Misleading online oral health information is widespread across social media platforms and web searches, yet direct evidence showing it changes patient behavior or clinical outcomes remains scarce, according to a scoping review published in BDJ Open. The study, which analyzed how online misinformation is defined and reported, found that while aesthetic trends and DIY remedies … Read more
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are shifting from restoring physical movement to treating complex cognitive disorders. According to Dr. Ignacio Saez of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the next generation of these devices will target conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety by functioning as closed-loop systems that detect and regulate dysfunctional brain states in … Read more
Negative emotions act as a filter for human memory, forcing the brain to prioritize information relevant to immediate goals while discarding peripheral context. According to a study published in the journal Virtual Reality by researchers at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), this process is a functional adaptation rather than a memory failure. When under … Read more
Medical cannabis is now legal in 47 states and Washington, D.C., but a disconnect remains between cancer survivors using the substance to manage symptoms and the providers treating them. According to a study published in the Journal of Cancer Education, while survivors often turn to cannabis for pain, nausea, and anxiety, they frequently report feeling … Read more
Genetic Insights into GLP-1R and Mental Health Genetic evidence suggests that lifelong activation of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) may reduce risks of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), according to a study published in Translational Psychiatry. Researchers used Mendelian randomization (MR) to analyze data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs), linking genetic variants … Read more
Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have identified epinephrine-producing C1 neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) as modulators of fear and anxiety. According to a study published in the journal Neuron, these neurons create a circuit that, when activated, triggers long-lasting anxiety, providing a potential new target for therapies that avoid the side … Read more
Summer seasonal affective disorder (RSAD) is a form of clinical depression that affects an estimated 0.57% of people, according to an analysis of multiple studies. Unlike winter SAD, which triggers low moods during cold months, RSAD manifests as anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue during the heat of summer. What causes summer seasonal affective disorder? Melatonin levels … Read more
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) suggests that human development follows predictable energetic shifts rather than a single, uniform timeline. Based on the Huangdi Neijing, women experience seven-year cycles driven by blood and yin, whereas men undergo eight-year cycles governed by qi and yang, leading to different biological peaks and developmental rhythms. How do TCM life cycles … Read more
Psychosocial factors like neuroticism and life adversity contribute more to the population burden of depression and anxiety than physiological factors, according to a 13-year study in Translational Psychiatry. Using UK Biobank data, researchers found psychosocial elements account for up to 67% of the depression burden in men and 61% in women. Why do psychosocial factors … Read more
Morgan’s Message, a nonprofit dedicated to destigmatizing mental health struggles among student-athletes, now operates on 1,856 campuses across six countries with 6,053 active ambassadors. Founded in memory of Duke University lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers, who died by suicide in 2019, the organization utilizes a peer-to-peer model to encourage vulnerable conversations and provide mental health resources … Read more