Depression, also known as depressive disorders or unipolar depression, is a mental illness characterized by a profound and persistent feeling of sadness or despair and/or a loss of interest in things that once were pleasurable. Disturbance in sleep, appetite, and mental processes are a common accompaniment.
First biological marker for major depression could enable better diagnosis and treatment – Teenage boys who show a combination of depressive symptoms and elevated levels of the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol are up to fourteen times more likely to develop major depression than those who show neither trait, according to a research study published.
People who enjoy life maintain better physical function as they age – People who enjoy life maintain better physical function in daily activities and keep up faster walking speeds as they age, compared with people who enjoy life less, according to a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Regular physical activity in later life boosts likelihood of ‘healthy aging’ up to sevenfold — Helps stave off major ill health and dementia even for those getting started relatively late – It’s never too late to get physically active, with even those starting relatively late in life reaping significant health benefits, reveals researchers. Four years of sustained regular physical activity boosted the likelihood of healthy ageing sevenfold compared with consistent inactivity.
Stem cell transplant restores memory, learning in mice – A study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the first to show that human stem cells can successfully implant themselves in the brain and then heal neurological deficits, says senior author Su-Chun Zhang, a professor of neuroscience and neurology.
Chronic stress linked to high risk of stroke — ‘Type A’ personality and life stressors boost risk independently of lifestyle factors – Chronic stress, prompted by major life stressors and type A personality traits, is linked to a high risk of stroke. Chronic stress, manifested as physical and/or mental symptoms in response to stressors lasting longer than 6 months has been linked to a heightened risk of heart disease. But its impact on the risk of stroke has not been clear.
Study links persistent and loud snoring in young children with problem behaviors – Persistent and loud snoring in young children is associated with problem behaviors – hyperactivity, depression and inattention, according to Dean Beebe, PhD, director of the neuropsychology program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
FDA approves Belviq to treat some overweight or obese adults – Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) is approved as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, for chronic weight management. This obesity drug is approved by US FDA for use in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) and who have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia).
First blood test to diagnose major depression in teens — Breakthrough test identifies depression and its subtypes with promise of individualized treatment – A breakthrough approach that allows an objective diagnosis of major depression in teens by measuring a specific set of genetic markers found in a patient’s blood. The current method of diagnosing depression is subjective. It relies on the patient’s ability to recount his symptoms and the physician’s ability and training to interpret them.
The link between fast food and depression has been confirmed – Eating commercial baked goods (fairy cakes, croissants, doughnuts, etc.) and fast food (hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza) is linked to depression. This is confirmed by by scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada.
New study: Adolescents suffering from depression more likely to be bullied — It’s often assumed that bullying leads to psychological problems, but this study doesn’t support this line of thought – A new study provides evidence that adolescents who suffer from depression are more likely to develop difficulty in peer relationships including being bullied at school. It’s often assumed that being bullied leads to psychological problems, such as depression, but the study doesn’t support this line of thought.
