Lonely Hearts, Go Online
Internet dating is now one of the top methods for finding love. But whether the pros outweigh the cons is another story...   > >
Obese Teens
Teens rated as less attached during infancy were almost 2.5 times more likely to become obese. It's no coincidence...   > >
Raising Teens' IQs
An extra year or two of education can raise IQ significantly, even if the students are already teens...   > >
Pity the Insomniac
Insomnia is a major health risk. It erodes your quality of life. But too few doctors even ask patients about sleep...   > >
Gossip Is Good for Your Health
It isn't always bad to gossip. In fact, it has social and health benefits. It depends on what you are gossiping about...   > >
A New Alzheimer's Approach
Good nutrition and a sharper brain are more strongly linked that we knew. Resist the fries and resist cognitive decline...   > >
A Real Write Off
Writing can help you lose weight, a study has found. It just depends on what you write about...   > >
A Cure for Shyness?
The mother-baby bonding hormone, oxytocin, made introverts feel more outgoing and trusting...   > >
The Agony of Indecision
Some people constantly doubt themselves rather than committing to their choices, no matter how small. But it's not all bad...   > >
Teaching Kids to Think Positively
At what age do children learn that one can choose to see a situation in a more positive light? Does it matter?   > >
Marijuana's Paranoid Side
Smoking pot can make people calm, anxious, or even psychotic. A study reveals the chemical culprit...   > >
Happy Quitters
Struggling with the resolution to quit smoking? It gets better: Quitters report being happier and healthier...   > >
Feed Your Head
Good nutrition and a sharper brain are more strongly linked that we knew. Resist the fries and resist cognitive decline...   > >
Doubly Disadvantaged
Underprivileged kids have less chance to play at school, at home, in their neighborhoods. The effects aren't just physical...   > >
Make Way for DHEA
The hormone DHEA sounds like a miracle: it may ease menopause symptoms and boost sexual interest...   > >
Help for Chocoholics
Self-proclaimed chocolate-lovers who were asked to do this ate half as much chocolate as a similar group who didn't...   > >
Beat Depressive Thinking, Be Concrete
A simple, low-cost training program helped people with depression overcome their self-defeating thought patterns...   > >
The Evolution of Prejudice
A new look at prejudice finds it may mostly exist just because we're afraid of germs...   > >
Men Less Preoccupied with Sex
Men don't think about sex every seven seconds. It's more like 19 times a day. And many women aren't so far behind...   > >
Brain Tsunamis
As their name implies, these waves of depolarization destroy brain function the way their watery counterparts wipe out homes...   > >
Move Over, Xanax
Researchers discover an important step in the stress response, which, if blocked, could stop the reaction from erupting...   > >
Family Combat Fatigue
The brains of children exposed to family violence show changes similar to those of soldiers back from combat...   > >
Why “Don’t Be Prejudiced” Backfires
When people are told to be less prejudiced, their response is to be more so. Luckily, there’s a better way...   > >
Bad Bosses Can Follow You Home
Having a difficult boss at work strains workers' personal relationships at home. But some relationships are more immune...   > >
Soccer Headers Damage Brain Cells
DTI brain scans of players found the most damage in those who headed the ball the most. And the players were amateurs...   > >
Can Dreams Heal All Wounds?
REM sleep offers a neuro-chemically safe environment that reduces the emotional strength of traumatic memories...   > >
An Autism Conundrum
Autism spectrum disorders are increasingly being linked to different genetic mutations. This poses problems for treatment...   > >
A Little Less Holiday Cheer, Perhaps?
A study of alcoholics found higher death and disease rates across the board. But the news is not all bad...   > >
A Flexible New View of the Brain
A new ultra-thin probe enables scientists to gather information about brain activity without invasive electrodes...   > >
No Way to Quit
The anti-smoking drug varenicline (Chantix) can bring on depression, suicide and violence. The FDA found differently...   > >
Txt2Stop Smoking
People in a British study had double the quit rate thanks to support and tips delivered by cell phone. Just text "crave."...   > >
Too Many Neurons in Autistic Brains
Runaway neuronal growth in the prefrontal cortex. That's what researchers found when they checked the brains of kids with autism...   > >
Study Overturns Alzheimer's Theory
The idea that a build-up of beta-amyloid plaques is behind Alzheimer's has been turned on its head...   > >
The G8 Summit in Your Brain
Clusters of highly influential regions of brain cells do serious collaboration. They're called "rich clubs" for good reason.   > >
BPA in Utero Affects Girls' Brains
BPA exposure in the womb was linked to behavioral and emotional problems in girls. Why not boys?   > >
Teaching Doctors Empathy
Can listening to their own encounters with patients help doctors become more responsive to patients' concerns?   > >
Does Living Happy = Living Longer?
Happiness measured at one point in time was linked to lower mortality five years later. Cause or coincidence?   > >
Middle-Aged Stressors Up Death Risk
Going through a string of difficult life events in middle age raises one's death risk. But there is a silver lining.   > >
What Works for Migraine Relief?
