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(https://www.psypost.org/can-massage-help-with-adhd-study-finds-reduced-hyperactivity-and-inattention/) Can massage help with ADHD? Study finds reduced hyperactivity and inattention
Nov 23rd 2024, 08:00

A new study published in (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388124000823) Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice provides preliminary evidence that tactile massage can help alleviate symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents. Participants experienced reductions in hyperactivity and inattention, while parents noted improvements in focus and reduced oppositional behaviors. Notably, participants also reported improved sleep quality, with many finding it easier to fall asleep.
ADHD is a condition characterized by difficulties in focus, impulse control, and hyperactivity, affecting around 5% of children and adolescents worldwide. While medications and behavioral therapies are commonly used to manage the disorder, they are not universally effective. Some individuals experience adverse side effects from medication or feel it alters their personality, leading them to discontinue treatment. Additionally, many families seek non-pharmacological approaches to support symptom management.
Tactile massage, a gentle form of touch therapy characterized by rhythmic and slow strokes, has shown promise in reducing stress and improving emotional well-being in various settings. However, there is limited research on its efficacy for ADHD, particularly in younger populations. The new study aimed to explore whether tactile massage could provide a safe, effective, and lasting improvement in ADHD symptoms and associated challenges like sleep disturbances.
“Adolescents with ADHD often face challenges such as hyperactivity, inattention, stress, and sleep difficulties that standard treatments may not fully address. As a specialist nurse in child and adolescent psychiatry, I have observed these struggles firsthand and wanted to explore whether tactile massage, could be a safe and non-invasive option to provide additional benefits in managing these symptoms and improving overall well-being,” said study author Anna-Carin Robertz, a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg and a specialist nurse in psychiatry at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic at NU Hospital Group.
For their study, the researchers employed a within-group ABA single-subject design, a method in which each participant serves as their own control. This approach compared changes in symptoms over three distinct phases: baseline (before the intervention), during the intervention, and at follow-up three months after the sessions ended.
Participants included 14 adolescents aged 15 to 17 years, all diagnosed with ADHD. Most were on stable medication regimens for ADHD, while a few were unmedicated. Exclusion criteria ensured that participants did not have severe comorbid mental health conditions, substance abuse issues, or ongoing psychological treatment, allowing the study to focus solely on ADHD symptoms. Participants were recruited through outpatient psychiatry clinics and underwent initial assessments to confirm their eligibility.
The intervention consisted of ten weekly sessions of tactile massage. Each session lasted approximately one hour and was conducted by certified tactile massage therapists following a structured protocol. The massage focused on slow, rhythmic strokes applied to areas such as the back, arms, hands, and feet. The setting was designed to be calming, with dim lighting, soft music, and the use of unscented oils. The same procedures were followed for all participants to maintain consistency.
Data collection involved both self-reported measures from adolescents and parent-reported measures. These assessments tracked core ADHD symptoms, including inattention, hyperactivity, and oppositional behaviors, as well as secondary outcomes like sleep quality, stress levels, and pain interference. Measurements were taken before the intervention, during the sessions, after the final session, and three months later.
The study demonstrated excellent compliance among participants, with 12 out of 14 adolescents completing all ten tactile massage sessions. One participant discontinued after three sessions due to unrelated personal reasons, while another attended six sessions, citing illness and scheduling conflicts. Despite initial concerns that the tactile nature of the intervention might exacerbate sensory sensitivities often reported in individuals with ADHD, no participants reported discomfort or adverse effects related to the massage.
“I was impressed by the adolescents’ commitment and willingness to fully engage in the study,” Robertz told PsyPost. “It was particularly encouraging to see so many completing all aspects of the study.”
The researchers found that both adolescents and their parents reported reductions in hyperactivity and impulsivity. These improvements were particularly evident by the sixth session and persisted through the final session and follow-up. By the end of the intervention, none of the participants exceeded clinical thresholds for hyperactivity.
Many participants also demonstrated better focus and reduced inattentiveness during the intervention period. Although some participants showed a slight rebound in inattention scores during the follow-up period, their levels remained significantly lower than at baseline.
Adolescents reported that falling asleep became significantly easier during and after the intervention. Sleep disturbances are common in individuals with ADHD, making this finding particularly meaningful. The improvement in sleep persisted at the three-month follow-up.
