Washington, Oct 2 : A new study has uncovered the mechanism behind smokers’ persistent dependency on nicotine.

Researchers at the Scripps Research Koob lab found that, in rats, chronic nicotine use recruits the extrahypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system, a major brain stress system, which contributes to continued tobacco use by intensifying anxiety and craving upon withdrawal.

The researchers pointed out that their findings might help explain why many cigarette smokers relapse even after a long abstinence from smoking.

Washington, Oct 2 : People who are conscientious, in other words self-disciplined, scrupulous and purposeful, are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has revealed.

Robert S. Wilson, Ph.D., of Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and colleagues studied 997 older Catholic nuns, priests and brothers who did not have dementia when the study began in 1994.

Washington, Oct 2 : People who are conscientious, in other words self-disciplined, scrupulous and purposeful, are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has revealed.

Robert S. Wilson, Ph.D., of Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and colleagues studied 997 older Catholic nuns, priests and brothers who did not have dementia when the study began in 1994.

Washington, Oct 2 : A new research has shown that leptin, a hormone largely responsible for regulating appetite control and energy metabolism, plays a key role in islet cell growth and insulin secretion.

The finding, unraveled by researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center, brings in new avenues for studying leptin and its role in islet cell biology, which may lead to new treatments for diabetes.

Washington, Oct 2 : A new study has found that children have more problems initiating sleep than maintaining it.

The study, authored by Leonie Fricke-Oerkermann, PhD, of the University of Cologne in Germany has also revealed that parents underestimated their kids’ sleep problems, highlighting the necessity of having treatment options available to help a child overcome a sleep disorder.