According to a new study, activity in the brain changes during deep sleep in a manner that allows the cerebral spinal fluid to rinse out the waste products that can accumulate during the waking hours. Sleep medicine specialist Dr. Raman Malhotra … [Read more...]
Mental Attitude
Waist Size Linked to Dementia Risk
Researchers reviewed data concerning 872,082 seniors and found that for every five-centimeter increase in waist circumference, an individual’s risk for dementia diagnosis over the next five years increases by about 5%. Obesity, November 2019 … [Read more...]
Earning Ability May Be Tied to Heart Risk
Researchers tracked the earnings and heart health of nearly 9,000 adults in the United States for thirty years and found that those who experienced a drop in their income in the first decade of the study had an elevated risk for heart attack, fatal … [Read more...]
Depression and Anxiety Can Affect Cardiac Rehabilitation
Among a group of 4,800 cardiac rehabilitation patients, researchers observed that those with moderate depression or anxiety were significantly more likely to quit cardiac rehabilitation than patients who experienced mild symptoms of the same … [Read more...]
Risk Factors for Depression in Old Age
Researchers monitored 11,553 seniors for four years and observed that 22.3% developed depressive symptoms during this time. Further analysis identified the following late-life risk factors for depression: inadequate sleep, diabetes, chronic kidney … [Read more...]
Depression and Vitamin D Status
The results of a recent study involving military personnel suggest there’s a link between vitamin D deficiency and an elevated risk for depression, particularly for those stationed at higher latitudes. Journal of the International Society of Sports … [Read more...]
Posting Selfies May Cause Negative Social Perception
In this study, college students were asked to rate the Instagram profiles of students from another university. The participants rated those who posted posed photos taken by someone else as more likable, more successful, having greater self-esteem, … [Read more...]
A History of Exercise Reduces Postpartum Depression Risk…
Postpartum depression affects about one in five new mothers. A review of data from sixteen published studies found that women who exercise before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and following the birth of their child had a lower risk for postpartum … [Read more...]
Food Insecurity Can Spur Migraines
The Department of Health and Human Services defines food insecurity as, “The disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources.” A recent study involving 15,000 young adults found that migraines are nearly … [Read more...]
Alcoholism Harms Even Those Who Don’t Have Drinking Problems.
Researchers gathered data from two nationwide surveys in the United States that included nearly 9,000 adults and found that 21% of women and 23% of men were harmed by someone else's drinking in the past year. These harms include threats, harassment, … [Read more...]
Sunshine During Pregnancy Important for Child’s Learning?
Vitamin D is produced in the body as a result of exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. An analysis of data concerning over 422,000 mother-child pairs in Scotland revealed that kids born to women with lower levels of exposure to UVB rays during … [Read more...]
Self-Harm Often Follows Economic Ruin
Researchers in the United Kingdom report that self-harm behavior among middle-aged men increased by 50% in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Senior study author Dr. Nav Kapur writes, “[Men] in midlife are a group we are particularly worried … [Read more...]
Playing an Instrument Is Good for the Brain
Cognitive assessments completed by 100 elementary school-aged children revealed an association between hours spent per week practicing a musical instrument and intellectual ability. The authors conclude, “The results suggest that the relationship … [Read more...]
Burn-Out Now Recognized as a Medical Condition
The World Health Organization (WHO) has added “burn-out” to its list of recognized medical diagnosis codes called the International Classification of Diseases. Burn-out is defined as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace … [Read more...]