Parent-reported assessments indicated reductions in behaviors associated with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). ODD is a condition often co-occurring with ADHD, characterized by persistent patterns of irritability, defiance, and argumentative behavior toward authority figures. At the start of the study, several adolescents met the clinical criteria for ODD, as assessed through standardized parent-reported measures. By the end of the intervention, these behaviors significantly declined, and several participants no longer met the diagnostic threshold for ODD.
“The results suggests that tactile massage may help reduce hyperactivity and inattention in adolescents with ADHD, with potential improvements in sleep and relaxation,” Robertz said. “While not a replacement for traditional treatments, it could complement existing therapies, offering a non-pharmacological option for managing symptoms. Regular tactile massage may promote better focus, calmness, and overall well-being, particularly for those who do not fully benefit from medication or psychosocial interventions.”
While the findings are promising, the study had several limitations. The sample size was small, which limits the generalizability of the results. Additionally, the lack of a control group makes it difficult to determine whether the observed improvements were due to the massage itself or other factors, such as attention from therapists or the structured nature of the intervention.
Future research should involve larger, randomized controlled trials to confirm these findings and explore the long-term effects of tactile massage. It would also be valuable to investigate whether shorter or less frequent sessions could achieve similar outcomes.
“The study’s small sample size, lack of a control group, and variability in participants’ medication use limit the generalizability of its findings and complicate attributing improvements solely to tactile massage,” Robertz noted. “As a complex intervention involving multiple factors like therapist technique, individual responses, and environmental conditions, tactile massage poses challenges to standardization, potentially introducing variability into the results.”
“Based on preliminary findings, my long-term goal is to conduct a larger controlled study with a broader population. This study is part of my doctoral project, Tactile Massage-ADHD (TaMa-ADHD), and the next step explores the qualitative aspects of tactile massage, focusing on their and their guardians’ experiences through interviews and surveys.”
“Tactile massage may not work for everyone, but it could provide a safe and accessible option for many,” Robertz added. “This study also underlines the need for patient-centered approaches to enhance the quality of life for adolescents with ADHD and their families. While its potential benefits remain to be fully established, it may complement existing treatments by addressing symptoms not always managed by medication or psychosocial interventions.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101909) Positive effects of tactile massage for adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – A small scale study,” was authored by Anna-Carin Robertz, Carl-Johan Törnhage, Stefan Nilsson, Viola Nyman, and Anne-Katrin Kantzer.

(https://www.psypost.org/dynamic-brain-connectivity-distinguishes-conscious-and-unconscious-states/) Dynamic brain connectivity distinguishes conscious and unconscious states
Nov 23rd 2024, 06:00

Our brains are remarkably dynamic, constantly shifting between states of activity that reflect our thoughts, perceptions, and awareness. A new study published in (https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-024-06858-3) Communications Biology suggests that this dynamism is key to distinguishing between consciousness and unconsciousness. Researchers found that the brain “explores” a diverse range of connectivity patterns when we are awake, but during states like deep sleep or anesthesia, the brain becomes more predictable and rigid, its functional activity corresponding more closely with its structural wiring.
Consciousness—our ability to experience, perceive, and respond to the world—has long been one of the most puzzling topics in neuroscience. Researchers have sought reliable, objective markers to distinguish between conscious and unconscious states, both to deepen our understanding of awareness and to improve clinical tools for diagnosing and managing conditions like comas or anesthesia.
Brain connectivity can be classified into two types: structural connectivity and functional connectivity. Structural connectivity refers to the physical wiring of the brain, the fixed networks of neurons and pathways that form its architecture. Functional connectivity, on the other hand, reflects the brain’s activity patterns, showing how different regions work together dynamically at any given moment.
Previous research has shown that the brain’s functional connectivity constantly shifts between different configurations, reflecting various cognitive processes. The new study aimed to address whether the shifting patterns of functional connectivity could reliably differentiate between conscious and unconscious states by focusing on brain dynamics in people who were awake, under general anesthesia, or in deep sleep.
“Consciousness remains one of the most intriguing topics in neuroscience—something deeply fundamental and yet not fully understood,” explained study authors Alain Destexhe and Rodrigo Cofré, who are both affiliated with the Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience.
