depression

Posted on ADHD, Mental health, Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis drug may help with poor working memory

A USC study of prescription data shows that people with Medicaid or Medicare Part D may be missing out on powerful new obesity and diabetes drugs

Fampridine is currently used to improve walking ability in individuals with multiple sclerosis. A new study indicates that it may also assist people with reduced working memory, which is often observed in mental health conditions like schizophrenia or depression.

Working memory is essential for everyday tasks, such as remembering a code long enough to type it in and engaging in conversations by reacting appropriately to what others say. It allows us to retain information for a brief period actively, typically a few seconds. However, certain conditions, including schizophrenia, depression, and ADHD, can impair working memory. Individuals affected by these conditions may struggle to follow conversations and to organize their thoughts effectively.

Fampridine is a drug that could help in such cases, as researchers led by Professor Andreas Papassotiropoulos and Professor Dominique de Quervain at the University of Basel have shown.

Practical only if working memory is poor

In their study, the researchers tested the effectiveness of fampridine on working memory in 43 healthy adults. Fampridine showed a more pronounced effect in participants whose baseline working memory was low. After taking the active substance for three days, they scored better in the relevant tests than those who took the placebo. In contrast, the drug showed no effect in people with good baseline working memory.

The researchers also observed that fampridine increased brain excitability in all participants, thus enabling faster processing of stimuli. The study was randomized and double-blind.

The established drug, a new application

“Fampridine doesn’t improve everyone’s working memory. But it could be a treatment option for those with reduced working memory,” explains Andreas Papassotiropoulos. Dominique de Quervain adds: “That’s why, together with researchers from the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK), we’re planning studies to test the efficacy of fampridine in schizophrenia and depression.”

The drug is currently used to improve walking ability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Particularly in capsule form, which releases the active ingredient slowly in the body, fampridine has shown effects on cognitive performance in MS patients. For some, it alleviates the mental fatigue that can accompany MS.

The researchers did not select the drug at random. This study followed comprehensive analyses of genome data to find starting points for repurposing established drugs. Fampridine acts on specific ion channels in nerve cells that, according to the researchers’ analyses, also play a role in mental disorders such as schizophrenia.

Posted on Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Diet

Having a sweet tooth is linked to higher risk of depression, diabetes, and stroke, study finds

People with a preference for sweets are at a higher risk of developing depression, diabetes, and suffering a stroke, according to new research from the University of Surrey.
People with a preference for sweets are at a higher risk of developing depression, diabetes, and suffering a stroke, according to new research from the University of Surrey.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, utilized anonymized data on the food preferences of 180,000 volunteers from the UK Biobank. Artificial intelligence was employed to categorize them into three general profiles:

  • Health-conscious: prefer fruits and vegetables over animal-based and sweet foods. 
  • Omnivore: Likes most foods, including meats, fish, and some vegetables, as well as sweets and desserts. 
  • Sweet tooth: Prefer sweet foods and sugary drinks and is less interested in healthier options like fruit and vegetables.  

The Surrey team analyzed UK Biobank data on blood samples, measuring 2,923 proteins and 168 metabolites to observe how these levels varied in each group.

Proteins are essential for various functions in the body, such as fighting infections, muscle contractions, and cognitive processes. Metabolites, on the other hand, are small molecules produced during digestion and other chemical processes in the body, providing valuable insights into our body’s functioning. By comparing these blood-based proteins and metabolites, researchers can gain a better understanding of the biological variances between different groups.

Professor Nophar Geifman, said: 

“The foods that you like or dislike appear to be directly linked to your health. If your favorite foods are cakes, sweets, and sugary drinks, our study’s results suggest that this may have negative effects on your health. We found that the group with a sweet tooth is 31% more likely to have depression. Additionally, this group had higher rates of diabetes and vascular heart conditions compared to the other two groups.”

“Importantly, by utilizing data-driven artificial intelligence methods, we managed to categorize individuals based on their food preferences. These categories have significant associations with health outcomes and biological markers.”

“Processed sugar is a significant part of many people’s diets. These results provide further evidence that, as a society, we should be mindful of what we eat. It’s important to stress that we’re not trying to tell people what to do; our job is simply to inform.”

The researchers also looked at differences between the three groups in standard blood biochemistry tests.  

Professor Geifman continues: 

“In the sweet tooth group, they had higher levels of C reactive protein, which is a marker for inflammation. Their blood results also show higher levels of glucose and poor lipid profiles, which is a strong warning sign for diabetes and heart disease.” 

