https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/steroids/ Steroids. Read the latest medical research on steroid use and steroid abuse. How do steroids affect the body? en-us Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:18:00 EDT Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:18:00 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/steroids/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260116035351.htm Scientists have discovered that breast cancer can quietly throw the brain’s internal clock off balance—almost immediately after cancer begins. In mice, tumors flattened the natural daily rhythm of stress hormones, disrupting the brain-body feedback loop that regulates stress, sleep, and immunity. Remarkably, when researchers restored the correct day-night rhythm in specific brain neurons, stress hormone cycles snapped back into place, immune cells flooded the tumors, and the cancers shrank—without using any anti-cancer drugs. Sun, 18 Jan 2026 23:35:08 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260116035351.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251211100615.htm Rats with naturally high stress levels were far more likely to self-administer cannabis when given access. Behavioral testing showed that baseline stress hormones were the strongest predictor of cannabis-seeking behavior. Lower cognitive flexibility and low endocannabinoid levels also contributed to increased use. The results hint at possible early indicators of vulnerability to drug misuse. Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:15:09 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251211100615.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002404.htm Using cannabis to self-medicate comes with hidden dangers—new research shows these users face higher paranoia and consume more THC. Childhood trauma further amplifies the risks, especially emotional abuse, which strongly predicts paranoia. Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:24:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002404.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212165952.htm Scientists have developed a new systematic review to summarize for neurologists and other clinicians the evidence for epidural steroid injections and whether they reduce pain and disability for people with certain kinds of chronic back pain. Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:59:52 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212165952.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250211134454.htm Scientists have discovered a new way to boost muscle strength without the dangerous side effects of traditional androgens. A powerful male hormone called 5α-DHT normally drives bone density and muscle growth but can also fuel problems like prostate cancer. Now, researchers have shown that activating a receptor called GPR133 with a specially designed compound, AP503, can increase muscle force while avoiding those harmful risks. Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:44:54 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250211134454.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250130135649.htm Women who go on to develop postpartum depression (PPD) may have characteristic levels of neuroactive steroids, molecules derived from the hormone progesterone, in their blood during the third trimester of pregnancy, according to a new study. These molecules influence the brain's stress response and emotional regulation. Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:56:49 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250130135649.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241212115638.htm New research shows that glioblastoma has an internal clock and syncs its daily rhythms to match -- and take advantage of -- the rhythms of its host. In this way, brain tumors grow in response to the host's daily release of steroid hormones like cortisol. Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:56:38 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241212115638.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241115124549.htm Stress is a double-edged sword when it comes to memory: stressful or otherwise emotional events are usually more memorable, but stress can also make it harder for us to retrieve memories. Now, neuroscientists report that acute stress prevents mice from forming specific memories. Instead, the stressed mice formed generalized memories, which are encoded by larger numbers of neurons. Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:45:49 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241115124549.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241030150853.htm Men and adolescent boys are increasingly at risk of resorting to the dangerous use of anabolic steroids in a bid to achieve the desired muscular build modeled on social media, warn body image experts. A new review that focused specifically on men found that exposure to social media posts depicting ideal muscular male bodies is directly linked to a negative body image and greater odds of resorting to anabolic-androgenic steroid use. Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:08:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241030150853.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113120.htm Despite the high prevalence of substance abuse and its often devastating outcomes, especially among disadvantaged populations, few Americans receive treatment for substance use disorders. However, the rise of mobile health technologies can make treatments more accessible. Wed, 08 May 2024 11:31:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113120.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240411130322.htm Childhood verbal abuse by adults costs society an estimated $300 billion a year globally, show recent findings. Thu, 11 Apr 2024 13:03:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240411130322.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240306150555.htm A research team has examined the link between adverse childhood experiences and the risk of mental health problems later in life. The researchers have found that the risk of suffering from mental illness later in life among those experiencing significant adversity in childhood can be partly explained by factors shared by family members, such as genetics and environment. Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:05:55 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240306150555.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240130133633.htm Exposure to body positive imagery on social media increase body satisfaction and reduces weight concerns in both men and women, a new study reports. Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:36:33 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240130133633.