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New EndoCompass Research Roadmap calls for coordinated investment to tackle Europe’s hormone health challenge

The European Society of Endocrinology has released the EndoCompass Research Roadmap, a major new initiative to align research efforts and improve funding strategies for hormone-related health challenges. The roadmap identifies specific research needs across eight endocrine specialties and five cross-cutting areas.

SourceEuropean Society of Endocrinology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 17, 2025

Adopting a healthy diet may have cardiometabolic benefits regardless of weight loss

A new study found that nearly one-third of individuals adopting healthy diets didn't lose weight but still experienced significant improvements in cardiometabolic markers, including increased HDL cholesterol and reduced visceral fat. The research suggests a healthy diet can have benefits beyond weight loss.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 5, 2025

‘It still hurts, she said’: why pain medication may not be as effective for women as it is for men

Researchers found that female rodents experience heightened pain sensitivity due to activation of Panx1 channels releasing leptin, a hormone associated with increased pain sensitivity. This study aims to personalize treatment for patients and may explain the over-representation of women experiencing chronic pain compared to men.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 17, 2025

Does the brain produce estrogen to control appetite?

New research found that neuroestrogens produced in the brain help suppress appetite, as confirmed by experiments where aromatase expression was restored specifically in the brain. This suggests a link between neuroestrogen levels and body weight regulation.

SourceWiley·JournalFEBS Journal·DateFeb 19, 2025

A weekly injection could replace painful daily treatment for rare fat disorder

Researchers at Rutgers University have discovered that a weekly injection of diabetes medication can replace painful daily hormone shots for people with a rare genetic form of lipodystrophy. The study found that the drug tirzepatide improved insulin resistance and normalized blood glucose levels in patients, reducing the burden and pai...

SourceRutgers University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2025

Vanderbilt authors find evidence that the hunger hormone leptin can direct neural development in a leptin receptor–independent manner

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have found that the hunger hormone leptin can direct neural development in a leptin receptor-independent manner. This discovery suggests a novel role for leptin in specifying the development of neural circuits involved in autonomic regulation and food intake.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 25, 2024

UT Health San Antonio finds higher levels of leptin indicate brain protection against late-life dementia

A new study by UT Health San Antonio found that higher levels of leptin are associated with better signal-transmitting brain white matter in middle-aged adults. The researchers also discovered a link between leptin bioavailability and reduced risk of cognitive impairment, providing potential insights into obesity's role in dementia.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 18, 2024

Leptin helps hungry mice choose sex over food

Researchers found that leptin receptor neurons prioritize social interaction over eating and drinking in moderately hungry mice. This system can only regulate moderate hunger, but not strong hunger, which may contribute to why diets don't work.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 23, 2023

Increase in leptin levels in preeclampsia prompts cardiovascular cascade that puts mother and baby at risk

Researchers discovered that midgestation leptin surge in preeclampsia leads to endothelial dysfunction, blood vessel constriction, and restricted fetal growth. This finding highlights the crucial role of leptin in pregnancy and its potential consequences on maternal and infant cardiovascular health.

Obesity and hypertension: Researchers discover novel mechanisms

New research reveals that obese mice do not increase the density of blood vessels in the hypothalamus when leptin is absent. However, increasing leptin levels promotes vessel growth via astrocyte activity. This study provides a paradigm shift in understanding how the hypothalamus controls blood pressure in obesity.

Cellular stress makes obese mothers have obese babies

A new study reveals that maternal obesity triggers cellular stress in the endoplasmic reticulum, disrupting hypothalamic development and leading to offspring obesity. Bile acid treatment mitigates these changes, reversing obesity-related metabolic issues in mice offspring.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 13, 2020

Nasal delivery of weight-loss hormone eases breathing problems in sleeping mice

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have successfully delivered the weight-loss hormone leptin through the nose to obese mice, alleviating breathing problems during sleep. The study suggests that nasal delivery may overcome leptin resistance and provide a new treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateNov 7, 2018