Mood disorders drive feelings of cognitive decline in former college athletes

Former college athletes with a history of concussions were more likely to perceive themselves as cognitively impaired later in life if they had mood disorders such as depression and anxiety – even when testing showed no such decline in mental acuity, a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has found.

UTSW study explores link between high school IQ and alcohol use

A person’s IQ during high school is predictive of alcohol consumption later in life, according to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers published in Alcohol and Alcoholism. Participants with higher IQ levels were significantly more likely to be moderate or heavy drinkers, as opposed to abstaining.

Researchers Create New System to Decode Genetic Risk for Psychiatric Disorders

The lab of Jason Stein, PhD, associate professor of genetics and member of the UNC Neuroscience Center, has created a controlled model system that could help researchers know more about the genetic variants that increase one’s risk for developing a psychiatric disorder.

Mount Sinai Health System and IBM Research Launch Effort That Leverages Artificial Intelligence and Behavioral Data to Improve Mental Health Care for Young People

Mount Sinai Health System and IBM Research today announced the launch of the Phenotypes Reimagined to Define Clinical Treatment and Outcome Research (PREDiCTOR) study. The research effort aims to address the lack of objective measures in psychiatry by leveraging advances in artificial intelligence and incorporating rich behavioral data from clinical interviews, at-home data captured on smartphones, and cognitive testing.

UTHealth Houston and Baylor College of Medicine collaborate on first CDC Injury Control Research Center in Southwest, established to study injury and violence prevention

The only Injury Control Research Center in Texas has been established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at UTHealth Houston in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine.

Physical health has its yardsticks. Mental health is still searching for the right ruler

A national initiative led by the National Institutes for Mental Health is now underway to find figurative “rulers” that can accurately measure and compare the quality of the various mental health treatments available.

Natural grass may pose greater risk for football concussions

Young football players who sustained a head-to-ground concussion practicing or playing games on natural grass experienced more symptoms – and significantly higher severity – than those who suffered concussions on artificial turf, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found.

Tai Chi reduces risk of inflammatory disease, treats insomnia among breast cancer survivors

New research led by UCLA Health confirms that both Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce insomnia in breast cancer survivors but also may provide additional health benefits by reducing inflammation and bolstering anti-viral defenses.

Nerve decompression shows promise for diabetic neuropathy patients

Surgical nerve decompression, used to treat conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica, could play a role in relieving the pain of diabetic neuropathy patients, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found.

Psychologist Calls Attention to Social Media as a Public Health Hazard

In New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ State of the City speech, he discussed protecting kids’ mental health in the face of excessive social media usage.  Dr. Anthony Anzalone, a clinical psychologist at Stony Brook Medicine, also agrees that social media…

Protein p53 regulates learning, memory, sociability in mice

Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology have established the protein p53 as critical for regulating sociability, repetitive behavior, and hippocampus-related learning and memory in mice, illuminating the relationship between the protein-coding gene TP53 and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Medical Center Now Offers Electroconvulsive Therapy As Part of $30 Million Investment To Expand Its Behavioral Health Services

“There is a lot of misperception and misinformation about ECT,” said Arunesh K. Mishra, MD, central region chair of psychiatry, Hackensack Meridian Health, who treats behavioral health conditions and has used ECT therapy as a treatment option. “It is an option for people with severe depression and other psychiatric disorders that have not been satisfactorily treated by other therapies.”

New study sheds light on complex genetics of autism in East African families

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified hundreds of genomic variants associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in East African families who have a markedly higher prevalence of the neurodevelopmental condition than other populations worldwide. The study, published in Cell Genomics, is the first to investigate the genetics of ASD in an African population, an important step toward decreasing racial and ethnic health disparities for this condition, the authors said.

Poor sleep can lead to long-term health problems for older adults, UTSW specialists say

It’s a common misconception that older adults need less sleep than those younger, but many get fewer hours due to insomnia and various health problems, including sleep apnea and heart trouble. In addition to a reduced quality of life, long-term health consequences of poor sleep include high blood pressure, weight gain, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, memory problems, and even increased risk of death, said Deborah Freeland, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and a member of UTSW’s Division of Geriatric Medicine.

UT Southwestern Q&A: Experts offer tips on talking to kids about traumatic events

Following the latest mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday and other violent incidents across the country, parents may find themselves trying to navigate difficult conversations with their children. What to say is just as important as what not to say, according to experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Children are naturally curious and may have questions, or they may be worried about their own safety.

UT Southwestern Q&A: Experts offer tips on talking to kids about school shootings, other traumatic events

After a school shooting like the one that occurred in Nashville, parents may find themselves trying to navigate difficult conversations with their children. What to say is just as important as what not to say, according to experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Children are naturally curious and may have questions, or they may be worried about their own safety.

New UTHealth Houston school to train behavioral health workers receives approval from UT System, state

The new UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and unanimously by The University of Texas System Board of Regents, moving the university closer to establishing a seventh school.

UC Davis study uncovers age-related brain differences in autistic individuals

Differences in genes involved in inflammation, immunity response and neural transmissions begin in childhood and evolve across the lifespan in brains of people with autism, a UC Davis MIND Institute has found.

Researchers Uncover Mechanisms of Brexanolone and the Role of Inflammation in Post-partum Depression

Brexanolone, an IV infusion comprised of a derivative of progesterone, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of PPD in 2019. The fast-acting medication significantly reduces depression symptoms and provides effects for up to 90 days. However, exactly how the drug provides these therapeutic effects has remained a mystery – until now.

Over $5M Awarded to Community Violence Reduction Programs at Penn Medicine

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) awarded over $5 million in grants to three community violence prevention and intervention programs across Penn Medicine. The Penn Medicine programs not only aim to reduce and prevent community violence, but also address the lasting impacts of violence on victims, such as treating their mental health, and helping them utilize social service agencies.

Head trauma doesn’t predict memory problems in NFL retirees, UT Southwestern study shows

A study of retired professional football players by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that their cognitive abilities did not differ significantly from a control group of similarly aged men who did not play football, nor did those abilities show significant change over one to five years. The findings were published in Brain Injury.

Q&A: How AI can help people be more empathetic about mental health

A team led by researchers at the University of Washington studied how artificial intelligence could help people on the platform TalkLife, where people give each other mental health support. The researchers developed an AI system that suggested changes to participants’ responses to make them more empathetic. The best responses resulted from a collaboration between AI and people.