Monthly Archives: October 2011

Parkinson’s disease is caused by the premature death of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in the brain. Cancer involves cells that proliferate and refuse to die. Interestingly, research data indicate that patients with Parkinson’s disease often have a reduced risk for cancer … Continue reading →

Improved medical management has increased survival rates of preterm newborn infants. However, these children increasingly show impaired cognition which is associated with decreases in cerebellar volume. Because animals models have shown reduced preterm cerebellar growth after perinatal exposure to glucocorticoids, … Continue reading →

It has been observed that people exposed to major psychological stressors in early life often have elevated rates of morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases of aging. Studies of children raised in poverty or maltreated by their parents, show heightened … Continue reading →

Particulate matter air pollution is a serious health risk factor and has been implicated in pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. In this study, Fonken and coworkers investigated whether the brain may also be adversely affected. They investigated whether long-term exposure to … Continue reading →

Depression is a leading cause of disability and is projected to become the second highest burden of disease (measured in disability-adjusted life years) by the year 2020. The authors of this study examined prevalence of depression from 2000 to 2006 … Continue reading →

Sensitivity to the reduction in natural daylight in autumn/winter is generally accepted as the main trigger of seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder).  Light therapy is one treatment option used for such patients. In this study, researchers examined the relationship between … Continue reading →

People are known to act more prosocially when they believe they are watched by others. This is thought to be mediated by the incentive to improve one’s social reputation, which is possibly a uniquely human motivation. The authors of this … Continue reading →