A new research concluded that patients suffering from depression might likely be prone to develop dementia when they are older. The study, which was released in the Neurology journal last July 6th, 2010, examined 949 patients in the Framingham Heart Study for about eight and a half years. There were also some who were studied for almost two decades. In that span of time, over 164 patients, around 17% of the people studied, developed dementia. However, among those participants who were depressed at the start of the study, the rate of developing the illness was higher at about 22%. Setting...

Autism, also called autistic disorder or infantile autism, is known to attack some children before they reach three years of age and is characterized by repetitive behavior and difficulty in speech and social interaction. It is also one of the most common illnesses. Now, a new research, which will be featured in the March issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, said the symptoms of autistic disorder cannot be identified in infants before they reach six months. However, signs can be recognized by the time they turn one. The research holds that...

According to a ConsumerLabs.com online survey, fish oil supplements have become more popular than other supplements and multi-vitamins. It contains Omega 3 fatty acids, which have been said to keep hearts healthy. Specialists also believe the fatty acids in fish oil reduce the risks of a stroke and getting cancer. Now there is a new research that claims it may be even more beneficial. The Archives of General Psychiatry study, which was authored by researchers with the Orygen Youth Research Center in Australia and the Medical University of Vienna in Austria, revealed that Omega 3 might combat...

Recent studies have shown that chronic lack of sleep may be linked to having lower gray matter density. A research using brain imaging scans has found a connection between chronic insomnia to having lower gray matter density in specific regions that regulates the ability to rest and formulate decisions. According to Ellemarijie Altena of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, these recent findings suggest that people suffering from chronic insomnia may have compromised certain capacities to assess the affective value of stimuli. She also adds that doing so might affect the brain’s...

In general, being overweight or obese at any age can cause a variety of psychological consequences. However, overweight kids have bigger tendencies to experience depression and low self-esteem according to Catherine Davis, the current associate professor of pediatrics in the Medical College of Georgia. Aside from the fact that most overweight children have a higher tendency of developing several physical ailments such as heart disease, these kids are also prone to developing low self-esteem and depression. This is because most overweight kids are often teased and bullied. According to the...

Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, is a disorder in the brain that can be fatal and still has no known cure but has treatment for its symptoms. It is associated with the loss of memory and slowed thinking. While this is common in older people, experts now claim there are about 500,000 people at the age of 30, 40 or 50 already suffering from this disease or any related dementia. Recently, a study showed that a genetic variant that elevates the risk of this disease can actually improve the function of the brain, particularly for those carriers who are younger. Professor Duke Han...

More than 18 million people in the US suffer from clinical depression, with 28 million taking anti-depressant or anxiety treatments. According to psychotherapist Julia Ross, she considers this a “bad mood epidemic,” suggesting that such moods and emotions are caused by poor nutrition. In her book, The Mood Cure, she stated that the four emotion engines (also known as neurotransmitters) in the brain, which have a particular effect on a person’s mood, each require a varied amino acid fuel. These four are: • The Blahs. You feel upbeat and energized when you are high in catecholamines. If...

Losing something or someone is a very painful experience. It is a normal thing that after a significant loss, you would be challenged with different kinds of surprising and difficult emotions. Sometimes, it even feels as if you can never overcome your grief and loss. Although these feelings can be overwhelming and frightening, they are normal psychological reactions to loss. In other words, these feelings are necessary for you to heal. A loss does not only pertain to the death of a loved one. It can be a relationship breakup, loss of health, losing a job, loses of financial stability, a...

Most people think of treating the physical body when thinking of medical treatment. However, the safety of the physical body as well as mental state of individuals depends on their mental health. The following services have a high relevance for mental health services and drug addiction therapy. Professional service: Drug Addiction Rehabilitation provides resources for those interested in dealing with addictive behaviors, searching for a drug rehab center , or finding a drug and alcohol rehab and treatment center . Why important: Addictive behaviors can interfere with one’s life and...