“We are broadly interested in the whole spectrum of consciousness states, from the unconscious states to those induced by psychedelics. Our interest lies in unraveling the dynamic functional mechanisms that underlie conscious awareness and how they differ when consciousness is perturbed. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) gives us a unique way to observe the brain in action, allowing us to capture spontaneous activity and its transitions, which may reflect deeper processes related to consciousness.”
For their study, the researchers analyzed fMRI data from two datasets. The first involved 16 healthy participants scanned during three states: awake, under general anesthesia (using the intravenous drug propofol), and after recovery. The second dataset included 18 healthy participants scanned during wakefulness and deep sleep (N3 stage).
The analysis focused on “phase coherence,” which measures how synchronized different brain regions are at any given moment. This approach enabled the researchers to identify recurring patterns of brain activity and track their transitions over time. Using statistical clustering techniques, these patterns were grouped into distinct categories, or “states,” for each condition. The frequency and distribution of these states were then analyzed across conscious and unconscious conditions.
To characterize brain dynamics, the study employed two key measures. Shannon entropy quantified the diversity of brain activity patterns, with higher entropy indicating a broader repertoire of states. Structure-function coupling assessed how closely the brain’s functional activity aligned with its physical wiring, as determined by structural MRI. The researchers also used a Markov chain model to evaluate the likelihood of transitions between states, providing insights into the stability and flexibility of brain dynamics in various conditions.
The results revealed significant differences in brain dynamics between conscious and unconscious states. During wakefulness, the brain exhibited a diverse and flexible repertoire of activity patterns, reflected in high Shannon entropy. These patterns were less reliant on the brain’s structural connectivity, indicating that the conscious brain explores states independent of its physical wiring. Frequent transitions between states during wakefulness underscored the dynamic and adaptable nature of the conscious brain.
In contrast, unconscious states, such as those induced by general anesthesia or deep (N3) sleep, showed reduced diversity in brain activity patterns. Shannon entropy was significantly lower, indicating that the brain explored a narrower range of states. Additionally, functional activity in unconscious states closely aligned with the brain’s structural connectivity, suggesting that the unconscious brain relies more on its anatomical wiring. Transitions between states were also less frequent, reflecting a more rigid and repetitive dynamic.
“In simple terms, our brain’s activity patterns are far more dynamic when we’re awake and conscious,” Destexhe and Cofré told PsyPost. “These rich dynamical patterns of brain connectivity appear to be essential for awareness. Under anesthesia or deep sleep, however, the brain is still very active but relies on less dynamic patterns, closer to the anatomical connectivity, and shows fewer transitions. These findings bring us closer to identifying objective and reliable indicators of consciousness, which could one day help us better understand and even track awareness in clinical settings.”
Interestingly, the researchers observed that certain activity patterns typically associated with unconsciousness occasionally appeared during wakefulness, and vice versa. This finding suggests that consciousness may exist on a spectrum, with overlapping features between states of awareness and unawareness. Despite these overlaps, the overall findings consistently demonstrated that rich and dynamic brain activity is a hallmark of consciousness.
“We were surprised by the robustness and generalizability of our results,” the researchers said. “Additionally, we were surprised to find that certain connectivity patterns more associated with unconsciousness can appear in small bursts even when we’re awake, and vice versa. This suggests that consciousness isn’t necessarily an all-or-nothing state; rather, it may be a fluid spectrum with overlapping features, raising intriguing questions about the boundaries between states of awareness and unawareness.”
As with all research, the study includes some limitations. The data came from two different research groups using distinct scanning and preprocessing methods, which may have introduced variability. Additionally, the study focused on one anesthetic, and the effects of other drugs on brain dynamics remain unexplored. Deep sleep, which involves more than just a loss of consciousness, may also introduce complexities not fully addressed in this study.
“While our method is robust and seems applicable across different states such as general anesthesia and deep sleep, there are still limitations in how data is collected and preprocessed in different studies,” Destexhe and Cofré explained. “For example, differences in data acquisition settings and preprocessing techniques can introduce subtle variability. Additionally, while we studied the effects of one anesthetic (propofol), other drugs may have different effects on brain dynamics.”
Future research could expand these findings by exploring other unconscious states, such as those induced by different anesthetics or psychedelics. Using alternative brain imaging techniques could also provide complementary insights. Ultimately, the goal is to develop universal markers of consciousness that can be applied in diverse clinical and research contexts.