A study comparing stress reduction, medication and exercise found a surprisingly effective way to reduce migraine episodes...   > >
Soda's Violent Side
The "Twinkie defense" returns: The more sugary, fizzy sodas a teen drank, the more likely he or she was to become violent...   > >
Soda's Violent Side
The "Twinkie defense" returns: The more sugary, fizzy sodas a teen drank, the more likely he or she was to become violent...   > >
Educational TV? Not for Toddlers
The AAP has come out with a statement outlining just how bad television and media are for little kids...   > >
Mental Health Boosts Economic Health
The economic benefits of offering mental health help to those living in poverty are enormous...   > >
Magic Mushrooms and Personality Change
A small study found that one experience with the hallucinogen psilocybin created lasting, positive, personality changes...   > >
Preventing Stroke in at-Risk Brains
Drugs to reduce the brain's immense energy needs may serve to help preserve it when its blood supply is compromised...   > >
In a Lather over Sponge Bob
Why do cartoon-viewing kids exhibit poorer "executive functioning" than those who watch educational TV? It is overload?   > >
Making Movies of the Mind
Brain scans taken while researchers all watched the same film clips were used to reveal what they saw later. Mindreading...   > >
Good News: Your Brain Can Grow
Contrary to popular belief, the brain can form new connections into adulthood — years after it was thought to have stopped...   > >
Easily Embarrassed = Trustworthy?
People who become embarrassed more readily are also more dependable and generous...   > >
Why It's Hard to Quit
Brain scans of former drinkers reveal that alcohol damages brain areas key to impulse control, making it harder to stop...   > >
Can Parents Compete with Cartoons?
It's hard to encourage kids to eat well when you have to compete with cartoon character marketing, but it is possible...   > >
Possible Mad Cow Treatment
The brain-wasting prion diseases are slow-growing. Two drugs seem to bring them almost to a standstill...   > >
ED Linked to a Broken Heart
A study finds that ED predicts future heart disease. But another finds an easy way to improve sexual function...   > >
Tweets Track Global Mood Swings
The timing and emotional tenor of Twitter posts around the world offer a picture of when we are happiest and when we are not...   > >
Mind Games
The mind is notorious for playing tricks, but researchers discover paying attention can actually mislead us...   > >
Typical — Like Me
What does a typical American or European or African look like? It depends on whom you ask; it may have sinister implications...   > >
Breastfeeding and Kids' Brains
Kids who were breastfed scored higher on reasoning and language tests at age 5. The effects on preemies were even greater...   > >
Controlling Instant Gratification
The brains of impulsive people are different from those who can delay gratification. It's all in the prefrontal cortex...   > >
Nicotine's New Disguise
Hookah lounges are on the rise in California and with them, tobacco use. The dangers are the same as cigarettes, and worse...   > >
Alcohol and Food Habits
Drinkers eat fewer healthy calories in favor of empty, alcoholic ones. This compounds their risk of disease...   > >
Making Your Fat Burn More Calories
Brown fat burns many more calories than white fat. Now, a surprising new way to make white fat behave like brown...   > >
Don't Choke on that Test
U.S. Open players take note: A new study shows that it’s how we interpret our stress can make or break a performance...   > >
Superhuman Vitamin-Users
Vitamins are good for you, right? Not necessarily. In some people they lead to more health risks. It's called licensing...   > >
Stress and Depression
Stress can lead to depression, but new brain cells may be responsible for stopping the process and relieving the stress...   > >
Memory Loss: New Hope
In aging brains cyclic AMP, a cytokine, weakens cell firing, slowing working memory. Blocking it reverses the effect...   > >
Children Behaving Badly
Kids' nagging can wear down moms' resistance. But a study found some winning strategies (for moms, that is...)   > >
Stopping Panic Attacks Before They Start
Subtle cues precede most attacks. The trick is listening to them and preventing them...   > >
Parents and Kids Not Always a Good Fit
A study asks: Can parents make a positive – or negative – difference in the temperaments of anxious and depressed kids?   > >
Endless Worry Colors Relationships
People with anxiety often have problematic social relationships, partly as a result of their worries. What can be done?   > >
Risky Business
Teens are surprisingly risk-aversive in some situations, while women are apt to take more risks than men in others...   > >
Antidepressants' Boomerang Effect
For all the good they do, antidepressants may lead to another bout of depression. Here's why, according to a large review.   > >
A New Way to Treat Depression
Studies find that the brain's reward system appears to be stimulated by these positive behaviors and may ease depression...   > >
Pets and Self Esteem
Pet owners score higher on a variety of measures of healthy adjustment. Can pets say the same?   > >
Speech Processing in Dyslexia
The root of dyslexia may be in speech processing, a surprise to researchers. How will this knowledge help treat it?   > >
Are You An Overweight Personality?
A new study shows that certain personality traits are linked to a tendency to be overweight. There were some surprises. ..   > >
Massage For Back Pain
Two types of massage were offered to back pain sufferers. Guess who got better?   > >
Grapes vs. Alzheimer's
Grape seed extract – and perhaps red wine – shows promise as a way to slow the progression of Alzheimer's...   > >
Teaching Teens Positive Thinking
A simple computer program seems to help teens avoid negative thinking, which may help with anxiety and depression...   > >
One Less Thing for Parents to Worry About
Do kids who aren't talking by two in trouble? Not usually. A study has found they tend to catch up...   > >
Social Problems Are Killers
Proof that public health must be seen in a broader light than it currently is. Save healthcare dollars; improve schools...   > >
Unhealthy Habits = Less Sex
Why people who drink to excess, smoke, use drugs or are overweight are less likely to have satisfying sex...   > >
Time to Get Rocking
Break out the hammocks. Rocking to sleep is not just for babies. It provides a deeper sleep. Here's why...   > >
Looking into the Mind's Eye
New research shows how our ability to imagine affects on our reactions and our ability to plan for the future.   > >
Men Who Buy Flashy Cars...
