Postpartum depression least severe form of depression in mothers
Postpartum depression–a household term since actress Brooke Shields went public in 2005 about her struggle with it–is indeed serious. But depression that begins before or during pregnancy is often more...
View ArticleExercise improves memory in breast cancer survivors
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is related to improved subjective memory in breast cancer survivors, who often complain about memory problems, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. It...
View ArticleScientists identify neurochemical signal likely missing in Parkinson’s
Two Northwestern University neuroscientists have identified the neurochemical signal likely missing in Parkinson’s disease by being the first to discover two distinctly different kinds of neurons that...
View ArticleMindfulness combats depression for disadvantaged black women
African-American women with lower socio-economic status have an increased risk of depressive disorders, yet they rarely seek out antidepressants or psychotherapy because of negative attitudes and...
View ArticleHow we believe our meat is raised can influence how it tastes
Our beliefs about how farm animals are raised can shape our meat-eating experience, according to a new study led by Lisa Feldman Barrett, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at...
View ArticlePostpartum psychosis big risk for mothers with bipolar disorder
Pregnant women with bipolar disorder and their families and physicians should be aware of a significantly higher risk for developing postpartum psychosis, according to a new Northwestern Medicine...
View ArticleMemory loss not enough to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease
Relying on clinical symptoms of memory loss to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease may miss other forms of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s that don’t initially affect memory, reports a new Northwestern...
View ArticleScientists find new path in the brain to ease depression
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a new pathway in the brain that can be manipulated to alleviate depression. The pathway offers a promising new target for developing a drug that could...
View ArticleNew study first to pinpoint unique brain region responsible for placebo...
Scientists have identified for the first time the region in the brain responsible for the “placebo effect” in pain relief, when a fake treatment actually results in substantial reduction of pain,...
View ArticleStudy on sexual pleasure finds the orgasm is a kind of rhythmic trance
Many people have speculated on the evolutionary functions of the human orgasm, but the underlying mechanisms have remained mysterious. In a new paper, a Northwestern University researcher seeks to shed...
View ArticleStudy: The rhythm of breathing affects memory and fear
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered for the first time that the rhythm of breathing creates electrical activity in the human brain that enhances emotional judgments and memory recall....
View ArticleShootings and gang violence exposure leads to PTSD
The violence that women in disadvantaged neighborhoods experience and witness can result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and full diagnoses, according to a new Northwestern Medicine...
View ArticlePreterm infants fare well in early language development
Preterm babies perform as well as their full-term counterparts in a developmental task linking language and cognition, a new study from Northwestern University has found. The study, the first of its...
View ArticleNew apps designed to reduce depression and anxiety as easily as checking your...
Soon you can seek mental health advice on your smartphone as quickly as finding a good restaurant. A novel suite of 13 speedy mini-apps called IntelliCare resulted in participants reporting...
View ArticleBrain stimulation used like a scalpel to improve memory
Northwestern Medicine scientists showed for the first time that non-invasive brain stimulation can be used like a scalpel, rather than like a hammer, to cause a specific improvement in precise memory....
View ArticleShootings in US schools are linked to increased unemployment
A rigorous Northwestern University study of a quarter-century of data has found that economic insecurity is related to the rate of gun violence at K-12 and postsecondary schools in the United States....
View ArticleOCD-like behavior linked to genetic mutation, study finds
A new Northwestern Medicine study found evidence suggesting how neural dysfunction in a certain region of the brain can lead to obsessive and repetitive behaviors much like obsessive-compulsive...
View ArticleSound waves boost older adult’ memory and deep sleep
Gentle sound stimulation — such as the rush of a waterfall — synchronized to the rhythm of brain waves significantly enhanced deep sleep in older adults and improved their ability to recall words,...
View ArticleSix weeks of light therapy decreases depression and increases daily...
Daily exposure to bright white light at midday significantly decreased symptoms of depression and increased functioning in people with bipolar disorder, a recent Northwestern Medicine study found....
View ArticleMaintaining strong friendships seems to be linked to slower cognitive decline
Maintaining positive, warm and trusting friendships might be the key to a slower decline in memory and cognitive functioning, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. SuperAgers — who are 80...
View Article