“Long-term, we hope to develop generalizable markers of consciousness that could be used across various clinical scenarios, from general anesthesia monitoring to assessments of consciousness in patients with brain injuries,” Destexhe and Cofré said. “We’re also interested in exploring other imaging methods like EEG, which may offer additional insight into the brain’s conscious and unconscious states. We would also like to generalize our results further to psychedelic states.”
“This study underscores the centrality of the brain’s dynamic patterns to consciousness. A deeper understanding of these dynamics holds promise not only for advancing scientific knowledge but also for practical medical applications, such as assessing brain states in patients with traumatic brain injuries or comatose states, or for monitoring the depth of anesthesia and altered states under psychedelics. Ultimately, we hope this work inspires further research to extend these methods across additional species, alternative anesthetics, and diverse data acquisition techniques.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06858-3) Dynamical structure-function correlations provide robust and generalizable signatures of consciousness in humans,” was authored by Pablo Castro, Andrea Luppi, Enzo Tagliazucchi, Yonatan S. Perl, Lorina Naci, Adrian M. Owen, Jacobo D. Sitt, Alain Destexhe, and Rodrigo Cofré.

(https://www.psypost.org/the-hidden-power-of-light-to-guide-your-bodys-sleep-energy-and-digestion/) The hidden power of light to guide your body’s sleep, energy, and digestion
Nov 22nd 2024, 16:00

Exposure to light is crucial for our physical and mental health, as this and future articles in the series will show.
But the timing of that light exposure is also crucial. This tells our body to wake up in the morning, when to poo and the time of day to best focus or be alert. When we’re exposed to light also controls our body temperature, blood pressure and even chemical reactions in our body.
But how does our body know when it’s time to do all this? And what’s light got to do with it?
What is the body clock, actually?
One of the key roles of light is to re-set our body clock, also known as the circadian clock. This works like an internal oscillator, similar to an actual clock, ticking away as you read this article.
But rather than ticking you can hear, the body clock is a network of genes and proteins that regulate each other. This network sends signals to organs via hormones and the nervous system. These complex loops of interactions and communications have a rhythm of about 24 hours.
In fact, we don’t have one clock, we have trillions of body clocks throughout the body. The central clock is in the hypothalamus region of the brain, and each cell in every organ has its own. These clocks work in concert to help us adapt to the daily cycle of light and dark, aligning our body’s functions with the time of day.
However, our body clock is not precise and works to a rhythm of about 24 hours (24 hours 30 minutes on average). So every morning, the central clock needs to be reset, signalling the start of a new day. This is why light is so important.
The central clock is directly connected to (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/07487304231225706) light-sensing cells in our retinas (the back of the eye). This daily re-setting of the body clock with morning light is essential for ensuring our body works well, in sync with our environment.
In parallel, (https://theconversation.com/does-it-matter-what-time-of-day-i-eat-and-can-intermittent-fasting-improve-my-health-heres-what-the-science-says-203762) when we eat food also plays a role in re-setting the body clock, but this time the clock in organs other than the brain, such as the liver, kidneys or the gut.
So it’s easy to see how our daily routines are closely linked with our body clocks. And in turn, our body clocks shape how our body works at set times of the day.
What time of day?
Matt Garrow/The Conversation. (Adapted from Delos, CC BY)
Let’s take a closer look at sleep
The naturally occurring brain hormone (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30311830/) melatonin is linked to our central clock and makes us feel sleepy at certain times of day. When it’s light, our body stops making melatonin (its production is inhibited) and we are alert. Closer to bedtime, the hormone is made, then secreted, making us feel drowsy.
Our sleep is also (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.00944/full) partly controlled by (https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-genom-121222-120306) our genes, which are part of our central clock. These genes influence our (https://theconversation.com/does-it-matter-what-time-i-go-to-bed-198146) chronotype – whether we are a “lark” (early riser), “night owl” (late sleeper) or a “dove” (somewhere in between).
But exposure to light at night when we are supposed to be sleeping can have harmful effects. Even dim light from light pollution can impair our (https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2113290119) heart rate and how we metabolise sugar (glucose), may lead to (https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00135-8) psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, and increases the overall risk of (https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2405924121) premature death.
The main reason for these harmful effects is that light “at the wrong time” disturbs the body clock, and these effects are more pronounced for “night owls”.
