• Over-the-Counter Lipoic Acid Might Help Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
  
  An over-the-counter supplement called lipoic acid might help slow the loss of gray matter in the brains of people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), a new clinical trial has found.
• Longevity Secrets From Centenarians
  
  A recent survey of centenarians found that these super seniors use tools such as ChatGPT and strength training to bolster their health and well-being. They also prioritize social connections and positivity. According to NPR, the survey by UnitedHealthcare included 100...
• Smartwatch Helps Defuse Children's Temper Tantrums
  
  Parents can better defuse their kids' temper tantrums with the help of AI-powered smartwatch monitoring, a new study says. Smartwatch alerts of an impending tantrum helped parents swoop in within seconds, cutting by more than half the duration of outbursts by young children,...
• 1 of 5 Weed Users Over 50 Drove High in Last Year
  
  Efforts to stop weed-impaired driving are ignoring the traffic risk posed by a stoned dad or grandpa, a new study says. About 1 out of 5 (20%) people 50 and older who use weed reported they'd driven while high at least once during the past year, researchers report in the...
• Most Receive Shock Therapy Without Counseling
  
  Most people receiving shock therapy for mental health problems aren't receiving any sort of psychological counseling before having their brains zapped, a new study says. Only a third of patients said they'd been asked about recent stressful events or childhood traumas like...
• Slow Tapering of Antidepressants Safe, Effective
  
  It's safe to slowly taper some people off antidepressants after their depression fades, rather than continuing the drugs indefinitely, a new evidence review says. People who slowly tapered off antidepressants while receiving psychological counseling had a similar risk of...
• How to Boost Happiness in 15 Minutes
  
  The holiday season for most people is a fun time of the year filled with parties, celebrations, and social gatherings with family and friends. However, for many people, it can be a time filled with sadness. While there's a lot of information out there about how to increase...
• Home Brain-Stimulation Device Eases Depression
  
  An at-home device that sends a gentle electrical current to the brain to help treat depression has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Experts say the move could expand access to care for many folks. The prescription headset, made by Sweden-based Flow...
• Smokers Who Vape More Likely to Quit or Cut Back
  
  Smokers who use cigarettes and vape devices interchangeably might not be doing themselves as much of a disservice as once feared, a new study says. These "dual users" are more likely to eventually quit smoking than people who smoke without vaping, researchers reported Dec....
• Older Caregivers' Loneliness Relieved By Internet
  
  Lonely caregivers might find solace from an unexpected source - the internet. Staying connected through the internet can help older caregivers feel less lonely and cope better with the stress of caring for ailing family or friends, researchers recently reported in the...
• Study: Laughing Gas Relieves Depression
  
  Laughing gas might live up to its name for people struggling with depression, a major new study says. Treatment with nitrous oxide can provide rapid relief for people with depression, especially those who aren't helped by antidepressants, researchers reported recently in the...
• Nordic People Share How to Beat the Winter Blues
  
  The Nordic countries are no strangers to the long, dark winter. Despite little to no daylight - plus months of frigid temperatures - people who live in northern Europe and above the Arctic Circle have learned how to cope mentally and physically with the annual onset of the...
• Dr. Small: Hearing Loss Affects Mental Health
  
  Hearing loss affects an estimated one in three adults aged 65 and older, and experts say its impact goes far beyond difficulty following conversations. Untreated hearing decline can strain relationships, disrupt mood, and even contribute to anxiety and cognitive...
• Poor Kidney Health Linked to Dementia, Alzheimer's
  
  Your brain health might be linked to how well your kidneys are working, a new study says. People with impaired kidney function have higher levels of proteins in their blood that are linked to Alzheimer's disease, researchers reported Dec. 4 in the journal Neurology. "Our...
• Pilots Hide Mental Health Struggles to Keep Flying
  
  Annie Vargas could see her son slipping away and pleaded with him to seek help. But her son, Brian Wittke, a 41-year-old Delta Air Lines pilot and father of three, pushed back, terrified that getting treatment for depression would cost him his license and livelihood. The...
• Molecule May Clear Brain of Alzheimer's Proteins
  
  A small molecule called spermine may have the potential to "glue" together harmful protein strands in the brain, making them easier for the body to clear away naturally. A new study published in Nature Communications found that spermine encourages toxic tau and...
• Shingles Vaccine May Slow Dementia Progression
  
  Recent research showed that the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of developing dementia. Now, a new study found that the vaccine may slow the progression of dementia in those already diagnosed with the devastating disease. In the United States, an estimated 6 million people...
• Hallucinogens Linked to Mania, Bipolar Disorder
  
  A bad psychedelic trip might have long-term consequences for a person's mood, researchers say. Folks who land in the hospital due to hallucinogens are six times more likely to be diagnosed with mania within a few years, according to results published Dec. 2 in the journal...
• Obesity May Speed Alzheimer's Progression
  
  Obesity might contribute to faster progression of Alzheimer's disease, a new study says. Some blood markers associated with Alzheimer's increased nearly twice as fast among people with obesity compared to people who didn't have obesity, according to results presented today...
• Quick Head Injury Treatment Lowers Alzheimer's Risk
  
  Folks who overlook a concussion might find themselves at greater risk for Alzheimer's disease down the line, a new study says.Receiving prompt treatment within one week of a serious head injury can reduce the later risk of Alzheimer's by up to 41%, researchers recently...
• Why You Wince When Watching Another's Pain
  
  Ever wonder why you instinctively wince when you see physical harm come to a TV or movie character on screen? There's a scientific explanation for why we flinch when watching painful events, even though we know it's not real, researchers reported Nov. 26 in the journal...
• FDA: 19 Cookware Items That May Contain Lead
  
  A growing list of pots and pans is now considered unsafe, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging folks to check their kitchens and get rid of them right away. In a new alert, the agency said 19 cookware products, all made outside the United States, may...
• One Week Off Social Media Improves Mental Health
  
  For many young adults, social media is where life happens: Friendships, news, stress, all rolled into a single screen. But a new study suggests that stepping away, even for just one week, may help ease anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Researchers tracked 295 young...
• Tai Chi Equals Talk Therapy in Easing Insomnia
  
  Having trouble sleeping? New Chinese research suggests the age-old practice of tai chi might help. The study found it equaled talk therapy in helping middle aged people with insomnia regain restful slumber in the long term. "Our study supports tai chi as an alternative...
• Driving Pattern Changes May Signal Cognitive Decline
  
  Researchers say changes in folks' driving patterns could be an early signal of cognitive decline. "We found that using a GPS data tracking device, we could more accurately determine who had developed cognitive issues than looking at just factors such as age, cognitive test...

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