Are circadian rhythms the key to understanding our physical and mental health?

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Amy Ferguson discusses the latest research exploring the role of our circadian rhythms on our health, looking at different variants in the BMAL1 gene.

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Mental health matters in premature menopause

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Dr Laura Naysmith summarises important new research on the mental health impacts of premature menopause.

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What’s the matter? The role of white matter microstructure in depression-related cognitive decline

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Fionnuala Rogers discusses a study on the role of white matter microstructure in depression-related cognitive dysfunction, which highlights the importance of viewing major depressive disorder not only as a mood disorder, but as a condition with significant neurocognitive implications.

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Lithium is best at decreasing the risk of depression-related hospitalisation in bipolar disorder, according to new cohort study

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This Swedish cohort study, blogged by Duncan Swiffen, is yet more evidence for lithium as an excellent treatment for people with bipolar disorder. This time it comes out on top in terms of preventing depression-related hospitalisation.

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Cannabis legalisation: what can we learn about psychosis risk from the great Canadian (quasi) experiment?

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What happens to psychosis risk when cannabis becomes easier to access? According to this Canadian study, the risk goes up. Shuichi Suetani explores what we can learn from one of the countries leading the way in drug policy reform.

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Are dementia prevalence and incidence declining? Findings from a review of cohort studies

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Clarissa Giebel summarises a recent review global cohort studies, which asks the question – is dementia on the downturn, and are the risks the same in high-income or low to middle income countries?

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Hormonal coil dosage and depression risk

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Dr Rachel Reid-McCann discusses the latest research on dosage of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and the risk of depression. A well conducted study from Denmark “provides evidence of a dose-dependent association between LNG exposure and risk of subsequent depression across three dosages”.

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Patterns of inflammation in childhood and mental and cardiometabolic disorders in adulthood: mapping the trajectories

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Ruby Tsang summarises a recent longitudinal study of trajectories of inflammation in youth and risk of mental and cardiometabolic disorders in adulthood, which finds that high levels of inflammation in childhood may be linked to an increased risk of psychosis, depression and insulin resistance in early adulthood.

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Adolescents are more sensitive to social media feedback

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Nora Skjerdingstad presents a recent study that the explores the constant feedback we encounter on social media platforms, and the impact that ‘likes’ can have on adults and young people.

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