Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Study finds high intake of ultra-processed foods tied to reduced DNA methylation

Women who consumed more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) showed distinct DNA methylation patterns, mostly reduced across key gene regions. These exploratory findings suggest that high UPF intake may influence gene regulation through epigenetic mechanisms.

4 Nov 2025

USC researchers map genetic architecture of the human corpus callosum

For the first time, a research team led by the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has mapped the genetic architecture of a crucial part of the human brain known as the corpus callosum-the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the brain's left and right hemispheres.

4 Nov 2025

Stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through specific RNA molecules

What if the brain's response to stress could be read not in fleeting neurotransmitter bursts, but in the quieting of genes deep inside chromatin? Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have now shown that stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through an unexpected class of RNA molecules that operate not by encoding proteins, but by reshaping the genome's architecture.

4 Nov 2025

Gut bacteria in toddlers may influence anxiety and depression years later

This study links childhood gut microbiome to brain connectivity, highlighting its role in internalizing symptoms like anxiety and depression later in life.

4 Nov 2025

Indoor hydroponic gardening boosts wellbeing for cancer patients

Indoor hydroponic gardening - a method of growing plants using nutrient-rich water instead of soil - could help cancer patients develop better mental health, eat a healthier diet and enjoy a better overall quality of life.

4 Nov 2025

New genomic method enables multiple people with rare conditions to receive diagnoses

A new genomic method has enabled multiple people with rare conditions to receive diagnoses that were previously unattainable by identifying complex structural genetic changes that are often missed by standard tests.

3 Nov 2025

International experts urge the reclassification of postpartum psychosis to improve treatment

An international panel of leading women's mental health experts – including UVA Health's Jennifer Payne, MD – is calling to reclassify postpartum psychosis as its own category of mental illness to improve the care new mothers receive.

3 Nov 2025

Mental and physical health conditions can be traced back to a shared risk factor

Mental and physical health conditions in children and adolescents are often linked and can be traced back to a shared risk factor. According to new research from örebro University.

3 Nov 2025

Sock hops and concerts: How some places spent opioid settlement cash

Officials in Irvington, New Jersey, had an idea. To raise awareness about the dangers of opioid use and addiction, the township could host concerts with popular R&B artists like Q Parker and Musiq Soulchild.

3 Nov 2025

GeneSight test-guided treatment leads to faster remission and response in patients with depression

Myriad Genetics, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostic testing and precision medicine, today announced a post-hoc analysis of the Precision Medicine in Mental Health Care (PRIME) study showed that treatment informed by the GeneSight® test led to faster initial remission and response in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

31 Oct 2025

Global study suggests potential for universal vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae

A vaccine that tackles the bacteria that cause up to 200 million childhood infections every year could be possible, experts say.

31 Oct 2025

COVID-19 in pregnancy may raise autism and neurodevelopmental disorder risk

Children born to mothers who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy face a 29% higher likelihood of developmental disorders by age three, including speech, motor, and autism-spectrum delays. The risk was greatest for male offspring and infections occurring in the third trimester.

30 Oct 2025

Sertraline contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms

One of the most common antidepressants, sertraline, contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms, including low mood, within two weeks, finds a new analysis of a major clinical trial led by UCL researchers.

30 Oct 2025

Babies' gut bacteria could play a role in programming brain circuits tied to emotional health

A child's early gut microbiome may influence their risk of developing depression, anxiety or other internalizing symptoms in middle childhood, according to a new UCLA Health study.

30 Oct 2025

Low-cost biosensor identifies altered protein levels associated with psychiatric disorders

Brazilian researchers have developed a low-cost, portable biosensor that can quickly identify a protein whose altered levels are associated with psychiatric disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

30 Oct 2025

Refugees will be among the first to lose food stamps under federal changes

After fleeing the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, Antoinette landed in the Atlanta area last November and began to find her footing with federal help.

30 Oct 2025

California faces limits as it directs health facilities to push back on immigration raids

In recent months, federal agents have camped out in the lobby of a Southern California hospital, guarded detained patients — sometimes shackled — in hospital rooms, and chased an immigrant landscaper into a surgical center.

30 Oct 2025

Systematic analysis reveals psilocybin's impact on obsessive-compulsive behaviors

A systematic review published today in Psychedelics by Mr. James Gattuso and colleagues at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health synthesizes clinical and preclinical evidence on psilocybin's effects on obsessive-compulsive behaviors, revealing consistent therapeutic potential across human patients and validated animal models.

29 Oct 2025

Unlocking memory: The role of epigenetics in memory expression

Our experiences leave traces in the brain, stored in small groups of cells called "engrams". Engrams are thought to hold the information of a memory and are reactivated when we remember, which makes them very interesting to research on memory and age- or trauma-related memory loss.

29 Oct 2025

Unlocking the secrets of NMDA receptors for better brain health

As information zings from cell to cell inside the brain, bursts of electricity spur its transmission. At Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), scientists have turned their attention to the tiny pores that let charged ions enter a cell-and the molecular gatekeepers that help control them.

29 Oct 2025

Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Study finds high intake of ultra-processed foods tied to reduced DNA methylation

USC researchers map genetic architecture of the human corpus callosum

Stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through specific RNA molecules

Gut bacteria in toddlers may influence anxiety and depression years later

Indoor hydroponic gardening boosts wellbeing for cancer patients

New genomic method enables multiple people with rare conditions to receive diagnoses

International experts urge the reclassification of postpartum psychosis to improve treatment

Mental and physical health conditions can be traced back to a shared risk factor

Sock hops and concerts: How some places spent opioid settlement cash

GeneSight test-guided treatment leads to faster remission and response in patients with depression

Global study suggests potential for universal vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae

COVID-19 in pregnancy may raise autism and neurodevelopmental disorder risk

Sertraline contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms

Babies' gut bacteria could play a role in programming brain circuits tied to emotional health

Low-cost biosensor identifies altered protein levels associated with psychiatric disorders

Refugees will be among the first to lose food stamps under federal changes

California faces limits as it directs health facilities to push back on immigration raids

Systematic analysis reveals psilocybin's impact on obsessive-compulsive behaviors

Unlocking memory: The role of epigenetics in memory expression

Unlocking the secrets of NMDA receptors for better brain health

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

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