Summary: A newly identified biomarker, an enlarged salience network in the brain, could dramatically change how depression is detected and treated. This network, responsible for regulating attention and switching between mental states, was found to be consistently larger in people with depression, regardless of symptom severity or treatment history. Crucially, the expansion appears to predate … Read more
Dominica Yang started noticing changes in her mother’s behaviour in 2012. “Mum had a sharp mind, but one day while preparing dad’s medication, she insisted on emptying the tablets from each packet and became obsessed with counting them. She kept losing count, which made her angry and frustrated,” says Yang, a Hongkonger, of her usually … Read more
Many women struggle to find resources to help manage their menopause symptoms. For women living with a serious mental illness, the need for additional support and education during the menopause transition is even greater. A new scoping review confirmed the paucity of research on this topic and suggested a need for more psychoeducation programs. Results … Read more
Young people with a diagnosable mental health condition report differences in their experiences of social media compared to those without a condition, including greater dissatisfaction with online friend counts and more time spent on social media sites. This is according to a new study led by the University of Cambridge, which suggests that adolescents with … Read more
A major population study reveals that diets high in ultra-processed foods are tied to poorer mental health, and uncovers biological markers that help explain the link. Study: Associations of Ultra-Processed Food Intake and Its Circulating Metabolomic Signature with Mental Disorders in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Image Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the … Read more
A new study reveals that ultra-processed food consumption may significantly raise the risk of depression in women, while men appear less affected after early adulthood. Could sex-specific diet advice be the future of mental health prevention? Dietary Patterns and Major Depression: Results from 15,262 Participants (International ALIMENTAL Study). Image Credit: Kwangmoozaa / Shutterstock For ages, dietary patterns … Read more
New research from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience maps the similarities and differences between the three most common brain disorders. Insomnia, depression, and anxiety are the most common mental disorders. Treatments are often only moderately effective, with many people experiencing returning symptoms. This is why it is crucial to find new leads for treatments. Notably, … Read more
Fibromyalgia often coexists with psychiatric disorders, forming a complex web of symptoms and challenges for those affected. The relationship between fibromyalgia and psychiatric conditions has been a subject of research and clinical interest, shedding light on the interplay between physical and mental health. Amir et al. [1] explored the connection between fibromyalgia and posttraumatic stress … Read more
A father in China, who quit his high-paying job to care for his baby, has divorced his unsupportive wife and claimed to suffer from post-partum depression. The 32-year-old man from Sichuan province in southwestern China, who is known online as Jasmine’s Dad, shares his parenting routines on social media and has attracted more than 11,000 … Read more
TOPLINE: Metabolic syndrome was associated with a 24% increased risk for young-onset dementia, defined as dementia before the age of 65 years, with stronger associations found in women vs men, younger vs older adults, and individuals with vs without depression, a new study showed. METHODOLOGY: This nationwide population-based cohort study included data from more than … Read more