Early life stress may raise risks of postpartum depression
Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine recently revealed their findings suggesting that social stress during teenage may increase one's risk of postpartum depression
BRAIN FOG? IT COULD BE A SYMPTOM OF DEPRESSION
When you think of depression, symptoms like sadness, fatigue, and feelings of worthlessness probably come to mind. Another symptom — one with a lower profile than its companions — is impaired cognitive functioning.
Some depressed people experience difficulty focusing, learning, remembering, understanding, and more. It can be distressing to notice your mental abilities declining.
The good news is these cognitive symptoms tend to improve with treatment. The bad news is they usually don’t disappear. In one study, patients suffering from depression reported cognitive problems 94 percent of the time; that percentage decreased to 44 percent after most symptoms of depression had abated.
It’s a significant decrease, but not the healing depressed people hope to see.
There’s a lot of room for science to come in and figure out what treatment options best improve cognitive functioning in depressed people. That’s why I was happy to see one step in that direction recently.
A group of researchers posed a cognitive test to two groups of rats–one group depressed and the other not. During the test, they measured certain protein levels in the rats’ cells. They found the depressed rats had lower levels of these proteins, which have been previously shown to play a role in the cognitive process.
Knowing what’s going on biologically should lead to better treatment for the cognitive aspect of depression.
Treatment for psychiatric problems is constantly improving, and it’s exciting to watch.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Myths about anxiety disorder you need to discard
”Anxiety disorder is nothing to worry about"
Many people think anxiety disorder isn't a big deal because everyone feels anxious at some point. Fear, some anxiety right before an interview or presentation. But that's not an anxiety disorder.
How Does Physical Activity Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease?
Researchers have found that physical activity reduces the risks of heart disease partly by lowering stress-related brain activity.
Schizophrenia: What Causes the Cognitive Decline?
Researchers have discovered that the biological pathway causing cognitive decline in both schizophrenia patients and aging adults may be the same.
Stress Can Make Young People Look and Feel Older
Research findings show that young people looked and felt older, especially on days when they experienced higher levels of stress and felt they had less control over their lives.
ADHD Patients on Stimulants More Likely to Suffer Heart Damage
A new study by the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session has found that stimulant use in ADHD patients can increase the risks of a heart problem known as cardiomyopathy.