Men who engage in "conspicuous spending" (think Porsches) have one thing on their minds. But are women really impressed?   > >
ER Not Best for Kids' Mental Health Issues
Too often, children with behavioral or emotional issues are taken to the ER. A bad idea for a number of reasons...   > >
Panic Not
You might think people with panic disorder would fall apart in a crisis, but that's not necessarily the case...   > >
Scanning the Brain's Networks
A new technique enables researchers to view patterns of activity within the whole brain, rather than just discrete regions...   > >
What Math Does to Kids' Brains
Don't worry, it's all good. Children's brains change as they learn math skills. Adults' too, hopefully...   > >
Plastic Surgeons' Best Customers
Why do some people believe their physical flaws are far more noticeable than they are? It's about the brain...   > >
Giving New Meaning to "Seeing Red"
Looking at the color red actually boosts the strength and speed of our physical reactions...   > >
It's All About Action
Contrary to popular belief, kids do not enjoy violent cartoons any more than nonviolent ones. So why do producers make them?   > >
Paxil and Pravachol: A Bad Combo
Drug interactions can be surprising. Alone, neither Paxil nor Pravachol raise blood sugar. Together, they do...   > >
Social Support Systems
Getting along well with the coworkers may lengthen your life. Getting along with the boss…not so much...   > >
Therapy Goes to the Dogs
The presence of a therapy dog can help reduce the anxiety of patients waiting for an MRI — unless they're afraid of dogs...   > >
The Agony of Ecstasy?
The club drug Ecstasy produces changes in brain chemistry. But these may not be the type of changes its users are after...   > >
Purses and Punching Bags
Little things – like being asked to hold a purse – can make men feel their manhood has been threatened. Guess what happens...   > >
How Guilt Makes Us Nicer
Do we cooperate with others to experience positive feelings or avoid the bad ones? A new study shows how guilt motivates us...   > >
Easing Stress Can Boost IVF Success
Women taking a stress relief program while undergoing IVF got pregnant significantly more often than those who didn’t...   > >
Prozac Not Working For You?
People taking anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen may find that their SSRI antidepressants don't work as well...   > >
Sleepy Neurons Lead to Mistakes
In sleep-deprived rats random brain cells take "naps" while the animal is awake. This leads to performance problems...   > >
It's Never Too Late to Start Exercising
A study of women over 60 found that moderate exercise – just walking – significantly improved blood flow and BP...   > >
Alcohol, Impulsivity, and the Brain
People with alcoholism in the family tend to have a gene variation affecting impulsivity. Their brains reflect this...   > >
No More Pain
People briefly taught a form of meditation experienced a 40% reduction in pain intensity, far better than with morphine...   > >
Food Addictions
The same areas of the brain are activated in food addiction and drug addiction. But you can't go cold turkey on food...   > >
Longer Work Day, Shorter Life
People who regularly work long days have a far higher risk of heart disease. How long is too long?   > >
Political Wisdom
Conservatives and liberals really are different. It's not just their beliefs; it's their brains. Scans tell the story...   > >
Are Food Dyes Safe for Kids?
Some studies show a link between artificial dyes and ADHD. So why did an FDA panel reject warning labels for these foods?   > >
Love Hurts — Literally.
The emotional pain of romantic relationship break-up has the same effect on the brain as physical pain. Not surprised?   > >
Squelcing PMS
Fatty acid supplements may help women beat the symptoms of PMS. How do they work?   > >
Fear of Heights
A dose of cortisol, the stress hormone secreted when we are afraid or stressed, helped acrophobics conquer their fear...   > >
Is Obese the New Normal?
People who are seriously overweight tend not to see themselves – or their kids – as being as heavy as they really are...   > >
Your Personal CEO
Brain scans show how the visual cortex of blind people is recruited by the brain to help them process language...   > >
An OTC for the Brain?
Ibuprofen appears to offer protection against Parkinson's disease. Brain inflammation may be the reason...   > >
Not Just A Face in the Crowd
Where's Waldo? A study has found that the larger the society, the more distinctive its members tend to become.   > >
Cognitive Problems in Cancer Patients
Cancer patients on opioid painkillers often experience confusion, disorientation and forgetfulness. Is there an alternative?   > >
Of Mice and, Hopefully, Men
An accidental discovery has resulted in serious hair re-growth in stressed mice. If men are next, let the celebration begin...  > >
Exercise Raises Kids' Test Scores
Intelligence scores rose by four points with just 40 minutes of play a day. Planning and decision-making improved too...  > >
"Talk Therapy" Rewires the Brain
Anxious? Cognitive behavior therapy can help. The changes it brings can be seen in the brain itself...   > >
The Trans-Fat Blues
Certain fats may be as bad for your head as your heart. A study has found a link between hydrogenated fats and depression...   > >
Exercise and IBS
Regular exercise significantly reduces IBS symptoms and the likelihood that they'll get worse over the years. Why wait?  > >
Memo To Parents of Obese Kids
When parents of overweight children took a healthy lifestyle course, their children's BMI dropped by 10%...  > >
The Pen is Mightier Than the Keyboard
Writing by hand furthers learning far more than pressing a key. So what are we to do...  > >
Meditation Changes the Brain
People who took a course on mindfulness meditation had significant increases – and decreases – in areas of their brains...  > >
How To Beat Test Anxiety
Students who are anxious about tests do as well as their not-so-anxious peers when they write about their fears...  > >
Hot Flashes Are Good?
