Assertiveness is a communication style that allows people to express their thoughts, needs, and boundaries clearly and respectfully. When practiced well, assertiveness promotes fairness and mutual respect in relationships and workplace interactions. Some people have a naturally assertive temperament, but assertiveness is a skill that can be learned and strengthened. This article explains what assertiveness … Read more

Summary: Removing senescent cells may help reverse some signs of aging, researchers report. Source: Cell Press Removing senescent cells — those with a persistent damage response that accumulate with age — has shown striking benefits in animal studies. Elderly mice can regrow fur, run faster, and recover organ function after senescent-cell clearance. While these findings … Read more

Summary: Children with high-functioning autism who completed a virtual reality social cognition training program showed gains in emotional recognition, perspective taking, and real-world social relationships. Source: UT Dallas Many children with high-functioning autism have average to above-average intellectual abilities but face persistent social challenges. Difficulties with social communication, inhibitory control, and emotional regulation can contribute … Read more

Many experts now argue that emotional intelligence (EI) matters just as much—if not more—than traditional intelligence. Research links EI to improved academic and career outcomes, stronger leadership, and better mental and physical health (Larsen, Buss, Wismeijer, & Song, 2017). Brought into the public eye by Daniel Goleman’s bestseller more than 25 years ago, emotional intelligence … Read more

Summary: Researchers at Umeå University report a major advance in treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using a targeted gene therapy. In a patient with an aggressive SOD1-related form of ALS, the therapy has markedly slowed disease progression. Four years after starting treatment in early 2020, the patient retains much of their mobility, speech and daily … Read more

Summary: Iron concentration in the basal ganglia increases steadily from childhood through adolescence and continues to rise in some subregions into early adulthood. Lower iron levels in the putamen were associated with poorer performance on reasoning and spatial tasks. These findings indicate that adequate iron accumulation in specific brain regions is important for healthy cognitive … Read more

Authenticity is not the easy option; it calls for openness and honesty with ourselves and with others. Living authentically doesn’t mean a life without pain or sadness—these experiences coexist with joy and love (Joseph, 2019). Being true to ourselves fosters a life of meaning and purpose, even amid hardship, and allows us to live more … Read more

Summary: New research from the Max Planck Institute shows that the brain uses bodily feedback to regulate fear. In mice, freezing behavior slows the heart, and this cardiac slowdown reduces activity in the insular cortex, helping to balance the fear response. Source: Max Planck Institute Fear is vital for survival but must be kept within … Read more

Summary: Middle-aged people who report at least one nightmare per week are four times more likely to experience measurable cognitive decline over the following decade. Among older adults, weekly nightmares are associated with about double the risk of developing dementia. The association appears to be considerably stronger in men than in women. Source: University of … Read more

Summary: Combining two natural compounds that influence the epigenome, researchers report a promising strategy that reverses PTSD-like symptoms in an animal model and may be translatable to humans. Source: Bar Ilan University Exposure to traumatic events can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating condition that currently lacks reliable, widely effective therapies. A central … Read more