Conversely, the health-conscious group, which also had higher dietary fibre intake, had lower risks for heart failure, chronic kidney diseases and stroke, while the omnivore group had moderate health risks. 

According to the British Nutrition Foundation, on average, in the UK, between 9% to 12.5% of an individual’s calories come from free sugar – this is defined as sugar that is added to food or drink.  Biscuits, buns, cakes, pastries and fruit pies are the biggest single contributors for adults, but together, sugary soft drinks and alcoholic drinks contribute the most to free sugar intake. 

Posted on ADHD

Survey finds 25% of adults suspect they have undiagnosed ADHD

Medication

Allison Burk takes medication to manage ADHD. She was diagnosed with the condition as an adult, which resolved years of unanswered questions about issues with focus and impulsivity that affected every area of her life. (Credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is often considered to be a condition that affects children. However, more adults are coming to the realization that their difficulties with attention, focus, and restlessness might be due to undiagnosed ADHD. This increased awareness is partly thanks to the popularity of social media videos that have garnered millions of views.

According to a new national survey of 1,000 American adults commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine, 25% of adults now suspect that they may have undiagnosed ADHD. However, only 13% of the survey respondents have shared their suspicions with their doctor. This has raised concerns among mental health experts.

That’s raising concerns about the consequences of self-diagnosis leading to incorrect treatment.

“Anxiety, depression, and ADHD can often appear similar, but providing the wrong treatment can exacerbate the situation rather than improving the individual’s well-being and functionality,” stated psychologist Justin Barterian, PhD, who serves as a clinical assistant professor at Ohio State’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral l Health.

An estimated 4.4% of people ages 18 to 44 have ADHD, and some people aren’t diagnosed until they’re older, Barterian said. 

“There is definitely more awareness of how ADHD can continue to affect individuals into adulthood. Many people are realizing, once their kids have been diagnosed, that they also exhibit these symptoms, as it is a genetic disorder,” Barterian said.

The survey found that younger adults are more likely to believe they have undiagnosed ADHD than older generations, and they’re also more likely to do something about it. 

Barterian said that should include seeing a medical professional, usually their primary care provider, to receive a referral to a mental health expert to be thoroughly evaluated, accurately diagnosed and effectively treated. 

“If you’re watching videos on social media and it makes you think that you may meet criteria for the disorder, I would encourage you to seek an evaluation from a psychologist or a psychiatrist or a physician to get it checked out,” Barterian said.

What is Adult ADHD?
Adults struggling with ADHD will have problems with paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that are severe enough to cause ongoing challenges at school, work and home. These symptoms are persistent and disruptive and can often be traced back to childhood.

Adult ADHD occurs in:

  • Adults who were diagnosed as children, but symptoms continue into adulthood.
  • Adults who are diagnosed for the first time, despite experiencing symptoms since they were younger that had been ignored or misdiagnosed.

Hyperactivity as a symptom is typically less present in adults than in children. Many adults with ADHD struggle with memory and concentration issues. Symptoms of ADHD often worsen with stress, conflict or increased demands in life.

What are common types of ADHD?
The three types of ADHD are:

  • Inattentive ADHD – Inability to pay attention and distractibility. This also is known as attention-deficit disorder (ADD).
  • Hyperactive and impulsive ADHD – Hyperactivity and impulsivity.
  • Combined ADHD – This type causes inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

ADHD can be challenging to diagnose in adults because some symptoms overlap with those of other mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety.

“Symptoms of ADHD can look different between different people,” Barterian said. “Some people might have more difficulty focusing on lectures or with organization, while others may have more social difficulties with impulsivity and trouble following along in conversations.”

Posted on Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Diet

The pervasiveness of inflammation foods in today’s diet

Anti-inflammatory foods can combat disease, researcher says
Anti-inflammatory foods can combat disease, researcher says

Almost 60% of Americans have pro-inflammatory diets, increasing the risk of health issues such as heart disease and cancer, according to a recent Omega 3 for chronic pain, by Dr Andrea Furlanstudy utilizing a tool designed to assess inflammation in the diet.


The study also found that specific populations, including Black Americans, men, and people with lower incomes, were more likely to consume a diet high in pro-inflammatory foods.

“Overall, 57% of U.S. adults have a pro-inflammatory diet and that number was higher for Black Americans, men, younger adults and people with lower education and income,” said lead author Rachel Meadows, visiting faculty in The Ohio State University’s College of Public Health.

The research team used the dietary inflammatory index, a tool developed a decade ago that includes 45 dietary components to examine the diets of more than 34,500 adults included in the 2005–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. 

