Alcohol affects everyone differently, but new research reveals that biological sex may play a bigger role than previously thought. In a preclinical study, Scripps Research scientists uncovered distinct differences in how the brains of female rats respond to alcohol—and found early evidence that the effectiveness of certain medications varies depending on drinking history and sex. This emerging research could help guide more personalized treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder (AUD), particularly for women—who may be more biochemically sensitive to alcohol’s effects—and for individuals in earlier stages of harmful alcohol use.

Recent years have seen growing scrutiny and debate around processed foods, but researchers have struggled to pin down what aspects of food processing are most relevant to health. Now, scientists have developed a system for classifying processed foods based on information about the health impacts associated with particular ingredients.