Youth athletes, not just professionals, may face mental health risks from repeated traumatic brain injuries

On July 28, 2025, a 27-year-old gunman entered a New York City office building that is home to the National Football League’s headquarters. He shot and killed four people and…

Brain Reward Signals Blunted by Genetic Depression Risk

Key Questions Answered Q: How does genetic risk for depression affect the brain?A: Young adults with a higher genetic predisposition to depression showed reduced brain activity in key areas linked…

Fat Molecule May Control How You Feel Emotion

Key Questions Answered Q: What did researchers discover about the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor?A: They mapped how it activates different brain signaling pathways, offering insight into how mood and emotion are…

Murder-Suicide Rates in U.S. Higher Than Previously Estimated

Key Questions Answered Q: How common are murder-suicide events in the U.S.?A: The study found an average of 820 deaths per year from murder-suicide events—higher than previous estimates. Q: Who…

New Drug Targets Brain Glial Cells to Reverse PTSD Symptoms

Key Questions Answered Q: Why do PTSD patients struggle to forget traumatic memories?A: The study reveals that excessive GABA, produced by astrocytes via the MAOB enzyme, disrupts the brain’s ability…

Poverty Isn’t the Key Driver in Family Mental Health Struggles

Key Questions Answered Q: Does poverty amplify mental health problems between parents and children?A: The study found no evidence that poverty strengthens the relationship between parental distress and child mental…

Oxytocin May Treat the Social Deficits of Psychopathy

Key Questions Answered Q: How does psychopathy affect emotion recognition?A: Individuals with psychopathic traits—especially those high in Factor 1—struggle to recognize negative facial expressions like fear and sadness, often showing…

Online Hate Speech Resembles Mental Health Disorder Language

Key Questions Answered Q: What did this study find about hate speech and psychiatric disorders?A: Posts in online hate speech communities show speech-pattern similarities to posts in communities for personality…

Could Mental Illness Begin Before You’re Born?

Key Questions Answered: Q: When do genes linked to mental illness start affecting the brain?A: Many genes associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases are active during the earliest stages of…

Old Injuries Rewire the Brain to Feel Fear and Pain Forever

Quick Q&A Q: Can past injuries increase sensitivity to future pain or stress?A: Yes — this study shows that old injuries can prime the brain to overreact to new stressors,…