“Memory loss associated with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be linked to altered activity in several areas of the brain, according to a study in the July issue of Radiology.”

“A Mayo Clinic study has shown that the onset of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) at a younger age appears to be connected to antidepressant use. RBD is a sleep disorder where patients act out their dreams, which are often unpleasant and violent.”

“As shown in a report launched this week, men in the U.K. experience very high stress levels…. An astonishing 76 percent of men say they have experienced depression or anxiety at some stage in their lives. Significantly, the study, among a representative sample of over 1,200 men across the U.K,, showed that nearly a fifth of men (17 percent) suffer in silence and don't turn to anyone for help.”

“This week the Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in women. In an odd way, the announcement highlights what may be wrong with government policy on another vaccination, the very first one children receive.”

“Most children diagnosed with autism at 2 years of age will still have that diagnosis at age 9, investigators report. In contrast, many young children first diagnosed with less severe conditions later have their diagnoses changed to autism. The researchers comment that ‘health care professionals should be wary of telling parents that their young children do not have autism.’”

“Here’s a tasty thought. Kicking your food up a notch with spices could preserve brain function and keep your brain sharp and strong as you age.

“Youth with bipolar disorder misread facial expressions as hostile and show heightened neural reactions when they focus on emotional aspects of neutral faces, researchers at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have discovered. The study provides some of the first clues to the underlying workings of the episodes of mania and depression that disrupt friendships, school, and family life in up to one percent of children.”

“A study led by UCSF neurologist S. Claiborne Johnston, MD, has shown that coiling of ruptured brain aneurysms is very effective during long-term follow-up, similar to outcomes with surgical clipping.

Although results of a previous trial suggested that coiling was superior to surgical clipping one year after treatment, a lack of data on long-term outcomes has been a major concern, according to Johnston. The study results are published in the June 2006 issue of the journal Stroke, a publication of the American Heart Association.”

“A study led by Mayo Clinic demonstrates that mild cognitive impairment, a memory disorder considered a strong early predictor of Alzheimer's disease, not only results in behavioral symptoms, but also structural changes that can be identified in the brain. Findings will be published in the May issue of Archives of Neurology.”

“Cognitive and behavioral problems that underlie attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be linked to genetic and environmental factors.”