Depression :: A simple test permits to distinguish between bipolar disorder and depression
Type II bipolar disorder is an underdiagnosed disease which can be easily confused with depression.
Cognition
Folic Acid :: Folic acid and folate supplements improve cognitive function
Folic acid and folate supplements can boost the cognitive powers among older adults. Researchers in Holland say that the powers attributed to folic acid supplements regarding their ability to increase the powers of cognition among older adults are real.
Instinct :: Trusting your instincts leads you to the right answer
A UCL (University College London) study has found that you are more likely to perform well if you do not think too hard and instead trust your instincts. The research, published online today in the journal Current Biology, shows that, in some cases, instinctive snap decisions are more reliable than decisions taken using higher-level cognitive processes.
Brain :: Neurons targeted by dementing illness may have evolved for complex social cognition
A new study examined brain tissue acquired at autopsy and found that VENs were devastated in FTD. Von Economo neurons (VENs) are uniquely shaped brain cells that seem to have evolved in a select group of socially complex species: great apes, humans, and, as reported last month, whales.
Dementia :: Non-drug treatments for dementia show promise
Memory training and other non-drug treatments may one day help older adults ward off declines in mental function, according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in an editorial in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Alcoholism :: Brains can recover from alcoholic damage but patients stop drinking soon
As people embark on the festive season’s usual round of drinking they should spare a thought for the damage they are doing to their brains. In particular, new research has revealed that while the brain is able to recover from some of the damage caused by alcohol abuse, the longer alcoholics postpone sobriety the less likely their brains may be to regenerate.
Lead :: Pros and cons of therapy for lead exposure
Lead chelation therapy can lessen learning and behavioral problems due to lead exposure, but the therapy adversely affected rats with no lead in their systems, a Cornell study shows. The finding has implications for the treatment of autistic children.
Cornell robot discovers itself and adapts to injury
Cornell researchers have built a robot that works out its own model of itself and can revise the model to adapt to injury. First, it teaches itself to walk. Then, when damaged, it teaches itself to limp.
Low self-esteem? Avoid crime novels with surprise endings
Not everyone enjoys a murder mystery with a surprise ending, new research suggests. People who have lower levels of self-esteem prefer crime and detective stories that confirm their suspicions in the end, while those with higher self-esteem enjoy a story that goes against expectations.
ADHD :: Does Omega 3 protect against ADHD?
A new study will provide further understanding about the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the brain function of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).