Hot flashes and other menopause symptoms may actually have a protective effect when it comes to certain cancers...  > >
Cell Phones and Cancer
A large-scale analysis of cell phone use finds a connection between usage and brain cancer. How to limit your exposure...   > >
What Are School Friends For?
Kids' friends may have a bigger influence on how well they do in school than parents do. But boys and girls are different...  > >
Walk On
Walking just 5 miles a week slows mental decline significantly, even among those with Alzheimer's. Get started now...   > >
Instincts, How Accurate?
Do people who are able to listen to their bodies have better instincts when it comes to making intuitive decisions?   > >
Cancer, Pain and Smoking
Is it that smoking actually increases cancer pain, or that greater pain increases smoking? Some findings...   > >
New Study Reports Evidence of "ESP"
A new study reports evidence of "ESP" and stirs debate. Critics say we need reevaluate before believing...   > >
Mindfulness vs. Fibromyalgia
Can mindfulness therapy reduce the pain experienced by people with this baffling condition?   > >
Viva Fruits, Vegetables — and Vino
Seniors who eat – and drink – a more Mediterranean style diet have less cognitive decline than people who don't...   > >
Truly Fearless
A woman with a damaged amygdala exhibits no fear at all – even when confronting things (like snakes) she is afraid of...   > >
Ban Tobacco Displays?
In Ireland, a ban on displaying tobacco products changed attitudes and didn't hurt shopkeepers' bottom lines...   > >
The Unemployed Rebound
Laid off? Here's some good news: Your happiness level will likely rise to pre-unemployment levels within a year...   > >
Resolutions 101
There is an art to making resolutions you can actually keep and use to make changes in your life. What works; what doesn't...   > >
To Drink or Not to Drink
The health benefits and hazards of alcohol should be on your mind this New Year's Eve. A game plan for the night...   > >
Raise the Cholesterol?
More evidence that "good" cholesterol really is good: Higher levels of HDL may reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease...   > >
Mood, Creativity and Work
People work better when they are in a good mood. So those stupid pet trick videos really are important to doing your job...   > >
Alzheimer's Breakthrough?
It is not that Alzheimer's brains overproduce dangerous plaques; they have trouble getting rid of them once they've formed...   > >
Sleeping Beauty
A recent study, complete with before and after photos, finds sleep really does make you more attractive. No surprise...   > >
Don't Sleep On It
Scientists have found a way to disrupt upsetting memories of traumatic events: sleep deprivation...   > >
Married Men Are Nicer
But are they nicer because of marriage, or just nicer to begin with? A study examines the issue...   > >
Paralyzed Monkey Jumps Again
Researchers say that implanting stem cells allowed a paralyzed monkey to walk – and jump – again. Are humans next?  > >
Medication or Meditation?
More people are seeking treatment for their depression. But the type of treatment they choose may not be the most effective...  > >
Women, Work and Heart Disease
No surprise: women facing job stress have a greatly increased risk of heart disease. But what to do?  > >
Fatigued? Depressed? Retire!
Workers with exhaustion and depression felt significantly better after they retired. But is it not working that did it?  > >
Red Bull or Rum?
College kids who drink more energy drinks also consume significantly more alcohol: coincidence or cause?  > >
K2 and "Spice" Danger
Synthetic marijuana is legal in some states and found in convenience stores. It is sending kids to the ER with seizures...  > >
Happiness is Paying Attention
People whose minds are wandering are less happy than those who are focused on the present. Sign up to track yourself...  > >
Smart Brain!
When one part of the brain is damaged, it often gets an assist from other, undamaged areas to pick up the slack...  > >
Don't Try This At Home
We're talking about smoking, especially if you have children. Turns out, secondhand smoke is even more dangerous for them...  > >
With Friends Like These...
Obesity can spread among friends. Rising obesity rates are partly related to a phenomenon known as social contagion...  > >
Stress: Not So Bad for the Belly?
Stress isn't behind as much weight gain as was previously thought, but there are sex differences to consider...  > >
Preventing Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease appears linked to problems in the brain’s energy stores. New research suggests a fix...  > >
Smells Good, But It's Toxic
Many of those scented products you love actually give off toxic chemicals. Some are even "green."...  > >
Aging Like Wine
So often studies tell us what not to do. Finally, here's one that tells you what you need to do to age well...  > >
New Moms, Bigger Brains
The thrill and pleasure of a new baby appear to stimulate brain growth, particularly in areas devoted to emotion and reward...  > >
Friends Light Up the Brain
Close friends activate "social" areas of your brain more than strangers do, even if you have more in common with the strangers...  > >
When Moms Read, Kids Flourish
For young children in poor communities, having a mom who reads is a huge boost to school success...  > >
Boys' Brains on Violence
Boys used to violent video clips have less response to them. Does this increase the likelihood they will become violent?...  > >
New Diet Idea
Paying with cash is more psychologically "painful" than paying with credit, which leads to less junk food spending...  > >
Dogs Help Autistic Kids
Having a service dog reduces undesirable behavior and eases kids' (and parents') stress...  > >
Now Remember This
Higher levels of vitamin B12 were linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease — so eat your eggs!...  > >
Morning Sickness, Good?
