New Atlas

Science Audio available

Teenage psychotic experiences more common in urban areas with high air pollution

Rich Haridy March 27, 2019

A fascinating and robust new study has for the first time examined the association between teenage psychotic experiences and exposure to air pollution. The study strikingly found higher rates of adolescent psychotic experiences significantly correlated with increased levels of urban air pollution.

Without offering a causal conclusion, a new study suggests a strong observational association between air pollution ...

Science Audio available

Mice tripping on psychedelics help explain neural origins of hallucinations

Rich Haridy March 26, 2019

A new study is helping clarify what is going on in our brains when we are hallucinating. To do this, researchers from the University of Oregon dosed mice with a powerful psychedelic drug and with unprecedented detail zoomed in on how the animal’s brains subsequently generated visual hallucinations.

The research offers insight into what happens to our brain when we visually hallucinate (Credit: Background: ...

Medical Audio available

Strange new evidence connects gut bacteria to schizophrenia

Rich Haridy February 7, 2019

An incredible new study is suggesting a strong association between schizophrenia and gut bacteria. The research not only reveals a correlation, but hypothesizes the microbiome to potentially play a role in altering neurologic function in ways that may amplify the symptoms of schizophrenia.

A new study claims that mice that had their gut microbiome altered by receiving fecal transplants ...

Medical Audio available

Statins and other common physical health drugs may benefit people with serious mental illness

Rich Haridy January 9, 2019

A massive new study, examining the health records over almost 150,000 people, has found three commonly prescribed drugs, including statins used to lower cholesterol, can be associated with reduced rates of psychiatric events in those suffering from serious mental illness.

Three commonly used drugs may unexpectedly have beneficial mental health effects, according to a large new ...

Medical

Compelling link between vitamin D deficiency in newborns and schizophrenia discovered

Rich Haridy December 6, 2018

A new study has revealed an intriguing link between babies born with a vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. Although the discovery stems from observational research, the scientists suggest vitamin D plays a major role in fetal brain development.

A new study has found that vitamin D deficiency at birth could increase the risk of ...

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

Huge meta-study confirms link between autoimmune disorders and psychosis

Rich Haridy July 1, 2018

One of the most compelling hypotheses in research today is the belief that psychiatric disorders are related to immune irregularities. A team has added weight to that idea with a meta-analysis confirming people with autoimmune disorders are consistently more likely to develop psychotic disorders.

A study tracking data from 25 million people has found a link between autoimmune disease and ...

Medical

New trial confirms aerobic exercise does improve schizophrenia symptoms

Rich Haridy June 20, 2018

A new trial into the effects of aerobic exercise on schizophrenia has added to a growing body of evidence suggesting physical activity does lessen negative symptoms associated with the condition.

A new study bolsters the body of evidence suggesting aerobic exercise can directly reduce the negative ...

Health & Wellbeing

Eye-examination tool may also detect schizophrenia

Ben Coxworth May 30, 2018

Currently, in order to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia, a doctor must assess a patient's reported symptoms … which can be somewhat subjective. According to a recent study, however, an existing optometrist's tool may be able to do the job quickly and objectively.

Docia Demmin (left) and Steven Silverstein, with the RETeval device

Biology

Is the placenta the missing link connecting genes, environment and schizophrenia?

Rich Haridy May 28, 2018

A compelling new study suggests that activity in the placenta could be the missing link connecting environmental factors with genetics in relation to the development of many behavioral disorders, including schizophrenia.

Stresses in the placenta could be key in triggering the onset of a variety of neurodevelopmental ...