New Atlas

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Machine learning algorithm detects signals of child depression through speech

Nick Lavars May 7, 2019

The search is on for clearer, more straightforward ways to diagnose depression and anxiety, and scientists at the University of Vermont believe they have unearthed another with the help of a newly developed AI algorithm that can detect telltale signals in a subject's speech.

Many children suffering from ill mental health under the age of eight go undiagnosed

Health & Wellbeing

Depression and anxiety linked to memory loss in later life

Anthony Wood March 21, 2019

A newly-published study has found a link between repeated episodes of anxiety and depression experienced in the first four decades of life, and a decline in memory function by the time a person reaches their 50s.

The study indicates that multiple episodes of depression could be associated with a decrease in memory ...

Science Audio available

Short-acting psychedelic offers promising new treatment pathway for depression and anxiety

Rich Haridy March 18, 2019

A survey into the anti-depressant qualities of a short-acting psychedelic has reported positive improvements in well-being. The research suggests the brief duration of action seen in the drug 5-MeO-DMT makes it potentially more useful in clinical applications than longer acting psychedelics.

A new survey revealed 80 percent of DMT users reported improvements in well-being, depression and anxiety ...

Science

Two massive genetic studies home in on the origins of insomnia

Rich Haridy February 25, 2019

Two massive new studies have homed in on the genetic foundations of insomnia. The rigorous analyses reveal novel links between insomnia and certain brain regions, while paving the way for personalized treatments.

The research examined over a million people finding hundreds of genes that could be associated with ...

Biology Audio available

DNA tags in the brain found to help erase fear memories

Michael Irving February 19, 2019

New research from the University of Queensland (UQ) has now found a chemical pathway that helps the brain wipe fear memories, which could lead to new potential treatments for phobias and other fear-related anxiety disorders.

A new study has found DNA modifications related to how we unlearn fears, which could be ...

Biology Audio available

Neuroscientists zap patient’s brain to induce laughter ... during surgery

Michael Irving February 4, 2019

Neuroscientists discovered that electrically stimulating the cingulum brain region creates a mild euphoria complete with laughter, and used it to calm down a patient undergoing a brain surgery where she needed to stay awake. It could be used as a treatment for anxiety, depression or chronic pain.

An illustration highlighting the cingulum in the brain, and how the electrode was implanted there in ...

Medical Audio available

Scientists discover a brain molecule connecting anxiety to weight loss

Nick Lavars January 20, 2019

Anxiety and fat-burning may seem technically unrelated so far as bodily functions go, but scientists have found a certain molecule that appears to connect one with the other and believe that this shared mechanism may open up new pathways for drug development.

Scientists have discovered a key brain molecule that has a role in both anxiety and weight ...

Medical Audio available

How wearable movement sensors can detect anxiety and depression in young children

Rich Haridy January 16, 2019

A study has demonstrated a technique that can identify children with anxiety or depression by analyzing their movements. Using a machine learning algorithm that examines movement tracked by a wearable sensor, the system can identify children with disorders better than many current methods.

A new algorithm was ultimately able to identify children with anxiety or depression with an accuracy ...

Medical Audio available

Dual studies highlight ketamine’s potential to treat anxiety and addiction

Rich Haridy January 10, 2019

Two new studies suggest the psychiatric benefits of ketamine treatment may extend beyond just the targeting of depression. The research demonstrates ketamine may be helpful in targeting both anxiety- and substance abuse-related depression.

New evidence suggests ketamine can reduce anxiety related to major depression, and substance abuse depression

Medical

Compelling new link between obesity-related anxiety and “zombie cells” in the brain

Rich Haridy January 6, 2019

A new study has revealed a connection between obesity, anxiety, and the accumulation of "zombie," or senescent, cells in the brain. The research in mice revealed that obesity increases the volume of these cells in the brain, which subsequently increases anxiety-like behavior in the animals.

A mouse study revealed clearing the brain of senescent, or "zombie", cells resulted in the reduction ...