Women who experience morning sickness are less likely to miscarry than women who do not — but don’t worry, it’s not written in stone...  > >
Resilience Training
Facing some adversity in your life may help you better cope with stress and be happier later on...  > >
Kids' Psychology
When your child spends more than two hours per day in front of the TV the risk of behavioral and social problems increases...  > >
Last Call...Already?
An earlier last call at bars can lower the number of assaults and other alcohol-related violence...  > >
Helping Families Get Healthier
A study at IBM shows that modest company-sponsored incentive programs can increase the health of workers and their families...  > >
Painful Emotions...Literally
Feeling hostile? Angry? Depressed? Your experience of physical pain is likely to be worse when you have these emotions...  > >
No You Didn't
"Observation inflation" occurs when we think we've done something we haven't because we've seen someone else doing it...  > >
Bad Habits = Costly Workers
People who smoke, overeat, or don't exercise take more sick days, while those who drink take fewer. Go figure...  > >
B for the Brain
People taking high doses of B vitamins had less brain shrinkage than those who didn't in this Oxford University study...  > >
Contagious Yawning
Contagious yawning is familiar to most. But did you know it is a form of normal social bonding and can point to problems?  > >
Your Hair Knows
Look at the hair of cardiac patients and you can see that in the months before the attack, stress hormone levels were rising...  > >
The Root of Loneliness
Feel lonely? A new study finds that the best way to reduce loneliness is to change how you think about yourself and others...  > >
New Moms Need Sleep!
Even though they may total enough hours at night, interrupted sleep is what hurts new moms...  > >
40-minute Wonder
Ketamine quickly reduced depression in some treatment-resistant bipolar patients, offering hope for a new treatment approach...  > >
Medical Marijuana
People with chronic nerve pain found some relief by smoking marijuana in a Canadian study. Medical marijuana is legal there...  > >
Disrupting the Biological Clock
Reduced messenger RNA activity appears to be behind the sleep, blood pressure and mood problems seen in alcoholics...  > >
Just Be Yourself
Despite earlier theories, stressed out, neurotic people do not get cancer more frequently than laid back, out-going types...  > >
Mind over Matter
Seniors who worry about falling actually fall more than those who don't, even when their risk of falling is the same...  > >
It's So Infuriating
Angry people have a greater risk for heart attack and stroke than easygoing folks. Artery walls tell the story...  > >
ADHD Often Misdiagnosed
Children who are young for their grade tend to be misdiagnosed with ADHD. A million kids may have been affected...  > >
Turn down the Volume
Teens' hearing has gotten worse over the past two decades, and it may be from having the iPod or MP3 cranked up too loud...  > >
Pump Up Your Brain
People with hearts that pump most effectively (think exercise) tend to have larger brains. Coincidence? Not likely...  > >
As You See Them, So You Are
How we see others says more about our own personalities than it does about theirs', a new study has shown...   > >
More Fun With Fruits and Vegetables
You can get your kids to feel positively toward fruits and veggies – and eat them. Carrot puppets, anyone?   > >
Brain It Out
Researchers find that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is linked to changes in the brain as well as the gut. But which come first is a question...  > >
Taking In Sync to a New Level
The better we understand another, the more closely our brain patterns resemble theirs, a phenomenon dubbed neural coupling...  > >
Take Your Pick, Kids
Let your grade-schoolers read whatever they want during the summer. Keeping those skills sharp is what is important...  > >
Friends, For a Long and Healthy Life
Having a strong social support system rivals quitting smoking in terms of the years it can add to our lives...  > >
Practice Makes Perfect
We learn better when we change our routines, rather than doing the same thing over and over, according to a new brain study...  > >
Sniffing Insulin for Alzheimer's
Not just for diabetics: A sniff of the hormone insulin may help recover memory function in Alzheimer's patients...  > >
The Nose Knows
Zinc nasal sprays, often used as cold remedies, appear to damage, and in some cases, destroy, people's sense of smell...  > >
Don't Throw Out the Rabbit's Foot
When people have good luck charms with them they perform better, a study has found. It's about confidence...  > >
Put a Little Stress in Your Life
Mice “stressed” by living in stimulating environments fought cancer better, making experts suggest that a little stress may be good...  > >
Unintended Medical Consequences
Parkinson's patients receiving tissue transplants developed jerky, uncontrolled movements. This may be a thing of the past...  > >
Two Hours Does What?
