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Hormonal changes during menopause put women at risk of several comorbidities including cardiovascular disease (CVD), decreased bone density, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). It is not surprising that the loss of estrogen during menopause affects the body profoundly as it has been shown to play a fundamental role in bone health and metabolic regulation. As such, estrogen receptors are abundantly expressed throughout the body including in the liver, heart, brain, and bones. Furthermore, estrogen has been shown to regulate inflammation and its loss is generally associated with increased inflammation. In a recent study by Dr. Prarthana Guha... read more

The tryptophan field has long been associated with melatonin and the regulation of sleep–wake cycles, positioning tryptophan primarily within the serotonergic axis of sleep biology. However, this represents only one facet of its metabolic relevance. Increasing attention has shifted toward the kynurenine pathway, which accounts for the majority of tryptophan metabolism and plays a central role in neuroimmune regulation and neurodegenerative processes. Among its metabolites, kynurenic acid (KYNA) has emerged as a key neuromodulator, influencing glutamatergic and cholinergic signalling, and implicated in cognitive function and neurodegeneration. This raises an important question as to whether sleep and circadian processes may also... read more

Neurodegenerative disorders are increasingly recognised as disorders of intricate immune-metabolic dysregulation. Among the relevant pathways, the kynurenine pathway (KP) has emerged as a critical intersection between neurochemistry and immune modulation. Research in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), for example, has shown that kynurenic acid (KYNA) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are significantly higher in AD patients compared with cognitively healthy controls. Similarly, pathological neuroinflammation has also been observed in multiple system atrophy (MSA) during disease progression. Characterised by autonomic failure, cerebellar ataxia, and parkinsonism, MSA highlights the need for understanding metabolic dysregulation in neurodegenerative disorders. A recent study by Nagao and colleagues (2026)... read more

Chronic stress has profound effects on the body, driven in part by dysregulation of neuroendocrine systems such as cortisol signalling. Elevated cortisol levels have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Chronic stress also impacts the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections and potentially contributing to autoimmune disease. This is particularly relevant given the rising prevalence of mental health conditions worldwide. Against this backdrop, a recent study from Professor Xiaohong Liang’s group investigates the mechanistic link between chronic stress and liver disease. In this study, they demonstrate that chronic stress promotes... read more