Summary: A new study has identified a specific brain circuit that can push behavior into a compulsive “repeat mode,” forcing mice to continue digging and sniffing even when rewards are…
Tag: Karolinska Institute
Genetic Roots of Depression Reveal Strong Suicide Risk Signals
Summary: New research shows that depression beginning before age 25 has a much stronger hereditary component than depression that emerges later in life. By analyzing genetic data from over 150,000…
Postpartum Depression and Psychosis Risks Surge After Childbirth
Summary: A large Swedish study of 1.8 million pregnancies found that mental ill health around pregnancy has risen in recent years, with risks spiking after childbirth. While depression and psychosis…
Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Those with Deafness
Summary: A new study shows that gene therapy can significantly improve hearing in both children and adults with congenital deafness caused by mutations in the OTOF gene. The therapy uses…
SSRIs May Speed Up Cognitive Decline
Summary: A new study based on data from 18,740 dementia patients suggests that antidepressants may accelerate cognitive decline. Researchers found that patients taking antidepressants, particularly SSRIs like escitalopram, citalopram, and…
Empathy Loss in Dementia Linked to Brain Activity Changes
Summary: Frontotemporal dementia, affecting about 3% of dementia patients in Sweden, is characterized by a loss of empathy that challenges patients and their families. Using functional MRI, researchers found that…
No Link Found Between Ozempic and Suicide Risk
Summary: A new study has found no evidence that GLP-1 analogues, common diabetes drugs, increase the risk of suicide, self-harm, or related mental health issues. Researchers analyzed data from around…
Morphine’s Pain Relief Mechanism Unveiled
Summary: Researchers have uncovered how morphine relieves pain by activating a specific group of neurons in the brain, termed the ‘morphine ensemble.’ These neurons, located in the rostral ventromedial medulla…
Linking Childhood Adversity to Adult Mental Health
Summary: Researchers delved into how adverse childhood experiences contribute to the risk of psychiatric illness in adulthood, leveraging data from over 25,000 twins in the Swedish Twin Registry. The study…
Perinatal Depression: Decades of Elevated Mortality Risk
Summary: A new study highlights the long-term mortality risks associated with perinatal depression. Analyzing data from over 86,500 women, the research found that those experiencing depression during or shortly after…