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240123122213.htm Previous research has established that childhood experience with abuse, neglect, and substance use in the home can worsen a person's heart health throughout their life. New research, however, now shows that receiving warmth from a caregiver during childhood protects cardiovascular health later in life, according to a new study. Tue, 23 Jan 2024 12:22:13 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240123122213.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231219124518.htm Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or neglect, either alone or combined with other types of childhood trauma, increases the risk of chronic pain and related disability in adulthood, according to new research.  Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:45:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231219124518.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231211114651.htm Partners and children who are subject to domestic abuse are more likely to experience certain physical and mental health effects than previously thought, according to a new meta-analysis. Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:46:51 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231211114651.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231107105359.htm Researchers show why only a subset of individuals exposed to trauma develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research, centered on the body's stress hormone response, could pave the way for more targeted treatments for PTSD. Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:53:59 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231107105359.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231025173643.htm People who have experienced traumatic events in childhood such as abuse, neglect or household dysfunction may be more likely to experience headache disorders as adults, according to a meta-analysis. This research does not prove that such experiences cause headaches; it only shows an association. Wed, 25 Oct 2023 17:36:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231025173643.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231011202427.htm A drug that boosts strength in injured or aging mice restores connections between nerves and muscle and suggests ways to combat weakness in humans due to aging, injury or disease. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:24:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231011202427.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231011182220.htm Scientists have uncovered why night shift work is associated with changes in appetite in a new study. The findings could help the millions of people that work through the night and struggle with weight gain. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:22:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231011182220.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231002124354.htm A new systematic review has highlighted the importance of identifying childhood verbal abuse by adults as a standalone subtype of child maltreatment, to ensure targeted prevention and address the lasting harm it can inflict. Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:43:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231002124354.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230829125934.htm A new study shows that people suffering from hospital-treated depression may have a high risk of developing conditions such as substance abuse, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety -- depending on their genetic predisposition to the individual disorder. Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:59:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230829125934.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230705122459.htm New research has found that the way childhood abuse and/or neglect is remembered and processed has a greater impact on later mental health than the experience itself. The authors suggest that, even in the absence of documented evidence, clinicians can use patients' self-reported experiences of abuse and neglect to identify those at risk of developing mental health difficulties and provide early interventions. Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:24:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230705122459.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230608195659.htm For the first time, cells involved with the communication between stress responses in the brain and inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract have been identified in animal models. Glial cells, which support neurons, communicate stress signals from the central nervous system (CNS) to the semi-autonomous nervous system within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, called the enteric nervous system (ENS). These psychological stress signals can cause inflammation and exacerbate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thu, 08 Jun 2023 19:56:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230608195659.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230501085855.htm It's generally accepted we will lose muscle strength and slow down as we age, making it more difficult to perform simple tasks such as getting up, walking and sitting down. But new research indicates this could also be a signal for another sinister health concern of ageing: late-life dementia. Mon, 01 May 2023 08:58:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230501085855.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/11/221121105304.htm The number of stores selling alcohol in a neighborhood is linked to cases of child abuse and neglect in the same area, a new study suggests. Mon, 21 Nov 2022 10:53:04 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/11/221121105304.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/11/221115114115.htm One aspect of hormonal contraceptives' effect on the teenage body remains a mystery -- whether and how they modify the developing brain. New research in young rats links synthetic hormones found in birth control pills, patches and injections with disordered signal transmission between cells in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that continues to develop throughout adolescence. Tue, 15 Nov 2022 11:41:15 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/11/221115114115.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220921093012.htm Substance abuse among U.S. adolescents is diminishing, except for an uptake in cannabis and vaping use, according to a new study. The findings show that low social engagement and participation in structured activities seemed to be the overall best predictors of substance abuse avoidance. Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:30:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220921093012.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220808211750.htm Disruption of the circadian clocks that keep the body and its cells entrained to the 24-hour day-night cycle plays a critical role in weight gain, according to a pair of studies. Mon, 08 Aug 2022 21:17:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220808211750.