Mental health & loneliness
Outdoor play in the preschool years may be linked to better child mental health up to age eight, new research suggests. The research, led by the University of Exeter and published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, builds on earlier studies linking outdoor play and children’s mental health. It is the first study [...]
Long-term antidepressants may offer limited benefits while posing health risks, according to a study calling for treatment reviews every six months. Researchers said prolonged use of the medicines has been linked to sexual dysfunction, emotional numbing, cognitive impairment and weight gain. They also warned that stopping antidepressants after long-term use can trigger withdrawal symptoms that [...]
Younger UK generations are showing poorer health than their predecessors at the same age, a new study suggests. People born more recently were not generally healthier than those born in earlier generations when compared at the same age, the study found. Researchers from University College London, King's College London and the University of Oxford compared [...]
Singing, painting and gallery or museum visits may help slow ageing, with arts engagement linked to a younger biological profile, new research suggests. The findings are the first to show that both taking part in arts activities and attending cultural events may be linked to slower biological ageing. Researchers said the work adds to evidence [...]
Longer working hours are linked to higher obesity rates, prompting fresh calls for a four-day week. International research presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul compared working patterns and obesity prevalence across 33 OECD countries from 1990 to 2022. The study found that countries such as the US, Mexico and Colombia, which have [...]
Wales is developing a diabetes mental health pathway to give people faster access to specialist support, in what experts say is a UK first. The model aims to provide more joined-up support for people whose mental health and diabetes management are closely tied together. It follows growing concern that people with diabetes are often passed [...]
Loneliness may harm memory at first, but a major European study tracking more than 10,000 people over seven years suggests it does not speed dementia decline over time. Study participants who reported high levels of loneliness performed worse on memory tests at the start of the research period. However, their ability to recall information declined at [...]
Older adults who challenge themselves to learn new things are less likely to experience loneliness or depression, even during times of major upheaval, two new studies have revealed. The UC Riverside research finds a connection between continued skill learning and improved mental health during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight the [...]
Researchers have uncovered crucial evidence that substance use disorders (SUDs) accelerate biological ageing in the brain through distinct molecular mechanisms. The groundbreaking study examines how different substances, such as alcohol, opioids, and stimulants, affect the brain's ageing process at the molecular level, potentially explaining why individuals with SUDs often experience early-onset age-related diseases. The research [...]
