A new technique for stimulating the brain improves the language skills of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a preliminary report of new research that appeared online last week in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. The technical is called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (or rTMS). The new treatment uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the…
We’ve all heard about the importance of having a firm handshake. But tactile sensations, those we receive by touching objects, may play more of a role in day to day decision-making than most people would ever dream, according to a new study published in Science this week. Researchers from Yale, Harvard, and the Massachusetts Institute…
For New York residents with mental disorders that require significant support, new options are expected to be in place within the near future. Many people currently housed in group homes in New York that provide services for those with mental health issues will be moving into independent housing within the next three years, based on…
When beginning therapy with antidepressant medications, the advice has generally been not to expect a change in mood for a few weeks. New research suggests that at the right dosages, certain antidepressants can provide almost instant relief, improving mood and reducing anxiety within hours. The study was reported this week at the Royal College of…
A group of researchers in Philadelphia have developed a brain scan relying on a different kind of dye that will allow doctors to see the early stages of developing Alzheimer’s disease and to track the progress of the disease in the brain. In the past, doctors treating patients with memory loss have not had reliable…
Many people believe that alcohol can cause normally peaceful people to become violent. New research shows that intoxication can indeed increase violence, but that the association is strongest for people who normally hold in their anger. In fact, according to this new study, people who do not habitually repress their anger are not likely to…
Lonely people are less healthy, and the quality of friendships is more important than the quantity, according to researchers at the University of Arizona. Having hundreds of friends on Facebook or dozens of followers on Twitter does not prevent the effects of loneliness. The quality and depth of connections with others is as important or…
Most people know it’s not a good idea to go to the grocery store when you’ve had a tough day at work and haven’t eaten for 12 hours, or to go out drinking after getting some bad news. We know that the stress we’re under would probably lead us to make some poor health decisions….
Male teenagers or twenty-somethings who are diagnosed with anxiety are more likely to have a heart attack or heart disease later in life than men who do not experience anxiety disorders earlier in life. The increased risk is extremely high: an early diagnosis of anxiety more than doubles the chances of later coronary trouble. The…
According to Canadian researchers, a large clinical trial using Omega-3 supplements to treat major depressive disorder shows that, for some patients, Omega-3 oil treatments can be as effective as traditional antidepressant medications. The treatment was found to be effective for patients suffering major depressive disorders who did not also suffer from anxiety disorders. The study…