ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

Adults wtih disabilities screened for cancer less often Posted: 26 Feb 2015 03:35 PM PST Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are much less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer, research shows. "As individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live longer, their risk of developing chronic conditions like cancer increases. Suboptimal screening may contribute to a greater cancer burden in this population," says one researcher.

Can coffee reduce your risk of MS? Posted: 26 Feb 2015 01:32 PM PST Drinking coffee may be associated with a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study.

Why debunked autism treatment fads persist Posted: 26 Feb 2015 12:46 PM PST The communication struggles of children with autism spectrum disorder can drive parents and educators to try anything to understand their thoughts, needs and wants. Authors describe a litany of treatments for autism that have been attempted with little or no success over the years, including gluten- and casein-free diets, antifungal interventions, chelation therapy, magnetic shoe inserts, hyperbaric oxygen sessions, weighted vests, bleach enemas, sheep-stem-cell injections and many more.

Strong connection between violence, mental illness in Guatemala during civil war lessens in postwar period Posted: 26 Feb 2015 12:45 PM PST Violence during the civil war in Guatemala from 1960 to 1996 resulted in the development of significant mental health problems and conditions for the county’s people, according to a new multi-institution study. It continues to say that the mental health consequences resulting from violent events decreased in the postwar period, suggesting a nation in recovery.

People with disabilities experience unrecognized health disparities, new research shows Posted: 26 Feb 2015 11:49 AM PST People with disabilities have unmet medical needs and poorer overall health throughout their lives, and as a result should be recognized as a health disparity group so more attention can be directed to improving their quality of life, a team of policy researchers has found.

Role of specialized protein affirmed in assuring normal cell development Posted: 26 Feb 2015 11:49 AM PST A specialized DNA-binding protein called CTCF is essential for the precise expression of genes that control the body plan of a developing embryo, scientists have demonstrated. The findings focus on mouse brain cells that work to manage an animal's movements. The results add important details to how so-called Hox genes help cells keep their positions straight and in the right positions back to front.

Method for mapping neuron clusters developed Posted: 26 Feb 2015 10:20 AM PST A method for identifying clusters of neurons that work in concert to guide the behavior has been developed by researchers. Their findings address a long-standing mystery about the organization of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) -- one of the most recently evolved parts of the primate brain that underlies complex cognitive functions.

Neurons that help predict what another individual will do identified Posted: 26 Feb 2015 10:20 AM PST Investigators have discovered two groups of neurons that play key roles in social interactions between primates -- one that is activated when deciding whether to cooperate with another individual and another group involved in predicting what the other will do.

Bumblebees make false memories too Posted: 26 Feb 2015 10:19 AM PST It's well known that our human memory can fail us. People can be forgetful, and they can sometimes also 'remember' things incorrectly, with devastating consequences in the classroom, courtroom, and other areas of life. Now, researchers show for the first time that bumblebees can be unreliable witnesses too.

Moffitt researchers identify protein pathway involved in brain tumor stem cell growth Posted: 26 Feb 2015 09:24 AM PST Glioblastomas are a highly aggressive type of brain tumor, with few effective treatment options. Researchers are one step closer to understanding glioblastoma development following the identification of a key protein signaling pathway involved in brain tumor stem cell growth and survival. Brain tumor stem cells are believed to play an important role in glioblastoma development and may be possible therapeutic targets.

Teacher prejudices put girls off math, science, study suggests Posted: 26 Feb 2015 08:04 AM PST Although higher education has already opened the door to equal opportunities for women and minorities in the US in the math and science professions, a new study suggests that elementary school teachers' unconscious biases significantly influence female students' academic choices later on.

Thinking of God makes people bigger risk-takers, study suggests Posted: 26 Feb 2015 08:04 AM PST Reminders of God can make people more likely to seek out and take risks, according to research. The findings suggest that people are willing to take these risks because they view God as providing security against potential negative outcomes.

Persistent Insomnia, Increased Mortality Risk: Link found by researchers Posted: 26 Feb 2015 08:04 AM PST A connection between persistent insomnia and increased inflammation and mortality has been identified by a group of researchers. Their study found that people who suffer from persistent insomnia are at greater risk than those who experience intermittent insomnia.

