People with serious mental illness may have increased heart disease risk at younger ages

An analysis of nearly 600,000 adults in the U.S. found people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder had up to double the estimated cardiovascular risk levels than those without such illnesses, even at younger ages. The study focused on adults diagnosed with one of those three serious mental illnesses, who were not hospitalized or living in a mental health treatment center and estimated their 10-year and 30-year cardiovascular risk. Earlier identification and management of major cardiovascular risk factors -- including obesity, smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure -- in young adults with a serious mental illness may reduce risk of heart disease and improve outcomes, researchers said.
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Stress damages the movement centers in the brain

Stress seems to have a negative effect on the learning of movements - at least in mice. This is the conclusion of a recent study. According to the study, the neurons of rodents lose some of their contacts with other neurons after stress. The animals also developed motor deficits. The results may be useful for earlier diagnosis and improved therapy of stress-related diseases such as depression. They also document that stress leaves traces in the brain - possibly permanent ones.
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Optimism may promote emotional well-being by limiting how often one experiences stressful situations

'Don't worry, be happy,' is more than just song lyrics. A growing body of evidence supports an association between optimism and healthy aging, but it is unclear how optimism impacts health. When it comes to dealing with day-to-day stressors, such as household chores or arguments with others, a new study has found that being more or less optimistic did not make a difference in how older men emotionally reacted to or recovered from these stressors. However, optimism appeared to promote emotional well-being by limiting how often older men experience stressful situations or changing the way they interpret situations as stressful.
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Extreme heat linked to increase in mental health emergency care

During periods of extreme heat, clinicians should expect to see an increase in patients requiring mental health services, according to a new study. The study found that days with higher-than-normal temperatures during the summer season in the United States were associated with increased rates of emergency department (ED) visits for any mental health-related condition, particularly substance use, anxiety and stress disorders, and mood disorders. This nationwide study is the largest and most comprehensive analysis of daily ambient temperature and mental health-related ED visits among US adults of all ages.
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Depression and Alzheimer’s disease share genetic roots

Epidemiological data have long linked depression with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive dementia that affects nearly 6 million Americans. Now, a new study identifies common genetic factors in both depression and AD. Importantly, the researchers found that depression played a causal role in AD development, and those with worse depression experienced a faster decline in memory.
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