Whether your child is in grade school or college, video games may be just as bad as TV for their attention spans...  > >
Brain Scan Predicts Behavior
A study using functional MRI scans of subjects' brains found that scan results better predict behavior than the subjects did...  > >
Baby Blues
No wonder new mothers are at risk for postpartum depression: MAO-A, an enzyme that can deactivate mood, is skyrocketing...  > >
Nature: Fuel for the Soul
Spending as little as 20 minutes in nature is a good way to recharge, according to a new study. Even urban gardens can work...  > >
CBT and Exercise Help Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia patients better manage their pain with cognitive behavior therapy and exercise. Knowing how they cope helps, too...  > >
Teens Who Hurt Themselves
The medical community calls it "non-suicidal self-injury" (NSSI); the kids call it "cutting."...  > >
Get That Gallbladder Out!
If you suffer from gallbladder inflammation you should probably have it removed to reduce risk and financial cost.   > >
Does Anger Bring Closeness?
Feelings of anger seem to make a person want to get closer to the anger-inducing stimulus, rather than further away from it. > >
New Dads Get Depressed Too
New and expecting fathers experience depression twice as frequently as other men. Knowing the signs is a first step...  > >
ADHD and Pesticide Exposure
Children with ADHD had significantly higher pesticide exposure levels than their peers in a new study...  > >
Mozart and Smarts? Unlikely, Study Says
There’s little evidence that exposing your child to Mozart will actually improve his or her intelligence, but it can't hurt....  > >
Talk About Sexual Problems
Aging presents some obstacles to sexual satisfaction. Many can be overcome, but talking to your partner or spouse appears key...  > >
Drinking at Dillon High and Beyond
Teen drinking is not like on TV. There are real risks, like auto accidents and impaired brain development...  > >
Another Look at Antidepressants for Teens
After the reports of increased suicide rates among teens on antidepressants, a new study offers more data...  > >
When Antidepressants Don't Work
Administering magnetic pulses to patients with intractable depression seems to be an effective treatment...   > >
A Laughing Matter
Break out the sitcom DVDs. Laughter may help stimulate appetite in older adults and people with chronic pain...   > >
Pain, New Ideas and Potential Remedies
New research suggests that targeting the OLAM compounds that activate pain receptors may block pain at its root...   > >
Seeing Illness Boosts The Immune System
Just seeing people who show symptoms of illness seems to stimulate the immune system...   > >
Promising New PTSD Treatment
Blocking the nerves of the stellate ganglion, a treatment for chronic pain, provided two veterans with relief from PTSD...   > >
Time Outdoors Helps Self Esteem
Good news, couch potatoes: Just five minutes outside can improve mood and self-esteem. Vigorous exercise is not necessary...   > >
The Senior Hustle
Dancing improves seniors' balance and prevents falls. It also can raise their spirits. A low impact program helps...   > >
Teen Smoking: Talk About It
A simple parent-teen conversation, or several, is the best way to prevent teens from smoking, especially if dad is involved...  > >
Depression Meds' Side Effects Under-Reported
A study has found that side effects from these drugs rarely make it to patients' charts. Patient and doctor reporting play a part...  > >
Do Computer Games Make You Smarter?
A study in which subjects practiced computer games found that game skills improved, but not overall mental capacity...  > >
Exercise As Psychotherapy
Exercise can produce immediate improvement in people with mental health issues. So why is it so rarely prescribed?...  > >
Pack Up Your Cares and Woes
If you are having trouble getting over a disappointment, it really may help to seal up an emblem of it and throw it away...  > >
Dieting Is Stressful
Dieting raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol, making it harder to lose weight. Exercise can help...  > >
Strategies for Managing Stress
Stress is a fact of life, but you can learn to manage it better. There are ways to cope physically and mentally...  > >
Deep Conversation Brings Happiness
Small talk may be a social lubricant, but greater happiness comes from meaningful conversations, a new study has found...  > >
Zen Mind, Less Pain
Zen meditation reduces a person's sensitivity to pain. Meditators had thicker gray matter, a good sign for aging brains, too...  > >
Exercise Lowers Anxiety
Exercise reduces the anxiety people with a chronic illness often feel. Others who are anxious should take note as well...  > >
Treating Mild Depression Helps
Those who are feeling a bit depressed, but who resist treatment, are more likely to become depressed than those who seek help...  > >
What Stress Does To You
Stress is a feeling, but it is also a biological reaction that has beneficial and harmful effects, depending on its duration. What you need to know...  > >
Fish Oil May Reduce Psychosis Risk
A small study of young people at risk for developing a psychotic disorder found that taking fish oil may be protective...  > >
Psychiatric Drugs and Pregnancy
Timing makes a difference when it comes to taking antidepressant and anti−anxiety drugs while pregnant...  > >
High BP Means More Brain Lesions, Dementia
People with high blood pressure are more likely to have the sorts of white matter brain lesions connected to mental decline and Alzheimer's...  > >
A Break Can Help Memory
Just what students want to hear: Taking a break after learning something new may give the brain time to move the information into long−term memory...  > >
Two New Oral Drugs for MS
Patients in the clinical trial had to take the medication in only two or four courses of four to five days each per year. The new drugs worked as well as injectable interferon...  > >
Antipsychotics' Health Risks
Antipsychotic drugs like clozapine and olanzapine can raise the risk of diabetes, but patients are often not monitored...  > >
Soldiers' Families Under Stress
Kids and caregivers left behind during deployment have to shoulder a heavy burden. A study looks at what can help...  > >
Diabetes and Depression
When diabetics suffer from depression, treating it can lower blood sugar and blood pressure levels as well...  > >
Autism and Education: What's the Connection?