This “misaligned” exposure to light is also connected to the detrimental health effects we often see in people who (https://theconversation.com/why-does-night-shift-increase-the-risk-of-cancer-diabetes-and-heart-disease-heres-what-we-know-so-far-190652) work night shifts, such as an increased risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
How about the gut?
Digestion also follows a circadian rhythm. Muscles in the colon that help move waste (https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.40453.x) are more active during the day and slow down at night.
The most significant increase in colon movement starts at 6.30am. This is one of the reasons why most people feel the urge to poo (https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-poo-in-the-morning-a-gut-expert-explains-229624) in the early morning rather than at night.
The gut’s day-night rhythm is a direct result of the action of the gut’s own clock and the central clock (which synchronises the gut with the rest of the body). It’s also influenced by when we eat.
How about focusing?
Our body clock also helps control our attention and alertness levels by changing how our brain functions at certain times of day. Attention and alertness levels improve in the afternoon and evening but dip during the night and early morning.
Those fluctuations (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2012.00050/full) impact performance and can lead to decreased productivity and an (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40914-x) increased risk of errors and accidents during the less-alert hours.
So it’s important to perform certain tasks that (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30923475/) require our attention at certain times of day. That includes driving. In fact, disruption of the circadian clock at the start of daylight savings – when our body hasn’t had a chance to adapt to the clocks changing – (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982219316781?via%3Dihub) increases the risk of a car accident, particularly in the morning.
What else does our body clock control?
Our body clock influences many other aspects of our biology, including:

physical performance by controlling the activity of our (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-023-00805-8) muscles
blood pressure by controlling the (https://theconversation.com/what-time-of-day-should-i-take-my-medicine-125809) system of hormones involved in regulating our blood volume and blood vessels
body temperature by controlling our metabolism and our level of physical activity
how our body handles drugs and toxins by (https://doi.org/10.1080/17460441.2023.2224554) controlling enzymes involved in how the liver and kidneys eliminate these substances from the body.

Morning light is important
But what does this all mean for us? Exposure to light, especially in the morning, is crucial for synchronising our circadian clock and bodily functions.
As well as setting us up for a good night’s sleep, increased morning light exposure benefits our (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032721008612?via%3Dihub) mental health and (https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/101/9/3539/2806883) reduces the risk of obesity. So boosting our exposure to morning light – for example, by going for a walk, or having breakfast outside – can directly benefit our mental and metabolic health.
However, there are other aspects about which we have less control, including (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168952524001100) the genes that control our body clock.
 
This article is republished from (https://theconversation.com) The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the (https://theconversation.com/how-light-tells-you-when-to-sleep-focus-and-poo-236780) original article.

(https://www.psypost.org/sexual-and-gender-minorities-face-greater-social-and-economic-hardships-research-finds/) Sexual and gender minorities face greater social and economic hardships, research finds
Nov 22nd 2024, 14:00

A recent study published in (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2823975) JAMA Health Forum highlights significant disparities in social risk factors experienced by sexual and gender minority adults compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts in the United States. The research, led by a team from the Boston University School of Public Health, found that these populations are more likely to face challenges such as housing instability, food insecurity, and social isolation.
Sexual and gender minority individuals, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or nonbinary, often face structural barriers such as discrimination and economic inequality. These factors contribute to worse health outcomes, including higher rates of mental health issues, chronic conditions, and delays in accessing care. Despite growing recognition of these disparities, research has historically focused on health outcomes rather than the upstream social conditions contributing to them.
Social risk factors, such as the inability to pay for housing or access food, play a crucial role in shaping health and well-being. However, national surveys have only recently begun collecting detailed data on these challenges. This study aimed to bridge this gap by examining how sexual and gender minorities experience social risk factors differently from other populations across the country.
“There is substantial evidence that sexual and gender minority adults often report limited access to care and worse health outcomes compared to heterosexual and cisgender adults, respectively. We know less, however, about how often they report social risk factors—dissatisfaction with life, social isolation, employment loss, insufficient food, and stress—which are linked to poor health outcomes,” said study author (https://www.bu.edu/sph/profile/kevin-nguyen/) Kevin Nguyen, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management at Boston University School of Public Health.
The study utilized data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This survey collects information about health behaviors, access to care, and social conditions from a diverse sample of adults in the United States. For this study, researchers analyzed responses from more than 180,000 participants across 22 states that included optional survey modules on sexual orientation, gender identity, and social determinants of health.
