnitus are closely intertwined in the brain. Their findings hint at a fundamental relationship between the two conditions – one that has, surprisingly, been overlooked in the brain until very recently. “What first made me and my colleagues…
Bipolar disorder – brain’s areas where extreme states are located
A recently published study reveals the areas of the brain where the extreme states that people with bipolar disorder can reach are located. Moods and emotions play a big role in our daily lives. They even influence how we deal with things – for example, whether we start the day feeling hopeful and energetic or grumpy and lethargic. This can affect whether we interpret events in a positive or negative light. In people with bipolar disorder, however, mood can change rapidly and unpredictably, leaving them “stuck” in either a low or high mood, which can have significant consequences. However, researchers don’t know exactly what causes such extreme mood swings. Now,…
New blood type discovered after 50 years of mystery
When a pregnant woman’s blood was drawn in 1972, doctors discovered that a surface molecule found on all other red cells known at the time was mysteriously missing. After 50 years, this strange molecular absence finally led researchers in the UK and Israel to describe a new blood group system in humans. In 2024, the team published their paper on the new discovery. “It is a huge achievement and the culmination of a long team effort to finally establish this new blood group system and to be able to provide the best care for rare but important patients.” This was said by haematologist Louise Tilley, of the UK’s National Health…
