News from NYU Langone Health
Dopamine Drives Aggression Learning In Males. (Neuroscience News)
Neuroscience News (1/22) Research led by NYU Langone Health revealed that dopamine significantly influences aggression in young male mice, with its impact lessening as they gain fighting experience, and the lateral septum being crucial for “aggression learning” in males; however, dopamine manipulation did not affect female aggression, according to Dayu Lin, PhD, professor, Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, who said, “Our findings offer new insight into how both ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ shape aggression in males.”
Biomarkers May Enable Blood Test For Early Alzheimer’s Disease, Explain Sex Disparity. (Healio)
Healio (1/22) A study published in Molecular Psychiatry found that women with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) exhibited lower levels of acetyl-L-carnitine and free carnitine, which may serve as blood-based biomarkers for the disease, according to Betty Bigio, PhD, research assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, who said, “Our findings offer the strongest evidence to date that decreased blood levels of acetyl-L-carnitine and free carnitine could act as blood biomarkers for identifying those who have Alzheimer’s disease.”
Med Schools Employing AI To Screen Applications. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (1/22) Several medical schools including NYU Grossman School of Medicine are using AI tools to enhance efficiency and reduce bias in application screenings, with other institutions planning to implement similar technologies within the next two years.
NeuroVoices: Jacqueline A. French, MD, On Leveraging Neurostimulators To Advance Epilepsy Drug Development. (Neurology Live)
Neurology Live (1/22) At the 2024 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, Jacqueline A. French, MD, professor, Department of Neurology, NYU Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, presented findings indicating that a 30% reduction in long-episode frequency detected by responsive neurostimulators predicts a meaningful reduction in clinical seizure frequency, highlighting the potential of using this biomarker in proof-of-concept studies to advance the development of antiseizure medications.
Kelly McKinney: The New Threat To Cities Like Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (1/22) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s December 2023 announcement to deploy one million drones against Russia has led to a significant shift in the global threat landscape, with cities like Pittsburgh becoming more vulnerable to drone attacks, as highlighted by Kelly McKinney, assistant vice president, Emergency Management & Enterprise Resilience.
How To Find An LGBTQIA+-Affirming Healthcare Provider In NYC. (Gay City News)
Gay City News (1/22) Logan Handwerk, physician assistant, NYU Langone Medical Associates—Chelsea, advises that starting with a general screening can be an effective way to find an LGBTQIA+-friendly provider, emphasizing the importance of comfort and honesty in patient-provider interaction; the article also offers insights on finding supportive healthcare, recommending utilizing trusted community networks, researching providers’ LGBTQIA+ experience, and assessing comfort levels, while highlighting the availability of resources like NYC Health’s map and NYU Langone Health’s search tool for locating affirming providers.
Can A Nasal Spray Really Help Treat Depression? Here’s What To Know About Spravato. (PopSugar)
PopSugar (1/22) The FDA has expanded the approval of Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato, a nasal spray for severe depression, allowing its use as a standalone treatment for individuals who have not responded to other methods, with Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, explaining that Spravato, derived from esketamine, is effective for treatment-resistant depression, showing significant results within two days for some patients.
The 3 Worst Drinks That Increase Alzheimer’s Risk — Including One Health-Conscious People Like. (New York Post)
The New York Post (1/22) Experts have identified certain popular drinks, including alcoholic beverages and sports drinks high in sugar, as contributors to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, with Arjun Masurkar, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Departments of Neurology, and Neuroscience and Physiology, saying, “Consuming alcohol can have many negative effects on the brain, especially in people over the age of 65,” noting that he recommends patients “consume a maximum of one alcoholic beverage a day, preferably none.”
Trump Ends Push To Slash Prescription Drug Costs. (HealthDay)
HealthDay (1/22) President Donald Trump, on Monday, reversed a Biden administration initiative to reduce prescription drug costs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients and weakened the Affordable Care Act by eliminating policies like the extended sign-up period for uninsured adults and additional outreach funding for Medicaid, with Arthur Caplan, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Division of Medical Ethics, Department of Population Health, noting Trump’s cautious approach while leaving Biden’s bigger initiatives alone, saying, “Right now, he seems to be nibbling on the edges.”