The researchers focused on 10 specific social risk factors, including dissatisfaction with life, lack of emotional support, social isolation, recent job loss, food insecurity, difficulty paying housing or utility bills, lack of transportation, and perceived stress. They compared these factors between sexual and gender minority individuals and their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. The analysis accounted for sociodemographic variables such as age, race, income, and state-level policies related to LGBTQ+ rights.
The study uncovered significant disparities in social risk factors between sexual and gender minority adults and their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. These disparities were observed across nearly all measured social risk factors.
Among sexual minority women (such as lesbians, bisexual women, and those who identify as non-heterosexual), more than half (58%) reported experiencing at least one social risk factor, compared to 37% of heterosexual women. These women were significantly more likely to face social isolation, lack of emotional support, dissatisfaction with life, and perceived stress. Economic challenges were also more pronounced, with sexual minority women reporting higher rates of employment loss, difficulty paying housing bills, and inadequate transportation access.
Sexual minority men (such as gay, bisexual men, and those who identify as non-heterosexual) showed similar patterns of disparity. Over half (51%) of sexual minority men reported at least one social risk factor, compared to 34% of heterosexual men. These men were more likely to experience dissatisfaction with life, social isolation, and perceived stress. Additionally, financial strains, such as food insecurity and challenges in paying for housing or utilities, were more prevalent among this group.
The most striking disparities were found between gender minority adults (such as transgender and nonbinary individuals) and their cisgender counterparts. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of gender minority adults reported experiencing at least one social risk factor, compared to 37% of cisgender adults. Gender minority individuals faced significantly higher rates of dissatisfaction with life, social isolation, and stress. Economic hardships, including job loss, food insecurity, and inability to pay for basic utilities, were also more common among gender minorities.
Social isolation emerged as a particularly critical issue for gender minority adults, with the study finding significantly higher levels of loneliness and lack of emotional support compared to cisgender participants. These experiences of isolation likely stem from the compounded effects of stigma, discrimination, and exclusion in both social and professional contexts.
“Social risk factors, which are individual-level negative experiences like insufficient food, disproportionately impact sexual and gender minority adults when compared to heterosexual and cisgender adults,” Nguyen told PsyPost. “More than half of sexual minority adults and about two-thirds of gender minority adults experienced at least one social risk factor in 2022.”
The findings underscore the interconnected nature of these social risk factors. For instance, the inability to pay housing or utility bills can exacerbate stress, while social isolation may contribute to dissatisfaction with life and reduced access to emotional support. These interconnected challenges reveal how structural inequities ripple through various aspects of life for sexual and gender minority individuals.
“The study focused on health data for nearly 180,000 US adults living in 22 states from January 2022 to February 2023,” Nguyen said. “These disparities are consequences of structural discrimination and stigmatization of marginalized populations. Public policies that codify equality by sexual orientation and gender identity may have long-term effects on financial security and mental wellbeing for sexual and gender minorities.”
The study, “(https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2823975) Inequities in Self-Reported Social Risk Factors by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity,” was authored by Kevin H. Nguyen, Timothy W. Levengood, Allegra R. Gordon, Leesh Menard, Heidi L. Allen, and Gilbert Gonzales.

(https://www.psypost.org/new-research-casts-doubt-on-a-popular-theory-in-evolutionary-psychology/) New research casts doubt on a popular theory in evolutionary psychology
Nov 22nd 2024, 12:00

A new study published in (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40806-024-00403-5) Evolutionary Psychological Science challenges the theory that early fertility primarily benefits women from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. The research found that early fertility was associated with greater lifetime reproductive success regardless of childhood socioeconomic status. This finding diverges from the hypothesis that accelerated reproductive timing is an adaptive response to childhood adversity.
The study, based on the PhD dissertation of Atsushi Kometani, now an assistant professor at Kobe University, aimed to test a key concept in evolutionary psychology: the psychosocial acceleration theory. This theory suggests that early-life adversity, such as growing up in poverty or experiencing family instability, signals a harsh and unpredictable environment. In response, individuals may adopt a “fast” life strategy, prioritizing reproduction over long-term planning to maximize their chances of passing on their genes.
“Psychosocial acceleration theory posits that human females have an evolved reaction norm whereby women accelerate their reproductive timing in response to childhood harshness,” explained Yohsuke Ohtsubo, a professor in the Department of Social Psychology at the University of Tokyo and the corresponding author of the study.
