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Metformin’s Brain Rap1 Pathway Controlled Glucose in Mouse Study

MHD featured image for metformin, brain Rap1 signaling, hypothalamic VMH neurons, and glucose control.

A 2025 Science Advances mouse study found a more brain-dependent metformin mechanism than the usual liver-gut framing suggests: low-dose metformin lost its glucose-lowering effect when brain Rap1 signaling could not be reduced, and 36 of 47 ventromedial-hypothalamus SF1 neurons responded directly to metformin.1 Research Highlights Low-dose metformin needed brain Rap1: Control mice lowered glucose after …

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Schizophrenia Dementia Risk: Diabetes, Head Injury, Substance Use

Photoreal illustration of an aging brain with cardiovascular and lifestyle risk imagery, conveying preventable dementia drivers in schizophrenia.

Patients with schizophrenia have substantially elevated dementia risk compared to the general population — roughly 2-3 times the age-adjusted rate — but the specific drivers within the schizophrenia population have been less well characterized. A 2026 case-control study by Ho et al. used population-based data to identify which factors specifically elevate dementia risk among schizophrenia …

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Empagliflozin for Depression: Effective Adjunct with SSRIs (2024 Clinical Trial)

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) impacts millions globally, making it a significant public health challenge. Traditional treatments like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) don’t work for everyone, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. Recent clinical trials exploring the use of empagliflozin, a medication originally used to lower blood sugar in diabetes patients, have shown promising results …

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Seroquel (Quetiapine) Side Effects: List of Possibilities

Seroquel (Quetiapine) is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is used primarily for the treatment of schizophrenia and in some cases, bipolar disorder. It is also a relatively popular antidepressant augmentation strategy for individuals who don’t respond to monotherapeutic options. Off-label some doctors prescribe it at low doses for Tourette syndrome, insomnia and anxiety disorders, despite …

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Risperdal (Risperidone) Side Effects: List Of Possibilities

Risperdal (Risperidone) is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is primarily utilized to manage symptoms of schizophrenia. Additionally the drug is commonly prescribed for other conditions such as schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and for irritability associated with autism. It was initially approved by the FDA in 1994 and at the time was considered to be an …

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