Being an optimist may help people live past 85
(Jacquelyn Corley/ Scientific American) — Humans have been searching for centuries for the secret to living longer, but the answer may be as simple as maintaining a positive state of mind. A new study published Monday by researchers at Boston University adds to the evidence that optimistic men and women may live longer than those […]
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Breakups really suck, even if you’re a fish
(Sigal Samuel / Vox) — We humans like to think we’re special creatures. We have rich emotional landscapes that are far more complex than those of, say, fish. Right? A recent study shows that fish are more emotionally complex than we give them credit for. Scientists at the University of Burgundy in France studied one […]
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Does poor sleep in your 50s warn of Alzheimer’s?
(Robert Sanders/ Futurity) — People who report worsening sleep quality as they age from their 50s to their 60s have more protein tangles in their brain, putting them at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life, according to a new study. The new finding highlights the importance of sleep at every age to […]
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Giving up booze may significantly boost mental health, especially for women
(Maria Cohut/ Medical News Today) — The debate as to whether moderate drinking is good, bad, or has no effect on health has been ongoing for years. Now, a new study suggests that people — especially women — who give up alcohol can experience better mental health and reach levels of well-being almost on a […]
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This is what postnatal depression really feels like
(Rachel Leonard, Anne Grant and Mark Linden/The Conversation) — Motherhood can be a source of joy, but it can also pose difficulties and challenges – particularly, in the postnatal period. It is a time when some mothers’ emotional and physical endurance is pushed to the limit. About 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women […]
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Children who take naps become smarter, have less behavior problems
(Darwin Malicdem/ Medical Daily) — Parents, give your kids more time to nap. A new study offers new information on how taking naps could really improve the mood and performance of children. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Irvine found that midday napping could promote greater happiness and self-control and […]
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Why Serena Williams sharing ‘postpartum emotions’ is so important
(Alison Young, USA Today) — Serena Williams continues to be one of the highest profile voices among the 50,000 women each year who experience life-threatening complications related to childbirth. The tennis star and new mom is sharing on social media her struggles with “postpartum emotions” and being “in a funk” as she juggles the demands of […]
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Helicopter parenting linked to academic and behavioural problems
(Rebecca Ochs/ European Scientist) — Helicopter parenting can prevent children from developing the ability to regulate their own emotions, which can lead to behavioural, social and academic problems later on, according to a new study. Researchers suggest parents should give their toddlers space to learn and manage their emotions on their own in order to excel. […]
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44 depression-linked genes identified in largest risk-factor study yet
(Sarah Sloat/ Inverse) — Major depressive disorder is a common, potentially debilitating illness that be chronic or strike repeatedly. Fourteen percent of the global population experiences depression, but only half of those people respond positively to existing treatments. Fortunately, it seems that the success rate will improve after a new study: Scientists announced in Nature Genetics […]
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Addicted to your phone? It could throw off your brain chemistry
(Brandon Specktor/ Live Science) – It’s hard to escape screens; there is a roughly 100 percent chance you are looking at one right now. And though the long-term effects of screen time are still being studied, the effects of excessive internet and smartphone use are well-documented. “Pathological” internet use has been linked to depression in […]
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