A 17-year study by Ben-Gurion University suggests that the risk of ADHD is influenced by early environmental factors and individual sensitivity, especially in children with certain temperaments and parental ADHD symptoms, highlighting the importance of early intervention.
A study by Ben-Gurion University reveals that people underutilize their visual working memory (VWM), often recalling fewer items than their capacity allows. Participants typically remembered just one item at a time, despite being able to remember 3-4 items. This finding provides new insights into the real-life usage of VWM and suggests that further research is needed to understand the reasons behind this behavior.
A study led by Prof. Shira Knafo at Ben-Gurion University has revealed a significant link between anxiety disorders and the brain receptor TACR3, as well as testosterone. The research found that rodents with high anxiety had low TACR3 levels in the hippocampus, and that testosterone deficiency-related anxiety could be addressed by targeting TACR3. The study employed innovative tools to advance understanding of synaptic plasticity and its role in anxiety, offering new therapeutic possibilities for treating anxiety disorders, especially in individuals with hypogonadism.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a new bio-sensing technology that predicts cancer patients’ response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. The new Immuno-checkpoint Artificial Reporter (IcAR) technology has been licensed to OncoHost, an Israeli-guided oncology company, which will seek US Food and Drug Administration approval. The technology has the potential to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy and spare patients toxicity and debilitating side effects.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University and Soroka-University Medical Center have developed a medication for statin myopathy, a condition that causes paralysis and leads to death. The disease is caused by a mutation in the gene encoding HMG CoA reductase, inhibiting the enzyme’s activity. The team synthesized and purified Methylmevalonolactone, the normal product of HMG CoA reductase that is missing in those patients. The medication has been tested for safety in mice and has been given to the most severely affected patient, who has improved dramatically. The researchers are now seeking financial support and/or collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry to push forward standardized production and licensing of the medication.