Specialized Cells In Brain Call The Anxiety Tune

Flu Season Goes From Bad To Worse

SPL/Science Source Researchers Discover 'Anxiety Cells' In The Brain Nearly 1 in 5 adults has some form of anxiety disorder. Yet our understanding of exactly how anxiety unfolds in the brain is far from complete. Now scientists have found specialized cells in the brains of mice that control anxiety levels, NPR’s Jon Hamilton reports. The researchers measured the activity of the anxiety cells, found a way to dial it up or down and then watched how the mice behaved. "If we can learn enough, we can develop the tools to turn on and off the key players that regulate anxiety in people," says Joshua Gordon, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, which helped fund the research. Of course, this work is at a very early stage and findings in lab mice don’t necessarily translate perfectly to humans.    Robert Ray/AP Flu Season Worsens, Especially For Children The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this year’s terrible flu season continues to get worse. "Unfortunately, our latest tracking data indicate flu activity is still high and widespread," says Dr. Anne Schuchat, acting director of the CDC. Hospitalization rates for flu are at the highest level since the CDC started tracking them in 2010, NPR’s Richard Harris reports. Schuchat took the helm at CDC this week after Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald resigned from the post. Documents first published by Politico show that Fitzgerald made investments that raised conflict-of-interest issues after she took charge of the CDC in July 2017. Among the investments was a purchase of shares in Japan Tobacco, a major manufacturer of cigarettes.   Benny Tsabba/Wendy Wolfson for NPR Children Who Survive Congenital Heart Defects Can Face Problems As Adults Even after a childhood heart condition has been vanquished, the future can bring a rematch. Shots contributor Wendy Wolfson writes about her sister Sara, who was born a “blue baby.” A defect in Sara’s heart meant her body wasn’t getting well-oxygenated blood. Surgeons repaired her heart but she has needed a series of six pacemakers to control its rhythm. Sara, now 50, is one of the growing number of middle-aged adults who have survived a congenital heart problem. But Sara’s heart is showing serious signs of wear and she needs a transplant. She just got on the list for one, Wolson writes, and she intends to keep living her life and “confounding expectations.” Your Shots editor, Scott Hensley You received this message because you're subscribed to our Health emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002