Mental health Archives

A single dose of LSD may help heavy alcoholics

Sobered up using LSD — Journal of Psychopharmacology article examines intriguing evidence on the psychedelic drug – Forty years ago, LSD was used in the treatment of alcoholics – with good results. Perhaps it’s time to look at it again? In the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, researchers in many places in the world experimented with LSD in the treatment of various disorders, including alcoholism. Not all experiments were scientifically tenable by today’s standards, but some were.

Reversing Alzheimer’s gene blockade can restore memory

Reversing Alzheimer’s gene ‘blockade’ can restore memory, other cognitive functions — Neuroscientists show that HDAC2 enzyme could be a good target for new drugs – MIT neuroscientists have shown that an enzyme overproduced in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients creates a blockade that shuts off genes necessary to form new memories. Furthermore, by inhibiting that enzyme in mice, the researchers were able to reverse Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Bexarotene cancer drug may reverse Alzheimer’s symptoms

Drug quickly reverses Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice — Case Western Reserve researchers discover FDA-approved drug rapidly clears amyloid from the brain and reverses cognitive defects – Neuroscientists at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have made a dramatic breakthrough in their efforts to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The research shows that use of a drug in mice appears to quickly reverse the pathological, cognitive and memory deficits caused by the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Earlier sign of autism can be noticed in 6 months old infants

In the brain, an earlier sign of autism – Earlier sign of autism can be noticed in 6 months old infants – In their first year of life, babies who will go on to develop autism already show different brain responses when someone looks at or away from them. Although the researchers are careful to say that the study, reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology, is only a first step toward earlier diagnosis, the findings do suggest that direct brain measures might help to predict the future development of autism symptoms in infants as young as six months.

Brain stimulating habits lowers Alzheimer’s disease risk

Lifelong brain-stimulating habits linked to lower Alzheimer’s protein levels – Individuals who keep their brains active throughout life with cognitively stimulating activities such as reading, writing and playing games appear to have reduced levels of the ?-amyloid protein, which is the major part of the amyloid plaque in Alzheimer disease.

Gestational diabetes and poverty increased ADHD risk in offspring

Gestational diabetes and low socioeconomic status raise risk of ADHD in children – Low socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal gestational diabetes together may cause a 14-fold increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in six year olds, revealed by researchers.

10% of ADHD patients linked to GMR gene variants

New gene study of ADHD points to defects in brain signaling pathways — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia research suggests that interventions at the glutamate transmission level might treat ADHD disorder – Pediatric researchers analyzing genetic influences in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have found alterations in specific genes involved in important brain signaling pathways.

Children with ADHD may have functional brain pathways disrupted

Functional brain pathways disrupted in children with ADHD – Some abnormalities in the brains of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may serve as a biomarker for the disorder, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Brain cell channel defect may cause autism like syndrome

Scientists identify defect in brain cell channel that may cause autism-like syndrome – What goes wrong in the brain when an individual suffers from autism. Autism is a spectrum of developmental disorders of impaired social and verbal interaction. Currently, no medication exists to treat its underlying causes, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

People with early Alzheimer’s disease may have lower BMI

People with early Alzheimer’s disease may be more likely to have lower BMI – People in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI). A new study examined 506 people with advanced brain imaging techniques and analyses of cerebrospinal fluid to look for biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, which can be present years before the first symptoms begin.

Age for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in children expands 4 to 18

AAP expands ages for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in children — New ADHD guidelines: Kids as young as 4 can be diagnosed – Now it possible to diagnose and manage ADHD in children from ages 4 to 18 (the previous AAP guidelines, from 2000 and 2001, covered children ages 6 to 12). The new guidelines describe the special considerations involved in diagnosing and treating preschool children and adolescents.

Blood test may detect Alzheimer’s Disease progression

Blood Tests May Hold Clues to Pace of Alzheimer?s Disease Progression – Researchers found a way to predict how quickly patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will lose cognitive function by looking at ratios of two fatty compounds in their blood.