ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

Would you take dieting advice from a friend? Posted: 13 Feb 2015 01:50 PM PST Is a new diet or exercise program working for a friend? If so, there's a good chance that you will try it, too. A person who finds success in a wellness program is more influential in getting friends to sign up than a charismatic, but less successful pal, according to a new study.

Marijuana use is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents Posted: 13 Feb 2015 01:47 PM PST A new study found 10 percent of adolescents sent to a Sleep Center for evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness with testing results consistent with narcolepsy had urine drug screens positive for marijuana.

Auditory brainstem implant: Hearing experts break sound barrier for children born without hearing nerve Posted: 13 Feb 2015 11:50 AM PST Medical researchers are breaking sound barriers for children born without a hearing nerve. Hearing loss manifests in various forms, most of which can be partially restored through hearing aids and cochlear implants. Those devices cannot help a small population of individuals who do not have a cochlear, or hearing, nerve -- these people are unable to perceive sound, no matter how loud, outside of feeling vibration. The ABI is considered revolutionary because it stimulates neurons directly at the human brainstem, bypassing the inner ear entirely.

Higher opioid doses associated with increase in depression Posted: 13 Feb 2015 11:42 AM PST Patients who increased doses of opioid medicines to manage chronic pain were more likely to experience an increase in depression, according to new findings.

Type 2 diabetes linked to worse performance on cognitive testing Posted: 13 Feb 2015 08:23 AM PST Type 2 diabetes is associated with worse performance on cognitive tests measuring abilities involved in the control of emotions, behaviors and thought, says a new study.

Seven genes for X-linked intellectual disability: New mutations on the X chromosome Posted: 13 Feb 2015 07:47 AM PST X-linked intellectual disability is a disorder that predominantly affects men and can have highly variable clinical manifestations. Scientists have found seven new genes that can cause this genetic disease: Mutations of these genes on the X chromosome lead to various forms of intellectual disability. In their work, the researchers used a method of genetic analysis that significantly simplifies the search for rare genetic defects.

Promising results for new Alzheimer's therapy Posted: 13 Feb 2015 05:15 AM PST Scientists have evaluated a new Alzheimer’s therapy in which the patients receive an implant that stimulates the growth of a certain type of nerve cell. The results suggest that the introduction of a nerve growth factor can prevent neuronal degradation in Alzheimer’s patients.

Puerto Rican officials blame parents of children with obesity, consider fines Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:32 PM PST In an attempt to address the significant problem of childhood obesity in the United States territory, Puerto Rican officials have proposed a $500 - $800 fine for parents whose children have obesity and have not improved after parent-focused education. While some public and pediatric health organizations have called the bill "unfair," others go further to call it a misguided policy that ignores the core scientific understanding of obesity as a disease.

Neural basis of 'being in the mood': Researchers discover neurons that combine social information with hormonal state in female mice Posted: 12 Feb 2015 10:16 AM PST What determines receptivity or rejection towards potential sexual partners? In a recent study of female mice, researchers recorded the activity of neurons in an area within the hypothalamus dedicated to socio-sexual behavior. The activity of the neurons was observed while the females interacted with males or with other females.

Instructional DVD reduces MRI scan patients' anxiety and improves scan quality Posted: 12 Feb 2015 09:22 AM PST A DVD designed to help people prepare for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan, including guidance on how to relax, led to more successful scans. The patients receiving the DVD also felt less anxious during the scan says a paper published in the British Journal of Health Psychology.

Motorized cycling may prime brain for relearning after stroke Posted: 12 Feb 2015 06:27 AM PST Exercise on a motorized stationary bike appeared to give stroke patients an advantage in relearning everyday tasks and improving motor function of their arms. A motorized bike helps patients with limited mobility pedal and achieve a target aerobic heart rate.

Parents experience post-traumatic stress disorder after child's stroke Posted: 12 Feb 2015 06:27 AM PST Parents of children who had suffered a stroke showed signs of PTSD while children showed signs of anxiety. Parents' PTSD and children's anxiety could have a negative effect on the children's stroke recovery.

Dehydration linked to worsening stroke conditions Posted: 12 Feb 2015 06:27 AM PST Patients who are dehydrated and suffer a stroke have worse short-term outcomes than those patients who are well-hydrated at the time of their stroke. Dehydrated patients had nearly a four times higher risk of worsening compared to patients who were adequately hydrated at the time of their stroke. Being well hydrated at the time of a stroke is associated with better outcomes.

Stroke survivors may be at higher risk of having cancer Posted: 12 Feb 2015 06:27 AM PST A study of stroke survivors showed that having a stroke was linked with an increased risk of having an underlying cancer. Stroke survivors who develop cancer have a three-times higher risk of dying compared to survivors who don't get cancer.

Depression: A barrier to communication in couples? Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:51 AM PST A massive 6.7% of the US population are affected by depressive disorders. As well as pessimism, irritability, pain and exhaustion, depression is also proven to affect communication and ability to maintain relationships. A new article explores depression and relational uncertainty within couples and the causal effect on communication behaviors.