<table style="border:1px solid #adadad; background-color: #F3F1EC; color: #666666; padding:8px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; line-height:16px; margin-bottom:6px;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News Daily Digest (Unofficial)</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/alcohol-use-disorder-patients-show-brain-structure-changes-that-may-underlie-emotional-distress/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Alcohol use disorder patients show brain structure changes that may underlie emotional distress</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 10th 2025, 08:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A new study has found that men recovering from alcohol use problems tend to have less brain tissue in areas linked to thinking and emotion compared to healthy men. The research also found that these brain differences were related to difficulties with memory and mood, suggesting that changes in brain structure may influence how severe a person’s alcohol problems become. The findings have been published in <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925492725000010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging</a></em>.</p>
<p>Alcohol use disorder is a widespread health problem that affects millions of people around the world and is known to be influenced by a mix of genetic, developmental, and environmental factors. Previous studies have suggested that heavy alcohol consumption not only affects behavior but also brings about changes in the brain, especially in regions that control thinking, memory, and emotions.</p>
<p>Isabel Cristina Céspedes, the senior author of the study and associate professor at the Federal University of São Paulo, was motivated to examine this because of “the suffering of individuals with alcohol use disorder and their families with low success rates in treating this chronic disease, which is destructive from a biological and psychosocial point of view.”</p>
<p>Céspedes and her colleagues specifically wanted to explore whether the differences in brain volume seen in patients with alcohol use disorder were linked to difficulties in cognition and mood, and whether these brain changes might help explain why some people develop more severe alcohol-related problems. By examining these relationships, the researchers hoped to gain a clearer picture of the biological and behavioral pathways that contribute to the disorder.</p>
<p>To conduct their research, the investigators recruited two groups of male participants. The first group included 50 individuals who had been recently detoxified from alcohol and were receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder at a treatment center in São Paulo, Brazil. The participants in this group had been abstinent for between 10 and 15 days and had been given a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder by a psychiatrist. The second group consisted of 50 individuals who did not have alcohol dependence and were classified as having low risk for substance use. These participants were recruited from a hospital associated with a local university.</p>
<p>All participants underwent high-resolution scans of their brains using magnetic resonance imaging on a 3-Tesla machine, which allowed the researchers to measure the volume of various brain regions in great detail. The imaging process produced three-dimensional pictures of the brain that the team analyzed with a technique that identifies and measures the amount of gray matter in different regions. Gray matter is important because it contains the nerve cells that help process information, control emotions, and guide behavior.</p>
<p>In addition to the brain scans, participants completed several tests designed to measure their cognitive abilities and emotional states. Furthermore, the participants filled out self-report questionnaires that measured levels of anxiety and depression, two common mood issues that are often seen in people with alcohol use disorder. The researchers also gathered detailed information about the participants’ substance use habits, their educational background, and other clinical details, such as family history of alcohol use disorder and previous treatments.</p>
<p>The researchers found that the group with alcohol use disorder had noticeably lower amounts of gray matter in several brain regions compared to the group without the disorder. The reductions were particularly evident in parts of the frontal lobe, which is known to be involved in planning, self-control, and evaluating choices, and in regions of the limbic system, which helps regulate emotions and long-term memory.</p>
<p>For instance, areas such as the orbitofrontal cortex and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex showed lower volumes in patients with alcohol use disorder. These areas are important for making decisions based on reward and punishment and for regulating emotional responses. In addition, other areas related to emotional processing, such as the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex and parts of the hippocampus, also showed reduced gray matter.</p>
<p>In parallel with these brain differences, the individuals with alcohol use disorder performed more poorly on memory tests. They had difficulties recalling information both immediately after learning and after a delay, and they also struggled with recognizing previously presented words. Although differences in decision-making performance between the two groups were less pronounced, the overall pattern suggested that reduced brain volume in specific regions was associated with worse cognitive performance and higher levels of anxiety and depression.</p>
