New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Major schizophrenia breakthrough finds immune cells on the wrong side of the tracks

Nick Lavars September 16, 2018

In what is being labeled one of the biggest breakthroughs in schizophrenia research of recent times, scientists have detected heightened immune cell activity in the brains of sufferers, providing a brand new target for further research into its causes, diagnosis and treatment.

Scientists have discovered new links between schizophrenia and the immune cells in the body

Medical

Cannabis extract could form basis of new anti-psychotic treatments

Michael Irving August 30, 2018

Marijuana compounds like cannabidiol (CBD) have been found to impart benefits to the brain without the negative “stoned” side-effects. Now, researchers at King’s College London have shown that CBD could help reset the brain abnormalities found in people suffering from psychosis.

Researchers have found that a cannabis extract might help relieve symptoms of psychosis

Health & Wellbeing

Bad sleep increases feelings of loneliness - and it may be contagious

Rich Haridy August 15, 2018

A new study from UC Berkeley investigated the relationship between poor sleep and loneliness finding people tend to withdraw and avoid social interaction after even a single night’s disrupted sleep, and what's more, those feelings could be contagious.

The study found sleep-deprived people were less attractive to others and made normal subjects feel more ...

VR

VR therapist helps patients overcome fear of heights in Oxford study

Rich Haridy July 12, 2018

A new study has used a VR-based treatment to help people overcome a fear of heights. The treatment is the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of a completely automated therapy guided by a computer-generated virtual therapist that responds to the patient's voice.

This is the first treatment that removes the need for a real-life therapist to guide a ...

Biology

Researchers home in on a possible genetic basis for loneliness

Rich Haridy July 3, 2018

An intriguing new study has homed in on several specific genomic regions that seem to be associated with greater traits of social isolation and loneliness. The results suggest genetic traits associated with loneliness cross over with a susceptibility for bad cardiovascular health and depression.

Are loneliness and social isolation genetic traits?

Medical

Could electrically stimulating criminals' brains prevent crime?

Rich Haridy July 2, 2018

A new study by a team of international researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Nanyang Technological University is suggesting that electrically stimulating the prefrontal cortex can reduce the desire to carry out violent antisocial acts by over 50 percent.

New research shows that low current electrical brain stimulation could significantly decrease violent behavior

Science Feature

Psychedelic Medicine 101: Psilocybin and the magic of mushrooms

Rich Haridy June 5, 2018

Psychedelic Medicine 101 is a series investigating the psychedelic renaissance in medical research, examining the past, present and future clinical uses of these formerly taboo substances.

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is undergoing a renaissance in medical research (Credit: kooikkari ...

Health & Wellbeing

Long-term study finds link between antidepressants and weight gain

Rich Haridy May 23, 2018

A study has found a link between long-term use of antidepressants and sustained weight gain. The research, collating medical data from over 300,000 adults monitored over a decade, suggests that widespread, and increasing, antidepressant use could be contributing to growing obesity levels worldwide.

A long-term association between antidepressant use and weight gain has been identified, but no causal connection ...

Science Feature

Schizophrenia as whole-body disorder – the 100-year-old idea only now being proven

Rich Haridy May 16, 2018

A new study suggests that schizophrenia is not just a disorder of the mind but also associated with defined physiological changes across the whole body. The study hypothesizes that these physical symptoms are not secondary effects but in fact indications that schizophrenia is a whole-body disorder.

New research suggesting schizophrenia could be a whole-body disorder recalls 100-year old ideas from early German ...

Science

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD set for FDA approval by 2021

Rich Haridy May 2, 2018

The results of a clinical trial in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD have just been published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry. These impressive results led to the FDA expediting the new treatment and last year granting it Breakthrough Therapy Designation.

Newly published research suggests just two MDMA-assisted psychotherapy sessions can dramatically assist those suffering from PTSD