Summary: A new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that people who exclusively use marijuana have higher levels of toxic metals like cadmium and lead in their blood and urine compared to people who do not use marijuana or tobacco. Key Facts: Exclusive marijuana users had 22% higher blood cadmium levels and 27% higher …
Summary: New mouse study shows woodsmoke causes lasting brain inflammation and chemical changes, which may explain long-term effects seen in humans after smoke exposure. Major Findings: Woodsmoke Causes Lasting Brain Inflammation & Chemical Changes in Mice Smoke from wildfires and wood-burning stoves may have lingering effects on the brain, according to new research in mice. …
Summary: Advances in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could one day give voice to those who have lost the ability to speak. New research brings us one step closer to this goal by reconstructing identifiable words and sentences directly from brain activity. Major Findings: Researchers optimized deep learning models to reconstruct speech sounds from brain recordings …
Buddhist meditation practices have been shown to create different states of consciousness. A new study looked at how traditional Buddhist meditation affects how the brain processes sounds. The results show that these meditations change brain activity in a way that tunes out sensory information. Key Facts: 115 Tibetan Buddhist monks with at least 3 years …
A new report from the CDC provides insight into suicide rates among different industries and occupations in the United States. The key takeaways: Suicide rates have increased 40% from 2000 to 2017 among working-age adults (ages 16-64). Men who work in the mining, construction, and other manual labor jobs have the highest suicide rates. Women …
A study finds that antidepressant treatment reduces empathy – but depression itself doesn’t impact empathy. Key Facts: People with untreated depression showed normal empathy and brain responses. After 3 months of antidepressant treatment, they showed reduced empathy and brain responses. The more their depressive symptoms improved, the more their empathy decreased. Antidepressants specifically reduced emotional …
Loneliness is a painful feeling that arises when there is a mismatch between one’s desired social connections and actual relationships. Chronic loneliness is increasingly prevalent in modern societies and strongly tied to poor mental and physical health outcomes, including higher risks of depression, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. New genetic research provides key insights into the …
Feeling lonely and socially isolated is associated with poorer health outcomes and increased risk of early mortality. Research in monkeys now reveals how loneliness impacts the immune system, providing clues into the mechanisms underlying the health risks of loneliness. Key Facts: Lonely monkeys show altered activity in the sympathetic nervous system and compromised immune cell …
Loneliness is a growing public health crisis that affects a significant portion of the population and increases the risk of premature death. Here are some key facts on loneliness: Over 30% of people experience loneliness, with 1 in 12 severely affected. Loneliness increases the risk of premature death by 26%. Loneliness has similar health risks …
Loneliness is painful, but it may serve an important purpose. New research explores how loneliness affects the brain and body in humans and animals. The findings reveal that loneliness triggers primal responses designed to get us to seek out social connection. Key facts: Loneliness activates threat responses in the brain and body to motivate us …
