Calorie-filled meals with little nutrition are suspected of having an impact on decision-making and of causing an overweight trap. By Pieter Devuyst and Horizon Staff Esther Aarts has a warning for fast-food lovers around the world: such diets not only expand waistlines but also cause brain inflammation. A professor of nutritional neuroscience at Radboud University … Read more
Psoriasis and eczema can have complex causes and consequences that researchers are seeking to uncover. By Gareth Willmer In his mid-teens during the 1970s, Maarten de Wit had severe joint pain in multiple parts of his body. He had to wait another three years until the age of 19 before being diagnosed with arthritis. ‘At … Read more
Research is helping strawberries and raspberries become more resilient to climate change and snacks become healthier. By Matthew Newman Supermarkets across Europe offer such regular and wide selections of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries – even in the grip of winter – that it’s easy to take them for granted. But behind the seemingly limitless domestic … Read more
Intimidation at school is a widespread and worrying phenomenon being examined through psychology and genomics. By Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro The coastal Finnish town of Rauma became the site of the country’s first-ever school shooting in January 1989, when a 14-year-old boy killed two classmates using his father’s pistol. The shooter claimed to be a victim … Read more
Researchers are exploring links between microorganisms in the human gut and neurodevelopmental disorders in the hope of accelerating diagnosis and treatment. By Vittoria D’Alessio Professor Alessio Fasano is keenly aware of the challenges faced by families that have children with autism. Fasano, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in the US, has several relatives and … Read more
Researchers are developing portable ultrasound devices that promise improved treatments for millions of patients. By Helen Massy-Beresford When someone suffers a stroke, the timing of medical help is crucial. The faster treatment is given, the greater the chance the person will fully recover. But doctors need to know what kind of stroke to treat. 60-minute … Read more