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Breathe Your Way to Calm
When stress and anxiety hit, many of us instinctively hold our breath and tense up. But experts say the key to calming your body and mind is to do the opposite: breathe slowly and evenly. A technique called "resonance breathing" can help bring your nervous system back into...
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How GLP-1 Drugs Might Reduce Alcohol Cravings
Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound appear to reduce alcohol cravings, but doctors have been at a loss to explain why - until now. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs appear to slow the speed at which alcohol enters the bloodstream, which also diminishes its...
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Dr. Small: Mind-Body Strategies Ease Chronic Pain
Billions of people around the world live with chronic pain - and a staggering 40% of them also experience depression and anxiety. "People usually assume that pain is a purely physical phenomenon," said Dr. Gary Small, a brain health expert and chair of psychiatry at the...
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Living Alone May Be Toxic to the Brain
A new study on rats conducted by researchers at the University of Florida and Providence College found that living alone acted like a toxin in their aging brains, speeding up cognitive decline. The study involved 19 rats divided into two groups and tracked over 26 months -...
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Walking Backward Adds Physical, Mental Benefits
Here's a simple way to switch up your walking routine: try walking backward. Taking a brisk walk is an exercise rich in simplicity, and it can have impressive mental and physical benefits: stronger bones and muscles, cardiovascular fitness and stress relief, to name a few....
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FDA Approves Roche, Lilly Blood Test for Alzheimer's
Roche Diagnostics said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared its and partner Eli Lilly's blood test as an aid in the initial assessment for Alzheimer's disease. This comes at the heel of FDA's nod for Fujirebio Diagnostics' blood test Lumipulse in May, the...
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This Supplement May Lower Stress, Anxiety
Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine rooted in Indian principles of natural healing. This ancient herb, also known as Indian ginseng, has been used for thousands of years and is now making a popular comeback in modern...
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COVID Changes Mice Sperm, Raises Offspring Anxiety
COVID-19 infection causes changes to sperm in mice that may increase anxiety in their offspring, a study released Saturday said, suggesting the pandemic's possibly long-lasting effects on future generations. Researchers at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental...
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Practice This Simple Skill to Boosts Longevity
A new study has revealed that verbal fluency may play a surprising role in longevity. By improving your verbal skills, you may also improve your lifespan. Verbal fluency refers to the ability to quickly and efficiently produce words in response to a specific prompt or...
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Virtual Reality Safely Mimics Psychedelic Drugs
A new study suggests that virtual reality (VR) experiences designed to mimic psychedelic visual effects could safely boost creativity and flexibility in thinking - without the use of drugs. Researchers from Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan found that...
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Inspirational Videos Rival Meditation to Ease Stress
YouTube or TikTok might offer a solid alternative to meditation when it comes to stress relief. People's stress dropped about as much from watching a short inspirational video as it did through guided meditation, researchers reported in the journal Psychology of Popular...
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Training Service Dogs Boosts Longevity in Veterans
A groundbreaking study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University has found that working with service dogs can increase the lifespan of female veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Female veterans between the ages of 32 and 72 were randomly...
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How 5 Sleep Styles Affect Your Brain
A new study suggests there's more to sleep than how long you snooze each night. Your overall sleep pattern could shape your mood, brain function and even long-term health. Researchers from Concordia University in Montreal identified five distinct sleep profiles that may help...
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Dr. Small: Anxiety Often Misdiagnosed in Older Adults
Nearly 20% of adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety can affect people of all ages, but in adults age 65 and older, anxiety is often mistaken for physical problems, making diagnosis more challenging. Dr....
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Foods That Boost Cognitive Function
As people age - especially after 60 - many experience a gradual decline in cognitive function due to both biological and lifestyle factors. Natural brain changes, such as reduced blood flow, loss of neurons, and decreased production of neurotransmitters, can affect memory,...
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Concussions Might Be Early Warning Sign For ALS
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have been considered a potential cause of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. But a new study argues the association might be the other way around, with concussions providing an early warning sign among folks already in the...
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Genetics Tied to Higher Depression Risk for Women
Genetic factors contribute more to depression risk in females than in males, according to a large Australian study that may help further understanding of why women are more likely to suffer from the condition. Analyzing DNA samples from nearly half a million people,...
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Your Mind is in its Prime at 60
New research suggests that the human brain reaches its peak performance between ages 50 and 60. A study published in the journal Intelligence analyzed data using what researchers call the Cognitive-Personality Functioning Index (CPFI) - a measure that tracks how...
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Scientists Reverse Alzheimer's Disease in Mice
In a groundbreaking study, scientists have successfully reversed Alzheimer's disease in mice by restoring the healthy function of the brain's natural defense system - the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Often called the brain's "gatekeeper," the BBB regulates what enters and...
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Deep Brain Stimulation Works Long-Term in Parkinson's
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants can provide long-term relief for people with Parkinson's disease, a new study says. Parkinson's patients who got deep brain stimulation had better motor function, an improved ability to manage day-to-day tasks, and overall better quality...
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Concussions in Seniors Increase Risk for Dementia
Seniors who get a concussion are more likely to develop dementia or falter as they age, a new study says. Older folks who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) had a higher risk of dementia, requiring home care services or admission to a long-term care facility,...
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How Waiting Helps Your Brain
If sitting in a doctor's waiting room or standing in a long line makes you feel irritated, think again. New research shows that waiting isn't wasted time - it's actually an opportunity for your brain to pause, reflect, and reset. Studies suggest that waiting strengthens...
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Two of Five Drivers Killed in Car Crashes Were High
More than 2 in 5 drivers were driving while stoned when they died in car wrecks in a major Ohio county, a new study says. Coroner records show that nearly 42% of drivers who died in motor vehicle collisions during a six-year period tested positive for THC, researchers are to...
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Study: Seasonal Allergies May Increase Suicides
Seasonal allergies are considered an annoyance to most, and maddening to some. Few think of seasonal sniffles and sneezes as potentially fatal - but we might be overlooking the danger they pose, a new study warns. High pollen counts are linked to a significant increase in...
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Alzheimer's Drug May Boost Autism Social Function
An approved pill for Alzheimer's disease might help boost social functioning in some children and teens with autism spectrum disorder, a new small-scale clinical trial has found. Memantine improved these kids' social behaviors 56%, compared to a 21% improvement among kids...