Decaffeinated coffee seems to improve brain energy metabolism in association with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Glucose utilization in the brain is reduced in individuals with type 2 diabetes and may result in other neurocognitive problems, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. For the study, researchers tested whether dietary [...]
An abnormality that makes it more difficult to exercise self-control has been identified in the brains of drug addicts, as well as their siblings who have no history of addiction. Researchers at the University of Cambridge scanned the brains of 50 pairs of brothers and sisters. One in each pair was dependent on cocaine while [...]
Multiple exposures to anesthesia at a young age are associated with higher rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic. Children exposed to two or more anesthetics before age 3 had more than double the incidence of ADHD than children who had no exposure, says David Warner, M.D., a [...]
A characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease is the alteration of a protein that resides in the brain. The protein, called tau, is present in normal brains and is believed to be responsible for the health of nerve cells. In the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s, tau proteins combine into twisted structures known as “neurofibrillary tangles.” [...]
A long-term study of identical twins reveals that an individual’s DNA may change over the course of a lifetime. Researchers discovered cases where large or small DNA segments change direction, are duplicated, or become completely lost. The changes were mainly discovered in older twins. This finding may help to explain why the immune system is [...]
The topic of marriage commitment strikes an interesting chord in America, where half of all first marriages fail and an even greater percentage of second and third marriages are unsuccessful. In a new study, UCLA psychologists asked 172 married couples the question: What does being committed to your marriage really mean? The findings, published online [...]
As social networking explodes across the world, a new study suggests using Facebook may not be a great idea for those with low self-esteem. The finding is remarkable; in theory, Facebook should be great for people with low self-esteem. The site allows unobtrusive sharing of information considered important for solidifying friendships and making new friends. [...]
A blood test may help diagnose depression, according to a team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital. In a new study, the researchers report that a blood test analyzing the levels of nine biomarkers accurately identifies patients diagnosed with depression from control participants. “Traditionally, diagnosis of major depression and other mental disorders has been made [...]
The good news is that most people in the developed world are living longer; the not-so-good news is that the brain often does not stay sharp in our older age. Currently, experts do not fully understood why the brain’s cognitive functions such as memory and speech decline as we age. This despite the realization that [...]
Mentoring has been found to improve the health and well-being of young women who were victimized in their youth. Canadian investigators determined female college students who have survived childhood abuse or domestic violence were significantly aided by a mentoring program. Researchers from Concordia University have published their findings in the Journal of College Student Development. [...]