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220801102947.htm It is well known that whole-body exposure to high frequency ultrasound increases brain activity in humans. However, little is known about its impact and associated mechanisms on emotional states like depression. Now researchers have recently demonstrated the anti-depressant effects of ultrasound exposure in a rodent model of depression. Their findings shed light on the potential of ultrasound exposure as a non-invasive treatment for mental disorders. Mon, 01 Aug 2022 10:29:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220801102947.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220719162125.htm Researchers used a new kind of computational tool to parse the complicated genetics that put some people at higher risk of becoming addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, and likely other substances. Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:21:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220719162125.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220603100121.htm When parents in countries worldwide use spanking as a behavior deterrent, their children are more likely to become a victim of physical abuse, say researchers. Fri, 03 Jun 2022 10:01:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220603100121.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220427100503.htm The likelihood of developing high cholesterol -- a risk factor for heart disease and stroke -- was higher among white men and white women who experienced abuse during childhood, according to a study of more than 5,000 Black and white adults in the U.S. In contrast, growing up in a well-managed household with family members who were involved and engaged in the child's life offset the higher risk of high cholesterol among white women and Black men who reported abuse during childhood. Wed, 27 Apr 2022 10:05:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220427100503.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220405102900.htm Clinical awareness of connection between alcohol and dementia is paramount to providing the best patient care management. Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:29:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220405102900.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211105103757.htm New research shows the lifelong toll that adverse events in childhood can take on your health. Fri, 05 Nov 2021 10:37:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211105103757.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121948.htm A study has found that adults with maltreatment-related posttraumatic stress disorder or a history of sexual abuse have lower brain connectivity in the attention systems known as the ventral and dorsal attention network. These networks enable us to shift attention from external events to a specific task. The team also found that oxytocin, a hormone associated with social affiliation as well as stress response, increases brain connectivity in those systems. Wed, 27 Oct 2021 12:19:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027121948.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211013104610.htm According to time-honored advice, drinking a glass of warm milk at bedtime will encourage a good night's rest. Milk's sleep-enhancing properties are commonly ascribed to tryptophan, but scientists have also discovered a mixture of milk peptides, called casein tryptic hydrolysate (CTH), that relieves stress and enhances sleep. Now, researchers have identified specific peptides in CTH that might someday be used in new, natural sleep remedies. Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:46:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211013104610.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211001082614.htm Daily release of hormones depends on the coordinated activity of clocks in two parts of the brain, a finding that could have implications for human diseases. Fri, 01 Oct 2021 08:26:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211001082614.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210923115627.htm A new study found that adults who reported experiencing sexual abuse by the age of 16 had a 2.6 times higher risk of dying in middle age -- that is, between 45 and 58 -- than those who did not report sexual abuse. Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:56:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210923115627.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210917161206.htm Researchers attempted to unravel such mechanisms by adopting non-invasive diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the brains of SLE patients, particularly the white matter, coupled with computerized neuropsychological assessment. White matter lies beneath the grey matter cortex in the human brain and comprises millions of bundles of nerve fibers that transmit signals to different brain regions. Fri, 17 Sep 2021 16:12:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210917161206.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210916173431.htm Researchers find that youth who witness the abuse of a brother or sister by a parent can be just as traumatized as those witnessing violence by a parent against another parent. Such exposure is associated with mental health issues like depression, anxiety and anger. Thu, 16 Sep 2021 17:34:31 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210916173431.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210916114558.htm According to a new study, parental alienating behaviors and coercively controlling abuse are similar, and should be treated similarly in family court proceedings. Thu, 16 Sep 2021 11:45:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210916114558.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210806104334.htm Chronic stress is a well-known cause for mental health disorders. New research has moved a step forward in understanding how glucocorticoid hormones ('stress hormones') act upon the brain and what their function is. The findings could lead to more effective strategies in the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. Fri, 06 Aug 2021 10:43:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210806104334.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210414154958.htm A refined and validated bruising clinical decision rule (BCDR), called TEN-4-FACESp, which specifies body regions on which bruising is likely due to abuse for infants and young children, may improve earlier recognition of cases that should be further evaluated for child abuse. Wed, 14 Apr 2021 15:49:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210414154958.