Brain Size Influences Addiction Risk, Study Finds
New findings from a team of German and Chinese researchers point to a connection between a person’s drug addiction risks and the size or volume of specific structures inside the brain.
Athletic Success Boosts Self-Esteem, But There’s a Hidden Danger
Numerous studies have shown that involvement with sports has protective benefits. Young people who participate in athletics often exhibit improved self-confidence, a more positive attitude and better overall health. Yet athletes also face a threefold greater risk for developing some form of eating disorder. Eating disorders often occur with or lead to depression. Researchers studied…
A Brain Region for Resisting Alcohol’s Allure
When consumed in substantial amounts, alcohol produces changes in the brain and body that normally help deter additional drinking. However, some people don’t seem to react as strongly to the negative effects of alcohol and therefore have greater chances of continuing their consumption to excess. In a study published in April 2014 in the journal…
Changes in Religious Devotion Increase Risk for Substance Abuse
Religiosity is a term used to describe adherence to any given form of religious doctrine or faith. Levels of adherence vary significantly from person to person within a faith, as well as within any given individual at various points in time. In a study published in March 2014 in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence,…
Brain Scan Can Predict Risky Behavior
Risky behavior is the general term used to describe actions that increase a person’s chances of experiencing harmful or unwanted, short- or long-term life outcomes. People with a tendency toward such actions have heightened odds of getting involved in substance use. In turn, substance use is itself a risky behavior that can produce seriously damaging…
Can Child’s Temperament Predict Teen Drinking?
A significant number of American teenagers drink alcohol either occasionally or on a regular basis. Even more than adults, these teens expose themselves to a range of potentially severe alcohol-related health risks. In a study published in December 2013 in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, a team of British and American researchers sought…
Born to Drink: Alcoholism and Genetics
The links between alcoholism, genetics and family history are not easy to understand. What we know for sure, though, is that there is a connection. This does not mean that if you had an alcoholic parent, or if both of your parents suffered from alcoholism, that you are destined to become one as well. It…
Risky Alcohol Use in Teens: It’s Nature and Nurture
It’s a well-known fact that alcoholism runs in families, and for years scientists have been trying to single out which genes and which environments have the greatest impact on alcohol dependence. Recently, certain genes have been identified, but alcoholism is a complex condition that involves an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. One interaction that…
Depression Raises Risk for Parkinson’s Disease
Clinical depression is an alternate term for major depression, a serious mental health concern that affects relatively large segments of the U.S. population. This ailment is known for its potential to increase the risks for the onset of other dangerous health problems. In a study published in October 2013 in the journal Neurology, a team…
Risk Factors for Video Game Addiction Revealed
Video game addiction is an unofficial term used to describe unhealthy, compulsive participation in various forms of video games. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is considering making this condition a diagnosable mental disorder called Internet gaming disorder. In a study published in September 2013 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers from the University of…