Autism appears to be more common among the children of the well−educated. But is this just the result of more frequent diagnosis? ...   > >
Yoga's Effects Revealed
Long−time yoga practitioners have far lower levels of two by−products of stress and inflammation: IL−6 and CRP...   > >
Better Relationships Prevent Weight Gain
When teenagers receive help with social skills and have happier peer relations, their weight tends to stabilize....   > >
Green Tea An Antidepressant?
The more green tea elderly subjects drank in a day, the less likely they were to be depressed. Theanine may be behind it...   > >
Kids' Mental Health Needs
A new survey of children 15 and under offers a picture of their mental health and where treatment is lagging...   > >
Oxygen for Cluster Headaches
Good news for headache sufferers: A study has found that high−flow oxygen can relieve the intense pain of cluster headaches...  > >
Over 40, Single, and... Happy
People who have never married are as basically as well-adjusted as those who are. But their autonomy has a price...  > >
Gooooal! The Psychology of Penalty Kicks
England has lost three World Cups on penalty kicks, so a British researcher has come up with a more winning strategy...  > >
Healthy Hearts, Brains, Linked
Seniors who ate the most fruits and vegetables had better cognitive function and reduced risk of heart disease...  > >
Sobering News On Coffee
Don't count on coffee, even lots of it, to help you sober up this New Years Eve. It may even make driving more dangerous...  > >
Can't Buy Me Happiness
Therapy is far more effective than money (even a raise!) at increasing happiness, according to a new study...  > >
Quitters, The Video Game
A video game in which virtual smokers stomp out their cigarettes actually helped real world smokers quit...  > >
Expectations Can Hurt Teens
Parents' expectations of adolescent rebelliousness or risky behavior can help create a self−fulfilling prophecy...   > >
Depression and Longevity
People who are depressed have a shorter life−span. Is this because doctors tend not to investigate their symptoms?...  > >
The Sleepless Can't Decide
People who are sleep−deprived cannot make split-second decisions, even when lives depend on it...  > >
Post Surgery Depression
Heart patients who received supportive phone calls not only had less depression, but also stayed out of the hospital...  > >
Minimizing Spinal Injury
An experimental approach using micelles to prevent the spread of nerve damage shows promise...  > >
Yo-Yo Dieting, It's Addictive
Dieting can cause a withdrawal effect, just as other addictions do. Repeated dieting and relapsing makes the effect worse...  > >
Retirees Feel Younger
Retirement is good for your health. In fact, if your work life has been stressful, you are likely to feel much better after you retire. According to one study, it's like turning the clock back eight years...  > >
Parks Improve Overall Health
Living near green space seems to make people healthier, both mentally and physically. Time outdoors reduced reports of anxiety, depression and a variety of illnesses...  > >
Happiness Is A New Skill
As stressful as learning a new skill can be, the satisfaction and happiness we gain from our new level of competence more than makes up for it, according to a new study. Go ahead, try something new...  > >
Coffee Won't Keep You Sharp
A Finnish study has found that drinking coffee offers no protection from the natural decline of mental abilities as we age. But it did find several factors that seemed to be good predictors ...  > >
A Vicious Triangle
For women, alcohol, depression and obesity often go together and form a self−perpetuating cycle. Obsessively replaying negative events in one's mind seems to be what links these activities...  > >
This is Your Brain On Fat index.html
Eating foods high in saturated fats actually changes your brain chemistry, short−circuiting the normal messages telling you that you are full. No wonder those fries are so hard to resist...  > >
Mind Games Reduce Decline
When seniors give their minds a workout at least twice weekly, they halve their risk for dementia. The mental effort needs to be active, such as playing cards or doing puzzles; passive activities don't work...  > >
Online Support Helps Drinkers
College students who have harmful drinking patterns can be helped to rein in their drinking by receiving personalized online feedback...  > >
Bullies and Victims at Risk
Victims of bullying as well as bullies themselves are at risk for mental health problems. In some cases, bullying may itself be a sign of an underlying mental health issue...  > >
A Tiny Protein, A Big Impact
In what may be a crucial finding for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, a tiny portion of a protein, called N60, appears to be behind the formation of the beta amyloid plaques that disrupt...  > >
Bad Habits Fuel Memory Problems
Two studies suggest that if you find you are forgetting more and remembering less, consider your lifestyle. Interestingly, not drinking wine at all was also a risk factor...  > >
Multitasking Drains Focus
Is being able to surf the Web, IM and grocery shop at the same time a good thing? Not really, according to a recent study. It's more a sign of distractibility than productivity...  > >
Even Toddlers Get The Blues
Depression is not something one sees often in toddlers, but it does exist. It’s useful to intervene early, before depressive patterns become ingrained...  > >
Depression Made Visible
The areas of the brain responsible for processing pleasure and rewards are notably inactive in depressed people. This is likely no news to them, but it does point toward an approach to treatment...  > >
Larger Waists, Smaller Brains
As your waist is getting larger, your brain is growing smaller, a new study has found. Obese and overweight people has between 4% and 8% less brain tissue...  > >
GIFT15 Protein May Reverse MS
Scientists have found a way to reverse multiple sclerosis in mice using a hybrid protein, GIFT15 that turns the body’s own B cells into powerful regulators capable of stopping the demyelination associated with the disease...  > >
Stuck on Stress
Stress appears to rewire the brain, making it respond in an obsessive, repetitive rather than creative fashion. The good news is that the flexible, creative thinking comes back when the brain is allowed...  > >
Antidepressants Trend Upward
Antidepressant use has doubled over the last decade according to a recent study. Is this a good thing or a sign that the drugs are being over-prescribed?...  > >
Come On and Get Happy!
