‘Fastball’ test to detect Alzheimer’s earlier gets major £1.5 million funding boost12 July 2023A simple but revolutionary test to improve early detection for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease could soon be helping patients and their families, thanks to a significant £1.5 million funding boost awarded to the universities of Bath and Bristol.
Wearable monitor detects stress hormone levels across a full 24-hour day21 June 2023Early warning signs of diseases caused by dysfunctional levels of stress hormones could be spotted more easily thanks to a new wearable device developed by endocrine researchers. This is the first time it has been possible to measure changes to people’s stress hormones as they go about normal daily activities, across both day and night. The new collaborative research led by the University of Bristol, University of Birmingham and University of Bergen has the potential to revolutionise how diseases of the stress hormone system are diagnosed and treated.
Adaptations to living in a cold climate promoted social evolution1 June 2023For the first time ever, scientists have uncovered evidence that a species’ long-term adaptation to living in an extremely cold climate has led to the evolution of social behaviours including extended care by mothers, increased infant survival and the ability to live in large complex multilevel societies.
Bristol part of £42 million boost for mental health research to unlock new treatments30 May 2023The University of Bristol is part of a £42.7 million 'Mental Health Mission' announced by the Government to accelerate research into mental health conditions, including those impacting children. The research will develop radical new treatments, improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis and increase the use of technology to free up clinician time.
Pet rabbits need freedom to exercise, study finds25 April 2023Pet rabbits have higher levels of the stress hormone - corticosterone - and show activity rebound when kept in small hutches with restricted exercise, new research led by the University of Bristol Vet School has found. The research, funded by the RSPCA, highlights the importance that pairs of pet rabbits should have the freedom to exercise outside their home enclosure even when they are kept in hutches larger than the traditional size.
Gene in the brain can put brakes on anxiety, discover scientists25 April 2023A gene in the brain driving anxiety symptoms has been identified by an international team of scientists. Critically, modification of the gene is shown to reduce anxiety levels, offering an exciting novel drug target for anxiety disorders. The discovery, led by researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Exeter, is published online today [25 April] in Nature Communications.
Long-term use of steroids could impair memory, study finds14 April 2023Memory impairment associated with steroid use has been identified in a new study. The University of Bristol-led findings, published in PNAS, show great potential for the identification of drugs that could be adapted to treat certain memory disorders.
Hard Evidence – a theatrical and research legacy30 March 2023Thriving Theatre is a new theatre support group for people with lived experience of domestic abuse. It was established by the team behind Hard Evidence, a play about domestic abuse, mutual support and the empowering effect of public involvement in research.
Handshakes and hugs: why the science of touch is essential to our wellbeing28 March 2023Why is a hugged person a healthier person? How does a shared handshake make you more likely to tell the truth? University of Bristol social neuroscientist, Professor Michael Banissy, one of the foremost experts on touch, explores the fascinating new science of one of our most overlooked senses in 'When we touch', published this week [30 March].
Depression in Alzheimer's has different risk factors to depression in those without dementia22 March 2023Depression in Alzheimer's has different risk factors than depression in older adults without the disease, finds a major new study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The University of Bristol-led research looked at over 2,000 people with the disease to explain why current anti-depressants are ineffective for people living with depression in Alzheimer's.
Memories could be lost if two key brain regions fail to sync together, study finds15 March 2023Learning, remembering something, and recalling memories is supported by multiple separate groups of neurons connected inside and across key regions in the brain. If these neural assemblies fail to sync together at the right time, the memories are lost, a new study led by the universities of Bristol and Heidelberg has found.
Bristol Neuroscience Festival 20238 March 2023The 4th biennial Bristol Neuroscience Festival was delivered over three days in early March 2023, to roaring success!
Depression linked to immune response in some people1 March 2023A link between depression and changes in counts of several types of immune cells in the blood has been revealed by researchers at the University of Bristol's MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit. These findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggest that changes to different components of our immune system — both the innate and adaptive immune response — could play a role in causing depression.
Scientists identify how repeated cocaine use increases addictiveness10 February 2023Scientists have identified the brain structures responsible for compulsive drug-seeking behaviours due to repeated use of cocaine. The findings, published in Biomedicines, identifies the structures involved and neural pathways activated with repeated exposure to the drug. Researchers hope the study could help inform treatment for drug addiction.
Lived experience stories of self-harm may help and reduce stigma9 February 2023Lived experience stories of self-harm may be helpful for those with a history of self-harm but they should reflect a range of personal journeys to encourage relatability and avoid using stigmatising language. People with recent self-harm experience were able to positively engage with lived experiences stories found online, according to a study published in JMIR Mental health.
Remote research methods could be more inclusive for autistic adults3 February 2023Researchers from Bristol’s Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) wanted to explore how the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic affected autistic people. The study team was especially interested in whether lockdown experiences would affect people’s willingness to participate in research.