“If this theory is valid, we expect that women who experienced adversity in their childhood would have more children by having their first babies earlier, but this would not hold for women who did not experience adversity. Although many studies show the hypothesized correlation between childhood adversity (e.g., father absence) and early reproductive timing (e.g., earlier menarche), few studies have tested whether early reproductive timing selectively benefits women from harsh environments.”
The study examined two independent groups of women: 480 participants from Japan and 780 from the United States, all aged 45 to 50. This age range was chosen because participants were likely to have completed their reproductive years, allowing researchers to estimate lifetime reproductive success, measured as the total number of biological children.
Participants completed surveys measuring their socioeconomic status during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Socioeconomic status was assessed using self-reported indicators, such as financial stability and access to resources during those life stages. The researchers also gathered data on participants’ age at first birth, a key indicator of reproductive timing.
The analysis tested several hypotheses, including whether early fertility conferred reproductive advantages depending on socioeconomic background. To explore this, researchers compared lifetime reproductive success among women who had children early versus later, accounting for variations in childhood socioeconomic status.
The results contradicted the hypothesis that early fertility offers distinct advantages for women from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Women who had their first child at a younger age tended to have more children overall, regardless of whether they came from low or high socioeconomic status during childhood, in both Japan and the United States.
Women from higher socioeconomic backgrounds reported better general health later in life, aligning with previous research linking early-life adversity to poorer health outcomes. However, health measures did not directly mediate the relationship between early reproduction and lifetime reproductive success. This indicates that while childhood socioeconomic conditions may influence long-term health, they do not appear to significantly alter the reproductive advantages associated with early fertility.
“Some evolutionary hypotheses are intuitively appealing,” Ohtsubo told PsyPost. “It sounds reasonable that women in harsh environments could maximize their chance to leave some offspring by having their first babies earlier. Intuitive appeal does not imply correctness. As for the psychosocial acceleration theory, despite its intuitive appeal, there is little direct evidence showing that it is, in fact, an evolved life history strategy of humans.”
The researchers also examined whether the consistency of socioeconomic environments between childhood and early adulthood influenced reproductive outcomes. The hypothesis was that women whose adult socioeconomic status aligned with their childhood environment might achieve better reproductive success due to greater predictability.
However, the study found no significant evidence for this relationship. The consistency of socioeconomic conditions between life stages did not appear to enhance the number of children a woman had. This suggests that early fertility’s reproductive benefits operate independently of stability or predictability in an individual’s socioeconomic circumstances over time.
“Although it is not directly related to the psychosocial acceleration theory itself, we were surprised to find that the association between age at first birth and number of children around age 45 years has much commonality between the United States and Japan, despite many differences in their cultural and societal systems (e.g., lower divorce rate in Japan),” Ohtsubo said.
As with all research, there are limitations to consider. The study primarily measured childhood adversity through socioeconomic status, which may not fully capture the range of adversities individuals face. Other forms of adversity, such as exposure to violence, family instability, or community-level risks, were not included. These factors could influence reproductive timing and success in ways not accounted for in this study.
Additionally, the study evaluated reproductive success through the total number of children women had by the age of 45–50. While this is a common metric in evolutionary research, it does not account for potential trade-offs between the quantity and quality of offspring. For example, delayed reproduction might allow parents to invest more resources in fewer children.
“Although our ultimate goal is to test whether the reaction norm hypothesized by the psychosocial acceleration theory, in fact, evolved, we admit that we cannot strictly test it in modern environments,” Ohtsubo noted. “An ideal study would be conducted, for example, in Africa 20,000 years ago. We admit that it is very difficult (maybe impossible) to determine whether the reaction norm evolved. Our findings, along with similar findings in pre-industrialized societies (and baboon societies), can only cast doubt on the plausibility of the psychosocial acceleration theory.”
“We are afraid that evolutionary hypotheses are misinterpreted—that early fertility (especially that of women in poverty) is good for them because it is an ‘adaptive’ strategy, although ‘adaptive’ in evolutionary hypotheses has nothing to do with the well-being or health of women. One of our long-time goals is to provide a balanced explanation for early fertility. For example, we believe that early fertility of women in developing countries (especially women suffering from poverty) is better explained by societal habits (e.g., child marriage). We would like to establish reasonable boundary conditions for evolutionary hypotheses.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-024-00403-5) Effects of Accelerated Reproductive Timing in Response to Childhood Adversity on Lifetime Reproductive Success in Modern Environments,” was authored by Atsushi Kometani and Yohsuke Ohtsubo.

