According to the findings of a new study, when a parent has a history of attempting suicide, the odds that their child will attempt suicide increase five-fold when compared with the children of individuals who have not attempted suicide. Dr. Jeffrey … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude
People Want Leaders to Look Healthy
Dutch researchers say that it is more important for potential business or political leaders to look healthy than to appear intelligent. Their statement is based on the response of 148 adults who were asked to choose a new CEO by looking at photos of … [Read more...]
Learning to Play Music Improves Kids’ Brains
MRI scans of children who received musical training showed greater thickness in the areas of the brain that influence working memory, self-control, organization, and planning for the future. The research team claims their findings "underscore the … [Read more...]
Blood Sugar Control and Dementia Risk
An analysis involving 1,342 elderly patients indicates that those with poorly controlled blood sugar are 3-5 times more likely to develop either dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, December 2014 … [Read more...]
Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults Associated with Dementia Risk
After reviewing the available data on nearly 52,000 individuals in California who had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), researchers believe the data indicate that such persons may have a 1.45 times greater risk for a dementia diagnosis later … [Read more...]
Mental Stress Affects Male and Female Hearts in Different Ways
Past studies have suggested that mental stress can influence heart health. Now, researchers have found that women under mental stress are more likely than men to experience reduced blood flow to the heart and are also more prone to clots due to … [Read more...]
Shift Work Can Impair Brain Functioning
Working shifts, rather than fixed hours, may impair brain function over time. Investigators found that long-term shift work for ten or more years has a negative impact on brain health. The researchers believe that disruption of circadian rhythms is … [Read more...]
A Purpose in Life is Important for Longevity
Having a sense of meaning and purpose in your life may do more than just give you focus, it may help you live longer. Researchers interviewed more than 9,000 older adults and found that those who professed having a sense of purpose in life were less … [Read more...]
Binge Drinking During Teens Linked to Long-Term Brain Changes
According to a new animal study, binge drinking during the adolescent years has lasting effects on brain function. In rat subjects, researchers found that binge drinking reduced myelin in the region of the brain crucial for decision-making and … [Read more...]
Ultrasounds May Detect Autism in Utero
A newly published study using ultrasound scans to check for fetal defects found that children who went on to develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had a greater head and abdominal size at 20 weeks in the womb compared with children who did not … [Read more...]
Differences in Brains of People with Dyslexia
Dyslexia causes problems with reading and writing and is the most commonly diagnosed learning disorder in the United States. Researchers have discovered that people with this condition have disrupted network connections in their brains. Using … [Read more...]
Could Type AB Blood Be a Risk Factor for Dementia?
Individuals with blood type AB appear to be more likely to develop the thinking and memory problems that lead to dementia, according to a new study involving over 30,000 participants. However, because more studies are needed to confirm their … [Read more...]
Could Cerebellum Injury Be a Possible Cause of Autism?
Princeton University scientists say their research indicates that an injury to the cerebellum early in life may make a child 36 times more likely to score highly on autism screening tests. Study author Dr. Sam Wang adds, "What we realized from … [Read more...]
Gardens Can Calm People with Dementia
A review of 17 previous studies has found that gardening tasks -- such as watering plants or sitting or strolling in a garden -- can help sooth anxiety in some dementia patients. Experts say the findings are encouraging, and ongoing research into the … [Read more...]