Electroconvulsive therapy reduces deaths by suicide among older adults with depression in the months immediately following hospitalization, researchers report in the 10 September issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. As suicide risk is highest just after hospitalization among those with depression, the therapy could save lives. Electroconvulsive therapy involves…
COVID-19 vaccines reduce viral load, severity in breakthrough cases, studies find
Mixed messages from WHO, CDC on mask-wearing as Delta variant spreads The World Health Organization urges fully-vaccinated Americans to wear masks indoors in public places as a precaution as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sticks to its eased COVID guidance; Bryan Llenas has the details. Fully vaccinated individuals…
Research to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in hazardous occupations
A team from the Skoltech-based NTI Center of Excellence (CoE) has succeeded in making blood pressure measurements more accurate by using standard wearable heart rate monitor data. The researchers developed novel algorithms based on ML technologies and deep neural networks that hold much promise for compact continuous health monitoring devices…
Layperson can reduce pregnant women’s depression as well as mental health professional
Perinatal depression has soared during the pandemic. But many mental health professionals are overwhelmed and can’t take on new clients. Good news comes from a new Northwestern Medicine study finding paraprofessionals generated similar reductions in depressive symptoms as mental health professionals when delivering a group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention. The study…
Different behaviors could reduce death and health risks in regular alcohol drinkers
A large study of UK adults who consume alcohol regularly has found that different patterns of alcohol consumption—including drinking wine, consuming alcohol with food and spreading alcohol intake over three to four days—could be associated with a lesser risk of alcohol-related negative health outcomes such as death. The study—from the…
Some treatments for osteoporosis could reduce the incidence of COVID-19
Some of the principal treatments for osteoporosis—denosumab, zoledronate and calcium—could have a protective effect against COVID-19 in patients who take them, specifically a 30 to 40% reduction in the rate of infection, according to the results of a joint study by Hospital del Mar, the Hospital del Mar Medical Research…
A positive outlook can reduce memory decline, says study
With a second national lockdown looming, you’d be forgiven for finding it tricky to be upbeat at the moment. However, a new study suggests that keeping positive and enthusiastic could help to stave off memory decline as you age. According to the study, published in the journal Psychological Science, people…
Stomach bloating – the diet proven to cause a ‘major’ reduction in bloating symptoms
Stomach bloating after eating is commonly attributed to eating too many gassy foods. When too many of these foods are broken down, the wind has nowhere to travel but into the stomach area. The result is the uncomfortable stretching sensation in your tummy. The causes of bloating cannot always be…
Self-assured daughters reduce feminist moms’ psychological distress
Not only do feminist mothers have more self-assured feminist daughters, their young adult daughters’ voices have a significant, positive psychological influence on the moms, according to a new study. Alesia Woszidlo, University of Kansas associate professor of communication studies, and her University of Georgia co-authors, Analisa Arroyo and Anastacia Janovec,…
Medicinal cannabis may reduce behavioral problems in kids with intellectual disabilities
Cannabidiol, a type of medicinal cannabis, may reduce severe behavioural problems in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability a new study has found. The pilot study, led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, recorded a clinically significant change in…
A furry social robot can reduce pain and increase happiness
Could furry social robots help bolster moods and reduce pain when human to human contact isn’t an option, for example, during a pandemic? According to a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers published in Scientific Reports, a one-time, hour-long session with a plush, seal-like social robot…