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Behavioral Health

A potential new weapon in the battle against addiction
Research from Penn’s Heath Schmidt revealed that drugs already approved by the FDA to treat diabetes and obesity may reduce cocaine relapse and help addicted people break the habit

The green fluorescent ‘dots’ above show where Exendin-4, an FDA-approved drug used to treat diabetes and obesity, ends up in the brain. The drug activates receptors for glucagon-like peptide 1 or GLP-1, a hormone that reduces food intake. The blue and red coloring indicate neurons and astrocytes, respectively.

A potential new weapon in the battle against addiction

New research revealed that FDA-approved drugs to treat diabetes and obesity may reduce cocaine relapse and help addicts break the habit. Such medications work by targeting receptors for glucagon-like peptide 1, a hormone in the brain.

Michele W. Berger

The human story of coal’s downturn
CoalStockImage

The human story of coal’s downturn

A forthcoming report from the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy will offer a range of strategies to directly impact the economic and mental health crisis in coal country.

Sorenson talks gun violence prevention at March for Science
Researcher Susan B. Sorenson spoke about gun violence prevention at the second annual March for Science, which took place in D.C. on Saturday, April 14, 2018. (Photo: Jay Blakesberg/March for Science)

Researcher Susan B. Sorenson spoke about gun violence prevention at the second annual March for Science, which took place in D.C. on Saturday, April 14, 2018. (Photo: Jay Blakesberg/March for Science)

Sorenson talks gun violence prevention at March for Science

At the second annual March for Science in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 14, Susan B. Sorenson of the School of Social Policy and Practice spoke about gun violence prevention.

Michele W. Berger

Confronting the Opioid Crisis

Confronting the Opioid Crisis

Ph.D. candidate Clare Whitney of the School of Nursing counters the narrative that access to naloxone, which can rapidly reverse opioid overdose, encourages addicts to continue using. Whitney explained that naloxone isn’t the problem; access to proper care is.

Addressing unseen scars of a traumatic brain injury head on
Kraft-Amy-and-family

Amy Kraft and her family. (Photo courtesy of Amy Kraft)

Addressing unseen scars of a traumatic brain injury head on

Research at Penn Med explores the lasting effect of traumatic brain injuries on the nervous system to expand how we understand physical injury to the brain and behavior.

Katie Delach

Risk tolerance linked to amygdala and prefrontal cortex brain regions
A new study from Penn researchers Joseph Kable and Caryn Lerman linked the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex to risk tolerance.

A new study from Penn researchers Joseph Kable and Caryn Lerman linked the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex to risk tolerance.

Risk tolerance linked to amygdala and prefrontal cortex brain regions

New research links willingness to take risks to brain structure and function, specifically the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and connections between the two.

Michele W. Berger