Summary: A new longitudinal study finds that different cognitive abilities appear to support each other during development, producing mutual gains in skills like reasoning and vocabulary and contributing to increases in general intelligence over time. Source: APS. Researchers have long observed that cognitive skills tend to be positively correlated: people who perform well on one … Read more

Summary: New residential research shows that people with eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa do not necessarily lose control and binge-eat as a direct result of acute stress. Source: University of Cambridge A controlled residential study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge finds that stress does not simply trigger loss of self-control and … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a protective function for the Tau protein in the brain. In addition to its well-known association with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Tau supports the brain’s defense against oxidative stress by enabling glial cells to form lipid droplets that sequester toxic peroxidated lipids and shield neurons from damage. When Tau … Read more

Summary: New research from Binghamton University finds that kratom, an herbal supplement commonly used to manage pain and to reduce opioid withdrawal, carries significant risks. Reported adverse effects include rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, seizures, coma, and in rare cases, death. Source: Binghamton University Kratom safety under scrutiny: researchers warn the herbal supplement poses notable health risks … Read more

Summary: Psychedelic and mind‑altering substances once written off as dangerous are now the subject of renewed scientific interest. Researchers are exploring whether therapies based on compounds such as MDMA, ketamine and psilocybin can safely and effectively treat psychiatric disorders including PTSD and major depression. Source: Stanford In 1985, authorities moved to ban a growing recreational … Read more

Summary: Social support during stressful periods can significantly reduce the likelihood that people with genetic susceptibility to depression will develop symptoms. Source: University of Michigan Offering support to someone under stress is always valuable. New research indicates that social support may be particularly protective for people whose genetic profile increases their risk of depression. This … Read more

Summary: Collaborating with family caregivers and professionals, researchers identified practical characteristics and roles that robots should have to support people with dementia and the families and staff who care for them. Source: UC San Diego Overview: Developing robots to assist people with dementia has long been a goal for roboticists. Until now, however, few projects … Read more

Summary: Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who contracted COVID-19 faced a modest but measurable increase in the risk of hospitalization and death compared with veterans without psychiatric diagnoses. Other mental health disorders showed substantially larger increases in risk: psychosis, bipolar disorder, and major depression were all associated with higher rates of severe COVID-19 outcomes. … Read more

Summary: New research suggests that people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have trouble learning that previously threatening cues are safe. This difficulty in safety learning may help explain why compulsive behaviours often return despite treatment. Source: University of Cambridge People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) struggle to learn when a stimulus becomes safe, a deficit that may … Read more

Summary: New findings reveal how stress affects the whole body and point toward ways to limit its damage. Source: SfN. Stress can harm both mind and body immediately and over time. Recent research showcased at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, describes mechanisms by which stress affects the brain and other … Read more