Twin study lends new insights into link between back pain and depression Posted: 26 Feb 2015 08:03 AM PST Genetic factors help to explain the commonly found association between low back pain and depression, suggests a large study of twins. Genetic factors affecting both conditions may be involved in the association between back pain and depression, according to the report.

Emergency doctors and paramedics commonly misinterpret documents for end-of-life care choices, study finds Posted: 26 Feb 2015 08:03 AM PST Emergency care providers vary in their understanding of a type of medical order intended to communicate seriously ill patients' choices for life-sustaining treatments, according to a pair of studies recently published.

Optogenetic stimulation of the brain to control pain demonstrated in study Posted: 26 Feb 2015 07:16 AM PST New research reveals for the first time how a small area of the brain can be optically stimulated to control pain. Researchers found that by using specific frequency of light to modulate a very small region of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex, or ACC, they could considerably lessen pain in laboratory mice.

Criminologist's study shows lack of mental health care for prisoners Posted: 26 Feb 2015 05:49 AM PST A substantial number of prison inmates have not received treatment for mental health conditions, a expert claims. The study recommends that prisons prioritize the use of validated screening procedures for mental health disorders plus treatment.

One brain area, two planning strategies Posted: 26 Feb 2015 05:48 AM PST Ready to strike, the spear fisherman holds his spear above the water surface. He aims at the fish. But he is misled by the view: Due to the refraction of light on the surface, he does not see the actual location of the fish. How must his brain now plan the arm movement? Do the brain cells (neurons) reflect the position where the fish was spotted, in other words, the visual target? Or do they plan the physical target, which is the actual direction in which the arm and spear should move in order to hit the fish? In new research, investigators tried to answer this question on the different aspects of planning a limb movement.

Children of undocumented Mexican immigrants have heightened risk of behavior problems Posted: 26 Feb 2015 05:44 AM PST Children of undocumented Mexican immigrants have a significantly higher risk of behavior problems than their co-ethnic counterparts with documented or naturalized citizen mothers, according to a new study.

Sticky protein hails new approach for treating Parkinson's Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:01 PM PST UK scientists have developed a peptide that sticks to the protein that causes Parkinson's disease, stopping it from killing brain cells. The research highlights a potential new route for slowing the progress of this incurable disease.

One in 3 women could potentially be spared chronic pain after breast cancer surgery Posted: 25 Feb 2015 06:00 PM PST One in every three women undergoing a mastectomy could potentially be spared chronic post-operative pain if anesthesiologists used a regional anesthetic technique in combination with standard care, according to a new study.

Should smoking be banned in UK parks? Posted: 25 Feb 2015 05:59 PM PST Should smoking be banned in UK parks? Extending anti-smoking legislation in the UK to encompass a ban in parks and squares "is an opportunity to celebrate the great beacon of healthy living, clean air, and physical activity our green spaces are designed for," researchers write. "And, crucially, it is an opportunity to support our population -- young and old -- to make healthier lifestyle choices easier."

People with ADHD are twice as likely to die prematurely, often due to accidents Posted: 25 Feb 2015 05:58 PM PST People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a lower life expectancy and are more than twice as likely to die prematurely as those without the disorder, according to new research. Accidents are the most common cause of death in people with ADHD, and the relative risk of dying is much higher for women than men with ADHD and individuals diagnosed in adulthood. The study is the first to shed light on the role of ADHD in premature death.

Many transplant surgeons in U.S. suffer burnout, research suggests Posted: 25 Feb 2015 01:40 PM PST Despite saving thousands of lives yearly, nearly half of organ transplant surgeons report a low sense of personal accomplishment and 40% feel emotionally exhausted, according to an American national study on transplant surgeon burnout.

Patients with mental illness less likely to receive diet, exercise advice Posted: 24 Feb 2015 12:48 PM PST Many patients with mental illness, even those at high risk for diabetes and other diseases, are not being counseled by health care providers to exercise or eat healthy, a recent studied has found.