Mental Health Update

Leptin and Alzheimer's disease

Leptin is produced by fat cells and sends a signal to the brain telling us to stop eating when we have had enough food. As well as stopping us eating too much there is increasing evidence that leptin also helps with brain development and function and...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 5:06 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Alzheimer's Disease, Leptin

Culture vultures are happier and healthier

People who participate in or even just attend cultural activities such as painting, dancing or playing a musical instrument tend to feel healthier and less depressed than people who don't. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology have been...

Published Wed, Dec 16 2009 5:05 AM by Mental Health Update

Grumpy men and glowing women - gender and facial expressions

Researchers from the Department of Psychology at the University of Quebec have been looking into the links between gender and facial expression. They showed people a series of androgynous faces and asked them to say whether they were men's or women's...

Published Mon, Dec 14 2009 5:38 AM by Mental Health Update

Asthma/pregnancy drug may increase mental-health risks

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have been looking into the effects of drugs called beta 2 adrenergic agonists on unborn children. The drugs are used to treat asthma and to inhibit or slow down labour but the study found...

Published Wed, Dec 09 2009 3:27 AM by Mental Health Update

What's the best way to tackle loneliness?

Loneliness is a known risk factor for heart disease and has also been linked to high blood pressure, poor quality sleep, dementia and other health problems. But what is the best way of helping people to overcome it? Researchers from the University of...

Published Wed, Sep 08 2010 1:50 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Social Support, Social Networks, Loneliness

Abused women's long-term suffering

The psychological ill effects of being in an abusive relationship can last for years after the relationship has finished. Researchers from Ohio State University studied 2,400 mothers over three years. Some were in relationships where there was no abuse...

Published Fri, Aug 27 2010 5:54 AM by Mental Health Update

Trust and truthfulness. Why thinking the best of people helps you to spot the worst

People who are more trusting are actually better at spotting liars than those who are more cynical. Researchers from the University of Toronto showed people job interviews of 2nd year M.B.A. students. Some of them were telling the truth while others were...

Published Mon, Aug 16 2010 7:04 AM by Mental Health Update

More evidence for meditation benefits

Researchers at the University of Oregon have added further evidence about the beneficial effects of meditation. The researchers had previously shown that meditation can reduce levels of anxiety, depression, anger and fatigue. In their latest study they...

Published Tue, Aug 17 2010 3:41 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Neuroscience, Meditation

Life is very long when you're lonely

Loneliness is linked to a number of physical and mental-health problems including anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, poor sleep, a weaker immune system and cardiovascular disease. During adolescence loneliness is thought to peak early on and decline...

Published Thu, Jul 01 2010 2:10 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Child Psychology, Social Support

Boys, girls, weight and depression

Healthy-weight girls who think they are fat are more likely to be depressed than fatter girls who realise they are overweight. Researchers from Penn State University studied 12,683 adolescents taking part in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent...

Published Wed, Jun 30 2010 6:35 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Child Psychology, Obesity, Depression - in adolescence

What makes a teenage sex offender?

Some researchers think that adolescent sex offenders commit crimes because they lack the social skills to form more conventional relationships and therapies for them often concentrate on providing such skills. However, a review of the research by Michael...

Published Tue, Jul 20 2010 3:50 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Child Abuse, Forensic Psychology

Review of studies backs meditation - up to a point

Mindfulness meditation is a type of meditation in which people pay total attention to the present moment with a non-judgmental awareness of their experiences and is characterized by an open and receptive attitude. It has received growing attention in...

Published Thu, Jul 15 2010 6:39 AM by Mental Health Update

Slowing down the dementia epidemic

Researchers estimate that 820,000 people in the U.K. have dementia - a number predicted to double by 2050. A team of researchers in France and the U.K. have been looking at the best ways to prevent more people developing the condition and have concluded...

Published Fri, Aug 06 2010 5:08 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Alzheimer's Disease, Depression, Diabetes

Energy drinks and drink problems

Students often drink so-called energy drinks, which contain large amounts of caffeine, so they can either study or stay up longer socialising. However, new research by scientists at the University of Maryland suggests that they could also lead to more...

Published Wed, Nov 17 2010 2:25 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Alcohol Problems, Caffeine

Getting to grips with the neuroscience of Alzheimer's

Researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have been using MRI scans to investigate what happens in people's brains when they develop Alzheimer's disease. They followed 52 people with mild cognitive impairment, often seen as a...

Published Wed, Nov 17 2010 2:09 AM by Mental Health Update

Filed under: Alzheimer's Disease, Neuroscience

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