Postmenopausal women who had a positive, as opposed to pessimistic, outlook lived 16% longer. This new finding expands on work done with men. Attitude adjustment is possible...  > >
Mindful Eating, The Yoga Diet
It may be no surprise that being mindful about food appears to be very useful to losing weight. But it may surprise you to learn that yoga practice may be a dieting tool...  > >
A Face Lift For Migraines?
A promising new treatment using botox dramatically reduced migraines by disarming the nerves around trigger points. The procedure also gave patients' faces a lift...  > >
Seafood Fights Depression?
Pregnant women who ate seafood during pregnancy were half as likely to suffer from depression. While one must be careful of mercury levels, depression puts mothers and babies at risk...  > >
Many Vets Face War At Home
It is no surprise: there is an epidemic of mental disorders among veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. A lack of social support and homelessness complicate the picture...  > >
Clozapine Reconsidered
Clozapine, a highly effective anti−psychotic, is rarely prescribed because of its dangerous side−effects. But a new study finds that its benefits may outweigh its risks...  > >
These Are the Good Times
People who pay attention to positive moments each day, no matter how small, are happier, more resilient, and more satisfied with their lives than people who don't. Even when negative events occur...  > >
Colicky Babies, Depressed Dads
Mothers who are depressed while pregnant have a greater likelihood of having a baby with colic, but a new study shows that a father's depression during his partner's pregnancy can affect...  > >
Anxious and Distracted
People who tend to be quite anxious are more easily distracted than those who aren't. For students this means much more work is required to complete school tasks...  > >
Fit Body, Sharp Mind
Being physically fit helps you stay mentally sharp, a new study has found. People who exercised at least once a week were more likely to avoid cognitive decline. Lifestyle plays a part, too...  > >
"Let Me Sleep On It," Works
If you have a problem that needs some creative problem solving, a good solid nap may be just the ticket, according to a new study...  > >
Exercise Offers A 12-Hour Glow
The good feelings we get from exercising last much longer than anyone suspected. Now to find a way to remind those who don't exercise regularly how good they'll feel...  > >
Triglycerides And Neuropathy
When it comes to predicting the likelihood that a diabetic patient will develop neuropathy in the near future, looking at blood fats may be a much more valuable indicator than blood sugars...  > >
A Good Mood Expands Focus
When we are in a good mood, we are more likely to see the big picture, enjoying the forest and the trees. But when our mood is not so positive, the trees are all we see ...  > >
Teens, Screens, And Caffeine
Teenagers are staying up late using the Internet, texting friends, watching videos, and often drinking caffeinated beverages to fuel their electronic nighttime habit. The results are not good...  > >
Will It Make You Happy?
The Amerian Dream goals of fame and fortune alone won't bring happiness, a recent study shows. The people who are the most satisfied and happy with their lives are those who feel...  > >
Sleep Well, Weigh Less
A study at Walter Reed Medical Center found that the BMI (body mass index) of "short sleepers" was considerably higher than that of those who slept longer...  > >
Hope for Major Depression
Early studies suggest that cortical brain stimulation may offer hope for people suffering from long−term depression. Symptoms in the treatment group decreased by 22% and three subjects reported...  > >
Mental Health Agenda Update
In an effort to help prevent mental health issues before they occur, a new report by the National Academy of Sciences seeks to promote resilience, integrated therapies and...  > >
Needles Needed -- Maybe Not
Acupuncture can help reduce back pain, but piercing the skin may not be necessary to reap its benefits, a new study has found. The practice can also reduce reliance on pain medication...   > >
Work And Depression
Job stress can bring on major depression, according to a new study. Of course, at present, unemployment may be an even bigger stressor...   > >
Be Smart −− Sleep More
Every day as you learn new information, you form new connections in your brain. At night, while you sleep, the brain may prune redundant connections for faster processing and better mental efficiency...   > >
Alone is OK, Lonely Is Not
Being alone is no risk to older adults' health, but feeling lonely and isolated is. People who feel socially disconnected report more health problems and depression...   > >
Mood and Impulsive Behavior
New research has given scientists insight into what it takes to curb those impulsive, indulgent, behaviors like overeating or making purchases just to cheer yourself up...   > >
Gamers Don't Feel Your Pain
Playing violent video games and watching violent films make people insensitive to others' pain, according to two new studies. Viewing violence makes people less likely to even notice those in distress...   > >
Teens, TV and Depression
A study of 7th through 12th graders found that the more time a teen spent isolated in front of a screen, the greater was his or her risk for depression. Headphones were another story...   > >
Play Games for Better Memory
Games, books and even time on the computer can help us maintain mental power as we age. But TV doesn't appear to offer the cognitive exercise the brain needs to stay...   > >