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Psychoactive drug
A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior. These drugs may be used recreationally to purposefully alter one's consciousness (such as coffee, alcohol or cannabis), as entheogens for spiritual purposes (such as the mescaline-containing peyote cactus or psilocybin-containing mushrooms), and also as medication (such as the use of narcotics in controlling pain, stimulants to treat narcolepsy and attention disorders, as well as anti-depressants and anti-psychotics for treating neurological and psychiatric illnesses).
Many of these substances (especially the stimulants and depressants) can be habit-forming, causing chemical dependency and may lead to substance abuse. Conversely, others (namely the psychedelics) can, in certain circumstances, help to treat and even cure such addictions.
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Health & Medicine News
October 22, 2025
Oct. 22, 2025 — Researchers at King’s College London have created the first evidence-based dietary guidelines for chronic constipation, finding real relief may come from kiwifruit, rye bread, and mineral water. Psyllium, probiotics, and magnesium oxide also ...
Oct. 22, 2025 — A wireless eye implant developed at Stanford Medicine has restored reading ability to people with advanced macular degeneration. The PRIMA chip works with smart glasses to replace lost photoreceptors using infrared light. Most trial participants ...
Oct. 22, 2025 — Scientists have uncovered a toxic alliance between Aβ and fibrinogen that may explain how Alzheimer’s disease begins. The two proteins together create stubborn clots that damage blood vessels and spark inflammation in the brain. These effects ...
Oct. 22, 2025 — A study found that daily vitamin D supplements helped slow telomere shortening—the cellular process linked to aging and disease. Researchers believe its anti-inflammatory effects may protect DNA. ...
Oct. 21, 2025 — New research reveals that exercise counteracts the mood-damaging effects of a Western-style diet through specific gut and hormonal mechanisms. Running restored metabolites tied to mental well-being and balanced key hormones like insulin and leptin. ...
Oct. 21, 2025 — A powerful new drug combination—niraparib added to standard prostate cancer therapy—has been shown to significantly delay disease progression in men with specific DNA repair gene mutations. In the large AMPLITUDE trial, patients receiving the ...
Oct. 21, 2025 — Mizzou scientists are exploring how a ketogenic diet may protect the brain and prevent Alzheimer’s in people genetically predisposed to it. Their study found that female mice with the APOE4 gene benefited most, showing improved gut and brain ...
Oct. 21, 2025 — Scientists from the University of Exeter has developed a precise method to interpret ankle blood pressure readings—an innovation that could transform care for people unable to have their arm blood pressure measured. By analyzing data from over ...
Oct. 21, 2025 — Menopause brings profound shifts not just in hormones but in the very structure of the brain. Scientists have found that gray matter in regions tied to memory and thinking can shrink, while white matter may show damage linked to blood flow issues. ...
Oct. 21, 2025 — Interval running condenses the powerful effects of regular running into shorter, high-intensity bursts. Research shows it can improve cardiovascular health, regulate blood sugar, and reduce body fat more effectively than longer steady runs. Just a ...
Oct. 21, 2025 — Researchers discovered that avian influenza (H5N1) can survive in raw milk cheese made from contaminated milk, even after the 60-day aging process required by the FDA. However, highly acidic cheeses like feta showed no signs of the virus, suggesting ...
Oct. 21, 2025 — Scientists at UCSF have uncovered evidence that multiple sclerosis silently damages the brain years before diagnosis. By studying proteins in blood samples, they identified early immune signals and markers of nerve damage. The findings point to IL-3 ...
Latest Headlines
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Oct. 20, 2025 — Neck size is proving to be a powerful indicator of hidden health risks. Larger neck circumferences are associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea, even among those with normal ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — A massive brain imaging study of nearly 30,000 people has uncovered striking connections between eating ultra-processed foods and measurable changes in brain structure. These changes may be tied to ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — A new light-driven cancer therapy uses LEDs and tin nanoflakes to kill tumors safely and affordably. Developed by teams in Texas and Portugal, it ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — Researchers found that pembrolizumab, an immune-activating cancer drug, lowered the risk of distant metastases in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma after surgery. Though recurrence rates overall ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — A groundbreaking retinal implant called PRIMA has enabled blind patients with dry AMD to read again. The chip, powered by light and paired with AR glasses, sends visual data directly to the brain. In ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — A massive Veterans Affairs study has confirmed that nicotinamide may offer real protection against skin cancer. Patients who took the vitamin B3 derivative saw notable reductions in new cancer ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — Naked mole-rats seem to have found nature’s cheat code for longevity. Scientists discovered that small tweaks in one of their proteins make it better at fixing DNA damage, helping the animals ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — Scientists have found that preserving lymph nodes during cancer surgery could dramatically improve how patients respond to immunotherapy. The research shows that lymph nodes are essential for ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — A sweeping review of over 200 studies finds that aerobic exercises like walking and cycling offer the best pain relief and mobility gains for knee osteoarthritis. Compared to other types of exercise, ...
Oct. 20, 2025 — A major collaboration between UC San Diego and 23andMe identified genes that shape cannabis use behaviors. The study linked the CADM2 and GRM3 genes to cannabis use and connected these patterns to ...