Mental Health News and Research

Latest Mental Health News and Research

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher psoriasis risk

A large UK Biobank study found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with an increased risk of developing psoriasis. Each 10% increase in UPF intake raised psoriasis risk by 6%, with obesity and inflammation partially mediating this effect.

4 May 2025

New research maps neural overlap in insomnia, depression, and anxiety

New research from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience maps the similarities and differences between the three most common brain disorders.

3 May 2025

New imaging technique reveals live neural activity in deep brain regions

The communication between the brain and bodily organs is fundamental to emotion regulation and overall mental health.

2 May 2025

New drug technique targets gut inflammation with precision

A new approach to drug design can deliver medicine directly to the gut in mice at significantly lower doses than current inflammatory bowel disease treatments.

2 May 2025

VR-guided meditation helps hospital parents manage stress

Parenting in the hospital is stressful. Moms and dads naturally focus on their ill child, sometimes to the neglect of their own mental health.

2 May 2025

Getting active in midlife may boost brain resilience to Alzheimer’s

In cognitively healthy middle-aged adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, becoming physically active, especially in line with WHO guidelines, was linked to lower brain amyloid burden. Remaining sedentary was associated with reduced cortical thickness in brain regions vulnerable to AD.

1 May 2025

COVID-19 restrictions linked to better birth timing but worse mental health

A global review reveals that while lockdowns helped reduce early births in some regions, they also worsened maternal mental health, highlighting the need for more tailored support during future health crises.

1 May 2025

California’s primary care shortage persists despite ambitious moves to close gap

Sumana Reddy, a primary care physician, struggles on thin financial margins to run Acacia Family Medical Group, the small independent practice she founded 27 years ago in Salinas, a predominantly Latino city in an agricultural valley often called "the salad bowl of the world."

1 May 2025

Childhood health and family ties boost adult optimism, study finds

A large international study of 203,000 adults across 22 countries found that early-life experiences—such as childhood health, family relationships, and religious upbringing—significantly shape levels of optimism in adulthood. Cultural context also influenced whether factors like parental divorce had negative or positive effects.

1 May 2025

How much ultra-processed food is too much? This study has the answer

A meta-analysis across eight countries found that every 10% increase in ultra-processed food (UPF) intake was linked to a 2.7% rise in all-cause mortality. The study estimates up to 124,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S. alone may be attributable to high UPF consumption.

1 May 2025

Psychotherapy gains ground in outpatient mental health care

Psychotherapy assumed a larger role in outpatient mental health care while psychiatric medication without psychotherapy became less common, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

1 May 2025

Virtual reality game using scents boosts cognitive function in older adults

As the global population ages, supporting older adults in maintaining their cognitive and memory functions has become a pressing concern.

30 Apr 2025

Midlife exercise may help lower Alzheimer's risk

An increase in physical activity between the ages of 45 and 65 could help prevent Alzheimer's disease, while inactivity may be detrimental to brain health.

30 Apr 2025

Study uncovers why anxiety and depression lead to low self-belief

Researchers at UCL have uncovered why individuals who experience anxiety and depression often struggle with persistent low self-belief in their abilities.

29 Apr 2025

Better sleep, BMI, and glucose control lower female infertility odds

A new study using NHANES data found that higher Life’s Crucial 9 (LC9) scores, reflecting better cardiovascular and mental health, were linked to lower odds of female infertility. However, adding depression to the LE8 framework did not significantly improve its predictive value.

29 Apr 2025

Study connects low birth weight to reduced adult physical activity

Poorer gross motor skills, such as the ability to walk quickly, run, or jump, may explain some of the correlation between being born prematurely and the tendency to engage less in physical activity.

29 Apr 2025

Northwestern researchers call for better survivorship care for cancer patients

More Americans are beating cancer than ever, yet many still grapple with treatment's long shadow - especially on their mental health.

29 Apr 2025

Why different loneliness tests still identify the same emotional struggles

Researchers examined how loneliness classifications, by frequency, distress, or chronicity, relate to cognitive and behavioral traits in 790 adults. Despite modest agreement between classification methods, the study found consistent psychological patterns among lonely individuals across all types of loneliness.

29 Apr 2025

Gut bacteria and metabolites reveal depression-linked patterns in older adults

A cross-sectional study of 400 older adults with metabolic syndrome reveals that individuals with depression have distinct gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. Eight bacterial genera and 15 fecal metabolites were significantly associated with depression, suggesting a gut-brain axis link.

29 Apr 2025

Cancer-related fatigue and depression found to limit recreational activities in survivors

Cancer survivors who reported feeling cancer-related fatigue or depression reduced their recreational activities nearly twofold, with females more likely than males to report feeling either cancer-related fatigue or depression, according to a retrospective study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025, held April 25-30.

29 Apr 2025