Medical Bulletin 08/February/2024

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Certain smells may influence brain cells to make decisions

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus researchers have discovered that odors stimulate specific brain cells that may play a role in rapid `go, no-go’ decision making.

The study was published online on 6th February 2024 in the journal Current Biology.

The scientists focused on the hippocampus, an area of the brain crucial to memory and learning. The so-called `time cells’ played a major role in hippocampal function but their role in associative learning is not well-known.

“These are cells that would remind you to make a decision – do this or do that,” said the study’s senior author Diego Restrepo, PhD, a neuroscientist and professor of cell and developmental biology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982224000216?via=ihub

Effects of Youth Tackle Football on Brain Structure and Function

A study in JAMA Network Open explored the brain structure and neurophysiological characteristics of adolescent football players.

The neurological impact of adolescent football players subjected to head traumas is unclear. While football might promote teamwork, repeated subconcussive blows can cause neurological problems, particularly in young athletes.

Studies have reported that collision sports athletes have a lower cortical thickness, but current high school and college football players have higher brain volume reduction and cortical thinning in frontotemporal areas. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) functional connectivity indicated neurophysiological alterations caused by repeated head trauma.

In the study, researchers used sophisticated neuroimaging techniques to assess brain anatomy and neurophysiology between high school football players and non-contact sports participants.

Reference: Zuidema TR, Hou J, Kercher KA, et al. Cerebral Cortical Surface Structure and Neural Activation Pattern Among Adolescent Football Players. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(2):e2354235. DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.54235 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2814507

Genetics Tied to Emotional Reactivity Under Stressful situations

A recent study published in The Scientific Reports examined the link between genetic variations in the CD38 gene cluster and heightened distress during emotionally charged situations

Oxytocin is a peptide neurohormone that is actively involved in social behavior, including parent-infant bonding, particularly in the immediate period following childbirth, relationships, and group dynamics. Oxytocin-related genetic variants have been associated with various effects on empathy, brain activation during emotion recognition tasks, responses to trauma, and the risk of autism.

Researchers have identified that A allele carriers of the CD38 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) had higher plasma oxytocin levels, a more sensitive approach to parenting, and stronger empathic responses. However, other studies have reported that individuals with the AA genotype of the CD38 SNP reported higher levels of suicide ideation, depressive symptoms, and greater alienation from parents and peers.

Reference: Procyshyn, T. L., Leclerc Bédard, L., Crespi, B. J., & Bartz, J. A. (2024). CD38 genetic variation is associated with increased personal distress to an emotional stimulus. Scientific Reports 14(1); 1-7. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-53081-5