Based on self-reported diets, they used the tool to assign inflammation values ranging from −9 to 8, where 0 represents a neutral diet. About 34% of those in the study had anti-inflammatory diets, and the remaining 9% had neutral dietary inflammatory levels


Older dietary measures look at the intake of certain food groups (such as fruits, vegetables and dairy) or macronutrients (such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats) that align with national diet recommendations or certain diets like keto or paleo.

“But inflammation is an important element to consider and the overall balance of diet is most important,” Meadows said.

“Even if you’re eating enough fruits or vegetables, if you’re having too much alcohol or red meat, then your overall diet can still be pro-inflammatory.”

Meadows said she’s less interested in labeling foods as “bad” and more interested in thinking about anti-inflammatory foods as tools people can employ to boost health.

“There’s a potential here to think about positive interventions, such as adding more garlic, ginger, turmeric and green and black tea — which are all anti-inflammatory — to your diet,” she said.
“Moving toward a diet with less inflammation could have a positive impact on a number of chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even depression and other mental health conditions.”

Other examples of anti-inflammatory foods are mostly unprocessed including whole grains, green leafy vegetables (such as spinach), legumes (such as beans and lentils), fatty fish (such as salmon) and berries.
Challenges to eating a less inflammatory diet include poor access to fruits, vegetables and other foods that can contribute to better health — and even when those foods are available, they can sometimes be more costly, creating a barrier for those with low incomes, Meadows said.

Many people also have elevated chronic inflammation due to non-dietary factors including stress and adverse childhood experiences, she said.
“There are a lot of factors that contribute to chronic inflammation, and they all interact – even sleep is a key component. Diet can be used as a tool to combat that,” Meadows said.

Posted on ADHD, Mental health

Specially designed video games may benefit mental health of children and teenagers

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center researchers reviewed studies of video games designed as mental health interventions for anxiety, depression and ADHD
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center researchers reviewed studies of video games designed as mental health interventions for anxiety, depression and ADHD.

In a review of previous studies, a Johns Hopkins Children’s Center team concludes that some video games created as mental health interventions can be helpful – if modest – tools in improving the mental well-being of children and teens with anxiety, depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

An estimated 20% of children and teenagers between the ages of three and 17 in the U.S. have a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioural disorder. Suicidal behaviours among high school students also increased by more than 40% in the ten years before 2019, according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Other studies provide evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruptions worsened these trends, and while research suggests parents and other care givers are seeking out mental health care for children, wait times for appointments have increased.

“We found literature that suggests that even doubling the number of pediatric mental health providers still wouldn’t meet the need,” says Barry Bryant, M.D., a resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and first author of the new study.

In a bid to determine if so-called “gamified digital mental health interventions,” or video games designed to treat mental health conditions, benefited those with anxiety, depression and ADHD, the research team analyzed their use in randomized clinical trials for children and adolescents.

Bryant and child and adolescent psychologist Joseph McGuire, Ph.D., identified 27 such trials from the U.S. and worldwide. The studies included 2,911 participants, about half of whom were boys and half of whom were girls, between the ages of six and 17.

The digital mental health interventions varied in content, but were all created with the intent of treating ADHD, depression and anxiety. For example, for ADHD, some games involve racing or splitting attention, which requires the user to pay attention to more than one activity to succeed in gameplay. For depression and anxiety, some of the interventions taught psychotherapy-oriented concepts in a game format. All games were conducted on technology platforms like computers, tablets, video game consoles and smartphones. The video games are available to users in various ways — some are available online, while others required access through specific research teams involved in the studies.

Outcome measurements varied depending on the study. However, the Johns Hopkins research team was able to standardize effect sizes using a random-effects model so that a positive result was indicated when interventions performed better than control conditions. Hedges g, a statistic used to measure effect size, was used to quantify treatment effects overall in the studies reviewed.

Researchers also examined factors that led to improved benefit from digital mental health interventions. Specific factors related to video game delivery (i.e., interventions on computers and those with preset time limits) and participants (i.e., studies that involved more boys) were found to positively influence therapeutic effects. Researchers say these findings suggest ways to improve the current modest symptom benefit.

“While the benefits are still modest, our research shows that we have some novel tools to help improve children’s mental health — particularly for ADHD and depression — that can be relatively accessible to families,” says Joseph McGuire, PhD, an author of the study and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences in the school of medicine. “So if you are a paediatrician and you’re having trouble getting your pediatric patient into individual mental health care, there could be some gamified mental health interventions that could be nice first steps for children while waiting to start individual therapy.”