Summary: New research suggests that mental exertion is often associated with unpleasant feelings such as stress and irritation, challenging the notion that people enjoy mentally demanding tasks. A meta-analysis of…
Tag: stress
Dogs Detect Human Stress Smell, Affecting Their Mood and Choices
Summary: New research finds that dogs exposed to human stress odors make more ‘pessimistic’ choices, indicating a negative emotional state. The study shows how human stress affects dogs’ learning and…
Mindfulness Improves Sleep and Reduces Stress
Summary: A new study reveals that mindfulness helps improve sleep quality and reduce stress by focusing on the present and minimizing negative thoughts. The study tracked 144 nurses over two…
Do hormonal contraceptives increase depression risk? A neuroscientist explains how they affect your mood, for better or worse
More than 85% of women – and more than 300 million people worldwide at any given time – use hormonal contraceptives for at least five years of their life. Although…
Stress and Trauma Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s
Summary: Researchers linked midlife stress and childhood trauma to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and neuroinflammation. Analyzing 1,290 volunteers, researchers found that stressful life events, especially during midlife, correlate…
How much stress is too much? A psychiatrist explains the links between toxic stress and poor health − and how to get help
COVID-19 taught most people that the line between tolerable and toxic stress – defined as persistent demands that lead to disease – varies widely. But some people will age faster…
Immune Cell Enzyme Links Stress to Depression
Summary: Researchers identified a novel ‘body-mind mechanism’ that links chronic stress to depression. They discovered that stress increases the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in blood, which then impacts brain neurons,…
Adolescent Stress Alters Brain Genes, Affecting Adult Behavior
Summary: A new study reveals that excessive stress during adolescence can lead to long-lasting changes in gene expression in the brain, particularly those related to bioenergy functions. This research indicates…
Music’s Healing Notes: Traits Trump Genre for Stress Relief
Summary: Specific characteristics of music, rather than genre, play a crucial role in stress recovery. The research, involving 470 participants, identified that stress-relieving songs often share common features, regardless of…
New Biomarker Measures Infant Stress and Development Risks
Summary: Researchers discovered a biomarker that can predict the impact of early toxic stress on infant cognitive development and health. The study used F2-isoprostane, a marker for oxidative stress, to…
