Do Anti-Anxiety Meds Increase Your Alzheimer’s Risk?
A new study has shown that popular anti-anxiety and sleep medications like alprazolam (Xanax) and zolpidem (Ambien) are linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Is a Genetic Test for Alcoholism Too Good to Be True?
The authors of a study published in May 2014 in the journal Translational Psychiatry are optimistic that they have identified a number of gene variations that could be used to predict who is at greatest risk for alcoholism. The researchers, led by a team at the Indiana University School of Medicine, identified a group of…
‘Love Hormone’ May Help Those Battling Addiction
Developing close and loving bonds between family members is important to a child’s well-being and development. It seems obvious that a loving relationship between parent and child creates a healthy and happy environment, but the latest research is telling us just how important this can be for a child’s future. Being loved and shown affection…
Addiction Is a Brain Disease, Not Moral Failing
Although addiction treatment is a relatively new field, a significant body of research shows that addiction is a chronic illness similar to asthma, hypertension and diabetes. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as “a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.” Consistent differences in neurophysiology between addicts and non-addicts…
Can We Predict Who Will Crave Alcohol?
In the context of substance use, craving means a strong urge to drink more alcohol or take more drugs or medications. People affected by substance cravings are significantly at-risk for developing substance use disorder. In a study published in January 2014 in the journal Addictive Behaviors, researchers from three U.S. institutions sought to determine whether…
Mind Games: Fatty Diet Actually Decreases Dopamine Levels
Overconsumption of high-fat foods dampens the dopamine-induced reward sensation, leading to compensatory consumption of even more high-fat foods.
Can You ‘Catch’ Depression?
Empathy is the term that psychologists use to describe the ability to mentally place oneself in another person’s “world” and see life from his or her perspective. Some aspects of empathy depend on rational thought processes in the brain, while other aspects depend on the brain’s emotional processes. According to the results of a new…
Decoding Research Claims: How Do We Know What Works?
Whether we’re talking about a new medication or a different psychotherapy technique, at some point you’ll hear the phrase “studies show” that it works. Or you may have read that “research indicates” that a particular intervention (for example, practicing yoga to help improve mood) is effective. Perhaps you’ve wondered about this: what kind of studies?…
People Pleasers More Likely to Overindulge
Binge eating is often associated with secrecy and shame. Those who binge eat often do so in private, consuming thousands of calories in a relatively short period of time, and usually in one sitting. Binging usually occurs at home or when a person is alone.
Chronic Stress is Detrimental to Health
Stress is not just a state of mind. It can manifest itself in many physical ways as well. After all, it is stress that propels the body into the ‘fight or flight’ response. Stress can trigger migraine headaches and cause ulcers, increase heart rate, and elevate blood pressure. If the body is left in a…