Mental Health

The olfactory system offers a direct pathway to the brain's memory and emotion centers. Now, scientists find this connection may also serve as a crucial diagnostic window into long-term neurological health, preceding traditional clinical symptoms.

New research suggests the brain copes with new stress by temporarily weakening the networks shaped by past trauma. This quieting of trauma-related circuits is linked to fewer symptoms of depression and better emotional regulation.

A recent paper details a new mechanism for protecting the brain from Alzheimer's-related damage. The research shows how the metabolite NAD+ helps repair cellular function and improve memory.

A recent study examined how ADHD symptoms relate to menopausal experiences. Researchers found no overall increase in menopause complaints among women with ADHD but did uncover differences in how symptoms may be perceived and reported.

A major analysis of brain chemistry reveals a potential biological signature for anxiety disorders: consistently lower levels of the essential nutrient choline. The findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggest a link between nutrition and mental health.

Depictions of physical aggression in popular online pornography have substantially increased over the past quarter-century, new research finds.

Some music fans report higher well-being than others, but is the music itself the reason? A groundbreaking genetic study challenges this common belief.

A new study identifies unique gut bacteria patterns in children with autism, ADHD, and anorexia nervosa. Researchers also found altered levels of appetite-regulating hormones, suggesting a link between gut health and these complex conditions.

In a recent laboratory experiment, cannabis use was associated with reduced alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers. This substitution effect appears to be driven by a significant decrease in the self-reported urge to drink.

Over the past decade, self-reported cognitive disability has climbed significantly among American adults. A new analysis finds this trend is most pronounced in younger adults, whose reported prevalence has nearly doubled.

A study found birdsong and mindful breathing comparably reduce sadness. For individuals with depressive symptoms, birdsong provided greater physiological benefits.

Staying mentally sharp while aging isn't a pipe dream. A cognitive neuroscientist explains that it's an achievable goal, built upon a lifetime of habits that strengthen your brain's "cognitive reserve" and protect its function.

The link between TikTok and disordered eating may be a cycle, not a one-way street. New research shows individuals with existing symptoms increase their viewing of diet content, a pattern a university ban did not interrupt.

New findings published in Psychiatry Research suggest that schizophrenia is linked to changes in neuron size within the brain’s anterior cingulate cortex. These cellular changes appear to relate to hallucination severity.

A study in Nature Metabolism reports that chemical signals driving dementia originate in the mitochondria of the brain's support cells. Blocking these signals at their specific source protected neurons and extended lifespan in animal models.