<p>The data indicated that the areas of the brain involved in emotional regulation appeared to affect the severity of alcohol-related problems indirectly by influencing mood. In other words, lower brain volume in these regions was linked to more pronounced symptoms of anxiety and depression, which in turn were related to more severe alcohol use problems. This suggests that the emotional difficulties experienced by people with alcohol use disorder may be partly rooted in structural changes in the brain.</p>
<p>“Traumas and environmental stimuli that leave scars on the neural circuits associated with emotion processing are potent vulnerability factors for the disorder,” Céspedes told PsyPost.</p>
<p>It is important to note that while the study found clear associations between brain structure, mood, and memory performance, the relationship between brain structure and decision-making was not as straightforward. The performance on the decision-making task did not differ significantly between the groups, which could be due to the complexity of decision-making as a process or to the limitations of the test used. However, the overall evidence points to a significant connection between brain volume in key regions, emotional disturbances, and cognitive difficulties in individuals with alcohol use disorder.</p>
<p>Despite these informative findings, the study has some limitations that should be considered. The research focused exclusively on male participants, which means that the results may not apply to women with alcohol use disorder. In addition, many of the individuals with alcohol use disorder also had a history of using other substances, even though alcohol was the primary drug of abuse. This makes it harder to determine whether the observed brain differences are solely due to alcohol or if they might also be influenced by other substances.</p>
<p>The study also did not account for genetic differences, which might influence brain development and contribute to an individual’s susceptibility to alcohol use disorder. Recognizing this gap, the researchers are preparing a genetic study that will be published soon. Looking forward, Céspedes hopes “to unite all the factors in a publication associating the genetic bases with the individual’s mental functioning, together with psychosocial factors, and to try to better understand the complexity of this disease.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2025.111946" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reduced gray matter volume in limbic and cortical areas is associated with anxiety and depression in alcohol use disorder patients</a>,” was authored by Laís da Silva Pereira-Rufino, Denise Ribeiro Gobbo, Rafael Conte, Raissa Mazzer de Sino, Natan Nascimento de Oliveira, Thiago Marques Fidalgo, João Ricardo Sato, Henrique Carrete Junior, Maria Lucia Oliveira Souza-Formigoni, Zhenhao Shi, João Ricardo N. Vissoci, Corinde E. Wiers, and Isabel Cristina Céspedes.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/being-less-observant-of-thoughts-linked-to-more-sex-partners-in-women-with-mood-swings/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Being less observant of thoughts linked to more sex partners in women with mood swings</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 9th 2025, 16:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A new study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes5030020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sexes</a></em> has explored the relationship between rapidly changing moods, boredom, mindfulness, and the number of sexual partners women have had in the past year. The researchers found that women who reported experiencing rapid shifts between feelings of depression and elation tended to have more sexual partners, particularly if they also reported a lower tendency to observe their thoughts and sensations.</p>
<p>The researchers were interested in this topic because rapid changes in mood, known as affective lability, are associated with a range of mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Previous research has also shown that people with higher affective lability tend to have a greater number of sexual partners. A higher number of sexual partners can increase the risk of negative outcomes, such as sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. The researchers wanted to understand the factors that might explain this link.</p>
<p>One potential factor is boredom. People who are prone to boredom might experience it more intensely and negatively, and this could lead them to engage in impulsive behaviors, including seeking out sexual encounters, to alleviate their discomfort. On the other hand, mindfulness – the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment – has been shown to help people regulate their emotions and reduce impulsive behavior.</p>
<p>The researchers hypothesized that mindfulness might help individuals with rapid mood swings and a tendency towards boredom to better tolerate these difficult states, reducing the urge to engage in sex as a coping mechanism. Since the potential negative impacts of casual sex are higher for women, and since women may be perceived as more emotionally expressive, the researchers decided to focus exclusively on a sample of women.</p>
<p>To investigate these relationships, the researchers recruited a sample of 469 adult women through online communities and a university participant pool. The average age of the participants was 25 years, and the majority identified as White and heterosexual.</p>
