Research appearing in the Journal of Physiology (Published online before print April 2, 2012, doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.230078 May 1, 2012) looked at sugar consumption in rats and how it affected their ability to learn complex tasks. Scientists at UCLA conducted a five-day training session, teaching the rats how to navigate a complicated maze. After the training
We seem pretty clear on the idea that diet can prevent certain diseases, like heart disease and diabetes. Diet can also effect the brain. It can influence mood and cognition. A diet that is high in refined carbohydrates, for example, can create insulin insensitivity. Insulin insensitivity can make a person prone to mood swings or
There is a disconnect with the actual nature of medication and the reality of their actions and side effects. We tend to think that drugs are safer than they really are, and we tend to think that they are more effective than they really are. According to a report from MSNBC, based on NIH figures,
A study, appearing in the British Journal of Psychiatry (Epublished ahead of print, July 12, 2012) found that depression may be linked to low levels of vitamin D. The study looked at 230 depressed subjects with low vitamin D levels and compared them to 114 individuals with high vitamin D levels. They were evaluated with
A study involving 104 adolescents was published in BMC Psychiatry (2012 May 9; 12(1):38). The subjects were receiving acute mental health treatment over a 16-month period. Researchers found a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and psychotic feat...
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