Depression News and Research

Latest Depression News and Research

Age influences the extent to which smoking and other risk factors increase risk of depression

People who smoke, suffer from high blood pressure, obesity, or diabetes are not only at greater risk of suffering a stroke, heart attack, or dementia.

10 Jun 2021

Common antidepressant drugs help the immune system to attack tumors in mice

A class of drug called monoamine oxidase inhibitors is commonly prescribed to treat depression; the medications work by boosting levels of serotonin, the brain's "happiness hormone."

10 Jun 2021

Deep neural network model can accurately predict the brain age of healthy patients

A study shows that a deep neural network model can accurately predict the brain age of healthy patients based on electroencephalogram data recorded during an overnight sleep study, and EEG-predicted brain age indices display unique characteristics within populations with different diseases.

10 Jun 2021

Review of COVID-19's long-term effects

In a recent study, Canadian researchers documented the prevalence of post-COVID-19 conditions 4-12 weeks (short-term) and >12 weeks (long-term), by conducting a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature. This work is posted to the medRxiv* preprint server.

9 Jun 2021

Research clarifies neuron-specific DNA methylation changes and characteristics in bipolar disorder

A research collaboration based in Kumamoto University, Japan has revealed the DNA methylation status of gene transcriptional regulatory regions in the frontal lobes of patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

9 Jun 2021

Women now drink as much as men — and are prone to sickness sooner

Victoria Cooper thought her drinking habits in college were just like everyone else's. Shots at parties. Beers while bowling. Sure, she got more refills than some and missed classes while nursing hangovers, but she couldn't have a problem, she thought.

9 Jun 2021

New poll suggests older adults must watch their alcohol intake during pandemic

As many older adults get back to normal life across the United States thanks to high rates of vaccination and lower COVID-19 activity, a new poll suggests many should watch their alcohol intake.

9 Jun 2021

New app allows women to track their mood during pregnancy and early mothering

Having a baby can be one of life's most exciting and rewarding experiences, but for a new mum it can also be an emotional rollercoaster - sometimes you're up, and other times you're down.

9 Jun 2021

Healthy behaviors can prevent dementia, finds study

A new Alzheimer's disease drug will hit the market soon, the first in nearly two decades. But some experts say the evidence for it isn't terribly strong and worry that it may cost a lot.

9 Jun 2021

Sleep characteristics associated with cannabis use and binge drinking in teens, young adults

A recent study of teens and young adults found that several factors related to sleep timing and sleep duration are associated with an increased risk of cannabis use and binge drinking of alcohol during the following year.

8 Jun 2021

Exercise may be the most effective treatment for depression in coronary heart disease patients

A study by RCSI indicates that exercise is probably the most effective short-term treatment for depression in people with coronary heart disease, when compared to antidepressants and psychotherapy or more complex care.

8 Jun 2021

New technology can explain the effect of genetic factors on brain structure, function

Liang Zhan, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering, received a $500,000 CAREER award from the National Science Foundation to develop computational tools that improve our understanding of the human brain.

8 Jun 2021

Study identifies new drug to halt dementia in athletes after repeated head injuries

A world-first international study led by the University of South Australia has identified a new drug to stop athletes from developing dementia after sustaining repeated head injuries in their career.

7 Jun 2021

A single blood-based biomarker can help indicate underlying neurodegeneration

Levels of a protein called neurofilament light chain (NfL) in the blood can identify those who might have neurodegenerative diseases such as Down's syndrome dementia, motor neuron disease (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, when clinical symptoms are not definitive

7 Jun 2021

Mental health visits for new mothers were 30% higher during COVID-19 pandemic

Mental health visits for new mothers were 30% higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic, particularly in the first 3 months after giving birth, found new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

7 Jun 2021

Gut microbiome composition associated with infant's fear responses

Why do some babies react to perceived danger more than others? According to new research from Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, part of the answer may be found in a surprising place: an infant's digestive system.

5 Jun 2021

COVID-19 has had a detrimental impact on adolescent mental health, study finds

A study of over 59,000 Icelandic adolescents by a team of Icelandic and North American behavioral and social scientists found that COVID-19 has had a significant, detrimental impact on adolescent mental health, especially in girls.

5 Jun 2021

Weight loss drug Wegovy approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy (semaglutide) injection (2.4 mg once weekly) as a chronic weight management treatment in obese or overweight adults with a weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol), when used along with calorie restriction and physical activity. Wegovy, is a more potent version of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug semaglutide.

4 Jun 2021

Mental health effects common among mild and severe cases of COVID-19

Findings on mental health outcomes of COVID-19 infection show frequent symptoms associated with lasting neurological symptoms.

4 Jun 2021

Reduced birth rates during early pandemic are predicted to rebound soon

A different type of surge may be on the way more than a year into the pandemic - a baby surge.The COVID-19 shutdown initially seemed to hit pause on pregnancy and birth rates, new research from one major hospital system suggests, but that trend is quickly reversing.

4 Jun 2021