<p>Participants completed an online survey that included several questionnaires. The Affective Lability Scale measured how often and intensely participants experienced rapid shifts in their emotions. This scale specifically assessed shifts between feeling normal and feeling anxious/depressed, feeling normal and feeling angry, and feeling depressed and feeling elated/energetic. The Boredom Proneness Scale assessed participants’ general tendency to experience boredom.</p>
<p>To measure mindfulness, the researchers used the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. This questionnaire assesses five different aspects of mindfulness: observing thoughts and feelings, describing experiences, acting with awareness (rather than being on “autopilot”), non-judging of inner experiences, and non-reactivity to inner experiences.</p>
<p>Finally, participants were asked to report the number of sexual partners they had had in the past 12 months. The survey also collected information on participants’ relationship status, age, and whether they had sex with people of any gender or only one gender.</p>
<p>The study’s initial prediction, that boredom proneness and mindfulness would together influence the link between affective lability and number of sex partners, was not supported by the data. However, when the researchers explored other possible relationships, they found an interesting result. Among women who reported experiencing rapid changes between feeling depressed and elated, those who scored lower on the “Observe” aspect of mindfulness reported having a greater number of sexual partners in the past year.</p>
<p>In simpler terms, this means that for women who experience significant mood swings between depression and elation, being less inclined to notice and pay attention to their current thoughts and feelings was associated with having more sexual partners. This finding suggests that the ability to simply observe one’s inner experiences, without judgment or reaction, might be relevant in understanding sexual behavior in individuals with affective lability.</p>
<p>The researchers offered several possible explanations for why their initial predictions were not confirmed and why this specific finding emerged. They suggested that perhaps sensation-seeking, the desire for exciting and novel experiences, might be a stronger factor than general boredom proneness in driving impulsive sexual behavior in affectively labile women. They also pointed out that simply counting the number of sex partners might not fully capture impulsive sexual behavior. Some individuals might engage in impulsive sex infrequently, or in ways that don’t necessarily involve multiple partners. Future research could use measures that specifically assess out-of-control sexual behavior or sexual risk-taking to get a more complete picture.</p>
<p>The researchers also acknowledged several limitations of their study. The majority of participants were young and White, which limits how broadly the findings can be applied to other populations. A significant portion of participants were in dating relationships or not sexually active, which could have affected the range of responses regarding sexual partners. The study focused only on women, so it’s unclear if these findings would apply to men as well. Furthermore, the study design was cross-sectional, meaning it looked at data at one point in time, so it cannot prove cause and effect.</p>
<p>Despite these limitations, the study highlights a potentially important link between a specific facet of mindfulness – the ability to observe inner experiences – and sexual behavior in women who experience rapid mood changes between depression and elation. Future research could explore this finding further, perhaps by investigating whether mindfulness-based interventions can help individuals better manage their mood fluctuations and reduce impulsive sexual behaviors.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes5030020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Roles of Affective Lability, Boredom, and Mindfulness in Predicting Number of Sex Partners within Women</a>,” was authored by by Carolyn A. Lorenzi, David C. de Jong, and Rachel S. Faulkenberry.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/the-super-bowl-might-influence-birth-patterns-study-suggests/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">The Super Bowl might influence birth patterns, study suggests</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 9th 2025, 14:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>Excitement surrounding big sports tournaments like the Super Bowl or the World Cup might lead to more than just team spirit; a scientific review published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16993" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PeerJ</a> </em>indicates these events could be linked to a bump in birth rates roughly nine months later. Researchers found that major sporting tournaments appear to have a noticeable influence on birth patterns, affecting both the number of births and the ratio of male to female babies born. This effect is likely driven by the intense emotions stirred up by these events.</p>
<p>Previous research has documented birth rate fluctuations following significant social events. Holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve have been associated with increased conception rates due to a combination of festive mood, alcohol consumption, and time off work. Similarly, researchers have noted potential baby booms after major cultural festivals. However, the relationship between sporting events and birth patterns has remained less explored, despite anecdotal claims and isolated studies suggesting a link.</p>