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210331143023.htm Researchers have identified the biological mechanism of how chronic stress leads to hair loss. They found that the stress hormone corticosterone causes hair follicle stem cells to stay in an extended resting phase, without regenerating tissue. The stress signal was first received by dermal cells surrounding the hair follicle, preventing them from releasing Gas6, a molecule that activates stem cells. When researchers added back Gas6, stem cells could regenerate hair even under stress. Wed, 31 Mar 2021 14:30:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210331143023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325084537.htm Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), a synthetic version of the male sex hormone testosterone, are sometimes used as a medical treatment for hormone imbalance, and its use is known to have many side effects, ranging from acne to heart problems to increased aggression. A new study now suggests that AAS can also have deleterious effects on the brain, causing it to age prematurely. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 08:45:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210325084537.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322085502.htm A study shows that harsh parenting practices in childhood have long-term repercussions for children's brain development. Repeatedly getting angry, hitting, shaking or yelling at children is linked with smaller brain structures in adolescence, according to a new study Mon, 22 Mar 2021 08:55:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322085502.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316083810.htm Children who are exposed to abuse before they are eleven years old, and those exposed to abuse both in childhood and adolescence may be more likely to develop conduct problems (such as bullying or stealing) than those exposed to abuse in adolescence only and those who are not exposed to abuse, according to a new study. Tue, 16 Mar 2021 08:38:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210316083810.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210208114249.htm The physical origin of alcohol addiction has been located in a network of the human brain that regulates our response to danger, according to a researchers. Mon, 08 Feb 2021 11:42:49 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210208114249.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201222104120.htm Female rats that inhaled vaporized cannabis daily for a month developed a blunted physiological response to stress, according to a new study. In contrast, male rats that were provided access to the same potency of cannabis over the same 30-day window did not experience any physiological changes in how they responded to a stressful situation. Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:41:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201222104120.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201022201407.htm A new study has found that anxiety and stress directly linked to COVID-19 could be causing a number of body image issues. The research, which involved 506 UK adults, found that worries linked to COVID-19 were associated with body dissatisfaction and a desire for thinness in women, and associated with body fat dissatisfaction and a desire for muscularity in men. Thu, 22 Oct 2020 20:14:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201022201407.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200910090034.htm You know the type: Loud. Swaggering. Pushy. The alpha male clearly runs the show. Female alphas are often less conspicuous than their puffed up male counterparts, but holding the top spot still has its perks. Now, a study of female baboons points to another upside to being No. 1. A new study of 237 female baboons in Kenya found that alphas have significantly lower levels of glucocorticoids, hormones produced in response to stress. Thu, 10 Sep 2020 09:00:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200910090034.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200527123327.htm Researchers have found a neural home of the feeling of stress people experience, an insight that may help people deal with the debilitating sense of fear and anxiety that stress can evoke. Wed, 27 May 2020 12:33:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200527123327.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200518111641.htm Personal accounts of childhood maltreatment show a stronger association with psychiatric problems compared to legal proof that maltreatment occurred, according to a new study. Mon, 18 May 2020 11:16:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200518111641.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200420165718.htm Cannabis use makes young brains more sensitive to the first exposure to cocaine, according to a new study on rodents. By monitoring the brains of both adolescent and adult rats after giving them synthetic psychoactive cannabinoids followed by cocaine, the research team identified key molecular and epigenetic changes that occurred in the brains of adolescents -- but not adults. Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:57:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200420165718.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200325130702.htm Longer lives are not only for female humans: Mammalian female's average lifespan is 18.6% longer than that of males. In humans the female advantage is on average 7.8%. Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:07:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200325130702.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131447.htm Many children who suffer fingertip injuries have been abused, according to a new study. The researchers found that children who had a documented history of abuse or neglect were 23 percent more likely to suffer a fingertip injury before age 12. Wed, 12 Feb 2020 13:14:47 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131447.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191108171637.htm For the first time, a study shows how glucocorticoid hormones, such as cortisol, control sugar and fat levels differently during day and night, feeding and fasting, rest and activity, over the course of 24 hours. Fri, 08 Nov 2019 17:16:37 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191108171637.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191108102850.htm Researchers have shown how the brain's circadian rhythm in rats is, among other things, controlled by the stress hormone corticosterone -- in humans called cortisol. This has been shown by means of a completely new method in the form of implanted micropumps. Fri, 08 Nov 2019 10:28:50 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191108102850.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191021151532.htm A new study in rats shows the extent of brain damage in newborn rodents from even short-term abuse by their mother. Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:15:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191021151532.htm