(https://www.psypost.org/individuals-with-untreated-hypertension-have-an-increased-risk-of-alzheimers-dementia/) Individuals with untreated hypertension have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s
Nov 22nd 2024, 10:00

A recent study of more than 30,000 participants found that individuals with untreated hypertension have a 36% higher risk of Alzheimer’s dementia compared to healthy individuals and a 42% higher risk than those who take medication to treat hypertension. However, all individuals with hypertension, regardless of treatment, had an increased risk of non-Alzheimer’s dementias. The research was published in (https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209715) Neurology.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition in which the force of blood against artery walls is persistently too high, straining the heart and blood vessels. It often develops without noticeable symptoms. Untreated hypertension can lead to serious complications such as heart disease and stroke. Factors like age, genetics, lifestyle, and diet contribute to its development.
Chronic high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the brain, leading to reduced blood flow and brain tissue damage. Despite this, meta-analytic studies have consistently reported no link between late-life blood pressure and Alzheimer’s dementia or vascular dementia. Some researchers suggest this might be a false finding and that the association between dementia and hypertension may not be linear. Additionally, studies have associated antihypertensive medications with a 13% reduced risk of dementia. If hypertension were not a factor in dementia development, such findings would be unexpected.
A large team of researchers, publishing under the name the Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium (COSMIC) Group, conducted a meta-analytic study to better understand whether previous hypertension and the use of antihypertensive medication modify the risk of Alzheimer’s and non-Alzheimer’s dementias in older adults. They also aimed to estimate the ideal blood pressure for reducing the risk of dementia.
Alzheimer’s dementia is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes, caused by the degeneration of brain cells. It primarily affects older individuals. However, it is not the only type of dementia, and this study also considered other forms.
The study authors analyzed data from 14 community-based longitudinal studies of aging that participated in their consortium. The analysis included data from 31,250 individuals in 14 countries: the United States, Brazil, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, and Greece. Study participants were followed for 2 to 15 years. Individuals younger than 60 and those with dementia at the start of the study were excluded from the analysis. The participants’ average age was 72 years, and 41% were male.
For their analysis, the researchers used data on whether a participant developed dementia (and, if so, when), the type of dementia (Alzheimer’s or non-Alzheimer’s), self-reported hypertension, physician-diagnosed hypertension, and the use of antihypertensive medication. The analyzed studies also included up to three measurements of blood pressure taken at the start of the study.
Based on these data, the participants were divided into four groups: “healthy participants” (no history of hypertension and no use of antihypertensive medication), “uncertain hypertension” (no history of hypertension but using antihypertensive medication), “treated hypertension” (history of hypertension with the use of antihypertensive medication), and “untreated hypertension” (history of hypertension without the use of antihypertensive medication).
The results showed that participants with untreated hypertension had a 36% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia compared to healthy individuals. They also had a 42% higher risk compared to participants with treated hypertension.
However, both treated and untreated hypertension were associated with an elevated risk of developing non-Alzheimer’s dementia compared to healthy individuals. Those with treated hypertension had a 29% higher risk, while those with untreated hypertension had a 69% higher risk of developing non-Alzheimer’s dementia. Overall, a history of hypertension was associated with an elevated risk of non-Alzheimer’s dementia but not of Alzheimer’s dementia.
“To conclude, this IPD [individual participant data] meta-analysis, with data from 14 nations, including studies from developing countries, illustrates that throughout late life those with treated hypertension had a lower risk of AD [Alzheimer’s dementia] compared with those with untreated hypertension, suggesting that antihypertensive use should be part of any AD prevention strategy even in late life. By contrast, both treated and untreated hypertension were associated with elevated non-AD risk,” the study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the links between dementia and hypertension. However, it should be noted that the study design does not allow for causal inferences. Therefore, it remains unclear whether hypertension contributes to dementia, vice versa, or if another mechanism is responsible for the observed associations.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209715) Blood Pressure, Antihypertensive Use, and Late-Life Alzheimer and Non-Alzheimer Dementia Risk,” was authored by the Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium (COSMIC) Group.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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