<p>Sports hold a special place in global culture, with tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the Olympic Games drawing billions of viewers. These events generate intense emotions, fostering national unity and shared excitement, especially when a team achieves a historic victory. Given the widespread passion for sports, researchers suspected that such tournaments might trigger behavioral changes at the population level, particularly regarding intimate relationships.</p>
<p>Additionally, studies have found that emotions tied to sports can influence hormones such as testosterone and cortisol, which play roles in human reproductive behavior. By examining whether birth rates change following major sporting events, the researchers aimed to determine whether these competitions contribute to larger demographic shifts.</p>
<p>The researchers conducted a systematic review, a rigorous method for comprehensively gathering and analyzing all available research on a specific topic. They began by defining clear criteria for the studies they would include. Eligible studies had to be ecological in nature (meaning they looked at population-level data rather than individual data), examine the impact of a major sporting tournament (either directly attending or watching on media), and compare birth rates or sex ratios about nine months after the event to those of control periods (usually the same time of year in previous or subsequent years).</p>
<p>Using a predefined search strategy, they searched two major scientific databases, PubMed and Scopus, for relevant articles published up to November 7, 2022. They also manually searched the reference lists of included studies and used Google Scholar to identify any articles that cited these studies. Two researchers independently screened the titles and abstracts of the identified articles, then reviewed the full text of potentially relevant studies to determine their eligibility. Any disagreements were resolved through discussion. They did not limit their search by language, date, or publication type (with a few exceptions, like reviews and editorials).</p>
<p>From an initial pool of over 400 articles, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. The researchers extracted data from these studies, including the type of sporting event, the location, the time period, and the observed changes in birth rates or sex ratios. Because the studies covered a wide range of sports, locations, and time periods, the researchers performed a narrative synthesis, summarizing the findings in a descriptive manner.</p>
<p>The review found that several major sporting tournaments were associated with changes in birth patterns approximately nine months later. These changes primarily involved increases in either the total number of births, the sex ratio at birth (the proportion of male births to total births), or both.</p>
<p><strong>Super Bowl:</strong> While one study found no overall increase in births in winning counties after the Super Bowl, another study showed a consistent increase in the sex ratio at birth in the United States nine months after several Super Bowls.</p>
<p><strong>2009 UEFA Champions League:</strong> Nine months after Futbol Club Barcelona’s victory, there was a substantial 16% increase in births in certain regions of Catalonia, Spain.</p>
<p><strong>2010 FIFA World Cup:</strong> In South Africa, which hosted the tournament for the first time, there was an increase in both the sex ratio at birth and the total number of births (over 1,000 extra births) nine months later.</p>
<p><strong>2016 UEFA European Championship:</strong> Nine months following Northern Ireland’s first-time participation in this soccer tournament, in which they advanced to the knockout stage, Northern Ireland experienced a 2% rise in births.</p>
<p><strong>2019 Rugby World Cup:</strong> Hosting this tournament for the first time, Japan saw an increase in the sex ratio at birth in some prefectures ten months later.</p>
<p><strong>Spanish La Liga:</strong> There was evidence that unexpected losses by popular soccer teams in Spain’s top league were associated with a 0.8% decrease in births in the corresponding provinces nine months later. Unexpected victories, in constrast, showed no correlation with altered birth rates.</p>
<p>The review authors put forward a potential explanation for these findings, noting that the context of the sporting event appeared to be important. Baby booms were more likely when a country hosted a major tournament for the first time or when a team achieved an unexpected victory or a significant milestone (like qualifying for a tournament for the first time). These situations likely generate heightened excitement and positive emotions, which could lead to increased sexual activity and conceptions. The emotional highs of the tournament may trigger hormonal shifts that encourage more sexual activity, leading to more babies nine months later.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16993" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sporting tournaments and changed birth rates 9 months later: a systematic review</a>,” was authored by Gwinyai Masukume, Victor Grech, and Margaret Ryan.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-study-links-red-meat-to-faster-cognitive-decline/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">New study links red meat to faster cognitive decline</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 9th 2025, 13:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>Less red meat is good for the planet and a <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1062104/number-of-vegans-in-great-britain/">growing number of people</a> have started the new year resolving to pursue a meat-free diet.</p>
