A new review suggests that premature menopause may increase the risk of depression later in life. An analysis of 14 published studies that included nearly 68,000 older women revealed that women who began menopause when they were 40 and older had a … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude
Is Self-Esteem Driven By Universal Mechanisms?
According to a new international study, self-esteem increases as people grow older, and men tend to have higher levels of self-esteem than women. The findings were based on data collected from more than 985,000 people from 48 countries between 1999 … [Read more...]
Slight Signs of Lingering Brain Damage Seen in Young Athletes After Concussion
A single concussion may cause young children to suffer minor, but lingering, brain damage. In a recent study, researchers used MRI scans to compare the brains of 15 children with a previous concussion to 15 similar kids who hadn't suffered a … [Read more...]
Sleep Plays Vital Role in Emotions
Feeling cranky after a long night? It’s probably because your brain’s ability to regulate emotions has been compromised by lack of sleep. Researchers studied 18 participants and found that after a wakeful night, participants performed badly on tests … [Read more...]
Sense of Purpose in Life May Boost Longevity and Heart Health
New research suggests that having a sense of purpose might protect your heart and add years to your life. Scientists analyzed studies involving 136,000 individuals and found that those who felt strongly that their lives had meaning or that they were … [Read more...]
The Companionship of a Dog May Ease a Child’s Fears
Dog ownership may lower a child’s anxiety levels. In a study involving nearly 640 children, researchers found that only 12% of children with dogs tested positive for anxiety, compared with 21% of those without dogs. The researchers speculate that … [Read more...]
No Biological Differences Between Male and Female Brains
The evaluation of more than 1,400 MRI scans suggests that biologically unmistakable sex differences don’t extend to the structure of the brain. Though the brain is home to a mix of masculine and feminine characteristics, researchers found the brains … [Read more...]
Slow Walking Speed May Be a Sign of Approaching Alzheimer’s Disease
In a recent study, researchers found an association between slow walking speed and the presence of amyloid in key regions of the brain involved in motor function. The development of amyloid plaques in the brain is thought to trigger the disruption … [Read more...]
Anxiety Increases Dementia Risk!
After adjusting for depressive symptoms, individuals with high anxiety appear to have a greater risk for dementia later in life. Researchers used data from the Swedish Adoption Twin Study of Aging, a multi-decade study that has followed twins who … [Read more...]
Memory Complaints May Indicate Increased Dementia Risk Decades Later
Women who complain of poor memory may be at an increased risk for dementia later in life. In a recent study, researchers found that older women who had memory complaints at the start of the data collection period had a 70% greater risk of being … [Read more...]
Mood Can Be Affected By Interrupted Sleep
If you wake up several times per night, then you are more likely to be in a bad mood the following day. Researchers assessed the mood of 62 men and women over three consecutive days. Each night participants had either a normal bedtime with forced … [Read more...]
Better Air Quality Improves Employee Performance
Employees in offices with enhanced ventilation systems and low levels of chemical air pollutants appear to outperform workers from offices with inferior air quality. The researchers also found the average performance scores of these employees fell as … [Read more...]
Phubbing” Bad for Relationships
A report published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior suggests that smartphones can damage romantic relationships and lead to greater levels of depression. The research focused on "phubbing," or "partner phone snubbing," a term given to those … [Read more...]
Obesity May Be “Hardwired” in the Brain
Using MRI scans to investigate how the brains of nearly 80 individuals responded to pictures of food, researchers from the University of Granada in Spain and Monash University in Australia claim at least some people become obese because of the way … [Read more...]