Mental Health

New research reveals how toxic levels of sodium fluoride degrade the internal scaffolding of brain cells. Using mice and lab-grown tissues, scientists found that excess fluoride disrupts the structural proteins necessary for healthy neural connections and memory formation.

Severe infections can trigger widespread inflammation that damages the aging brain. Now, a wave of large-scale studies suggests that routine adult vaccinations could act as a protective shield, lowering the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

A recent study suggests that a high sex drive and a tendency for spontaneous mind-wandering are the main drivers of unexpected sexual thoughts. Surprisingly, frequent pornography use does not appear to directly trigger these unprompted ideas.

Scientists have discovered that an experimental copper drug can unclog the brain's natural waste removal pumps. In a recent study, the treatment successfully cleared toxic Alzheimer's proteins and significantly improved spatial memory in mice.

A new study suggests that older adults who receive the recombinant shingles vaccine have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia. The findings point to a surprising brain-health benefit for a routine immunization.

A new geographical psychology study reveals that a state's socioeconomic status and air pollution levels are the strongest predictors of its autism rates, explaining over half the geographic variance in diagnoses across the United States.

People with high social anxiety tend to misjudge the walking paths of strangers, perceiving both individuals and entire crowds as walking directly toward them. These findings suggest the anxious brain naturally overestimates spatial distance and physical threats.

A novel vaccine candidate could offer broad protection against fentanyl and its many illicit variants. By training the immune system to recognize a shared molecular signature, the breakthrough approach outpaces the rapid development of synthetic designer opioids.

A small study holds that most teenagers eat poor diets regardless of their mental health. However, among adolescents with attention disorders, a Mediterranean-style diet and specific vitamins are strongly associated with better cognitive test performance.

A new review of brain scans reveals that people with psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, tend to have a physically smaller pineal gland. However, this anatomical difference doesn't appear to directly influence how well they sleep at night.

Attending heated yoga classes provides a proportional reduction in depression severity, meaning that the more sessions a person attends, the better they tend to feel. These community programs could offer an accessible option to help manage depressive symptoms.

An international survey reveals that spending more time on social media and dating apps is tied to lower body satisfaction. The study highlights how these platforms are linked to a higher drive for muscularity, particularly in men.

Patients with severe mental health conditions who drink three to four cups of coffee daily may possess cells that appear roughly five years younger. A new study links moderate coffee intake to longer telomeres, the protective caps on human chromosomes.

Older adults who follow a Mediterranean diet experience higher levels of positive psychological well-being. A new study suggests this eating pattern even provided an emotional buffer against the stress of the early COVID-19 pandemic.

As cannabis use grows among older adults, so do concerns about memory loss. However, a new study found that prior or occasional cannabis use is not associated with faster cognitive decline or a higher risk of dementia.