<p>Besides being good for the planet and kinder to animals, eating less red meat is also better for your health. Reducing consumption of red and processed meat could reduce your risk of <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(24)00118-9/fulltext">diabetes, cancer and heart disease</a>. These diseases share risk factors with dementia, including the most common type, Alzheimer’s disease.</p>
<p>Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia are the UK’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/14/dementia-five-charts-that-help-explain-britain-biggest-killer#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20people%20living,than%2055%20million%20people%20worldwide.">leading cause of death</a>. With Alzheimer’s, memory problems are often the first issue to become apparent and these are later followed by other cognitive impairments significantly affecting daily life and social interactions.</p>
<p>A large <a href="https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000210286">US-based study</a> investigated different foods and their associated dementia risk in over 133,000 healthcare professionals who did not have dementia when the study started. They were tracked for over four decades. In that time, just over 11,000 developed dementia.</p>
<p>Eating processed red meat (such as sausages, bacon, hotdogs and salami) was linked to a 16% higher risk of dementia and a faster rate of cognitive ageing. Eating about two servings of processed red meat a week raised the risk of dementia <a href="https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2024/processed-red-meat-raises-risk-of-dementia.asp#:~:text=Eating%20about%20two%20servings%20per,risk%20of%20dementia%20by%2020%25.">by 14%</a> compared with those who ate less than about three servings a month. (A serving is a piece of meat roughly the size of a deck of playing cards – around 85g.)</p>
<p>If people substituted processed red meat protein for that found in nuts, tofu or beans, they could reduce their dementia risk by 19%, the study found. The rate of cognitive ageing was also reduced.</p>
<p>In this same sample, eating less red and processed meat was shown to substantially reduce the risk of death from <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3712342/#:~:text=Both%20unprocessed%20and%20processed%20red,(Tables%202-4).">cancer and heart disease</a>. The researchers estimated that almost one in ten deaths could have been prevented if everyone had eaten less than 42g of red meat (less than half a serving) a day throughout the study.</p>
<p>Red or processed meat can result in high levels of “bad fats” in the blood because of its saturated fat and cholesterol content. This can result in fatty deposits building up in the blood vessels, explaining some of the association with heart disease deaths.</p>
<p>High blood pressure can result from the high <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/kidneys-salt-and-blood-pressure-you-need-a-delicate-balance">salt</a> content in processed meats. The <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.312321#:~:text=Thus%2C%20it%20is%20likely%20that,this%20spectrum%2C%20excessive%20M1%20macrophage">fat around the tummy</a> caused by these calorific foods combined with a sedentary lifestyle is also linked to high blood pressure, in addition to inflammation of the blood vessels and diabetes.</p>
<p>These <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11103343/#:~:text=A%20growing%20body%20of%20evidence,perpetuate%20the%20burden%20of%20AD.">factors</a> are all also associated with Alzheimer’s. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622022143?via%3Dihub">“Good fats”</a> found in nuts, fatty fish, olive oil and avocado could help reduce these mechanisms and may protect against dementia and memory decline.</p>
<h2>Gut health</h2>
<p>Scientists increasingly recognise the role of the gut in brain disorders.</p>
<p>Gut health can be improved with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/probiotics/faq-20058065">prebiotics</a>, such as fibres in plants, and probiotics (the helpful bacteria that can be found in fermented foods such as tempe, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha and yoghurt).</p>
<p>Plants and beans that contain lots of fibre were associated with less risk of dementia in the studies mentioned. Conversely, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-024-00893-5">gut health</a> can be negatively affected by <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/ultra-processed-foods">ultra-processed food</a>, such as crisps, fizzy drinks, breakfast cereals and ready meals.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10770002/">review of studies</a>, published in 2023, found that people who ate lots of ultra-processed foods (of all kinds – not just processed meats) had a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10770002/">44%</a> higher risk of dementia. So, do we need to cut out all processed foods?</p>
<p>This is a difficult topic, and it is also very hard to implement. Much of what most of us eat is processed, from tinned vegetables to bread and milk. Many of these foods have health benefits. The above-mentioned review found that eating moderate amounts of ultra-processed food was not associated with an increased risk of dementia.</p>
<h2>Moderation is key</h2>
<p>As always, moderation is key in any diet. Any food or drink – <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318619">even water</a> – in the wrong dose can harm the body. So be wary of recent <a href="https://www.nylon.com/beauty/tiktok-diet-culture-unhealthy-obsession-with-protein-animal-based">diet trends</a> suggesting we need to eat loads of protein.</p>
<p>Too much <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7460905/">protein</a> can be tough on the kidneys, leading to their dysfunction. This is a problem as you need <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work#:~:text=Your%20kidneys%20remove%20wastes%20and,and%20potassium%E2%80%94in%20your%20blood.">your kidneys</a> to remove toxins from your body, get rid of excess fluids and waste. They help regulate blood pressure and support bone health, among other important functions. Not having good kidney function can lead to serious health problems.</p>
<p>Besides going meatless, many people want to lose weight in the new year. Keto diets with lots of protein and fat, while popular, have low adherence and the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/keto_diet_weight_loss#:~:text=Research%20has%20shown%20a%20ketogenic,will%20lead%20to%20weight%20loss.">same</a> weight loss as other diet programmes in the long term.</p>
<p>Eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes lots of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622022143?via%3Dihub">plants, beans and good fats (such as those found in nuts and fish)</a>, and exercising regularly will help to reduce your risk of dementia and heart disease.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/247619/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1"><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/processed-red-meat-isnt-just-bad-for-your-heart-its-also-associated-with-dementia-247619">original article</a>.</em></p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/individual-traits-not-environment-predict-gun-violence-among-gun-carrying-youth/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Individual traits, not environment, predict gun violence among gun-carrying youth</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 9th 2025, 12:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A new study of young males with a history of serious offenses finds that certain individual characteristics, rather than environmental influences, are strongly associated with gun violence among those who already carry firearms. While both individual and environmental factors were linked to gun violence in the broader group of at-risk youth, only the perceived rewards of crime and a lack of empathy were significant predictors of gun violence among those who actively carried guns. This suggests that different approaches may be needed to prevent gun violence among those who already carry guns.</p>
<p>The research was published in the journal <em><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00938548241292820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Criminal Justice and Behavior</a></em>.</p>
<p>Gun violence is a complex problem stemming from a combination of personal characteristics and social surroundings. While a lot of research has examined these factors in relation to adolescent gun use, relatively little attention has been paid to youth who actively carry firearms. Prior research reveals that a lot of youths who carry guns never use them in any violent situation. Understanding the distinctions between these groups — those who carry guns and those who carry and use guns in violent acts — is essential for designing effective interventions.</p>
<p>Existing research on gun violence primarily relies on data from community samples. This presents questions around whether the findings apply to populations with the highest risk, such as individuals with a history of offenses. To address this gap, the current research focused on a sample of young people with a history of serious offenses, including a subgroup who actively carried firearms.</p>
<p>“It is well-documented that violent crime is highly concentrated among a relatively small number of individuals who are disproportionately exposed to environments conducive to violence,” explained study author Sultan Altikriti, a postdoctoral fellow at the Gun Violence Research Center in the School of Public Health at Rutgers University.</p>
<p>“Some of the same risk factors for violence have also been found to increase the propensity to carry firearms, which is one of the most prominent predictors of gun violence. That said, only a few of those who carry firearms, even illegally, end up engaging in gun violence. What we hoped to do in this study was to separate the effects of predictors of carrying propensity from predictors of gun violence. By looking at only those who carry firearms, we aimed to disentangle the effects of gun access and carrying from gun violence.”</p>
<p>“A good analogy for our approach in this study is examining the causes of car accidents. To do this effectively, one must focus solely on those with access to a car. Including those without access to a car or who rarely drive would bias the results by capturing car access or mileage driven rather than a propensity for car accidents themselves.”</p>
<p>The study utilized data from the “Pathways to Desistance” project, a long-term study that followed young people aged 14 to 19 who had been convicted of a serious offense in either Maricopa County, Arizona, or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The present study focused on the 1,170 males in the sample, as young men account for more than 80% of gun violence injuries and fatalities. These participants were tracked for seven years, with data collected at ten different time points.</p>
<p>The researchers created an “analytic sample” of 1,135 individuals with 7,711 person-wave observations. This means that for each person, there were multiple observations over time. Some analyses focused on a subgroup of 481 youth who actively carried firearms during at least one of the observation periods.</p>
<p>The key outcome variable was “gun violence,” defined as whether a participant had shot someone, shot at someone, or committed a robbery using a firearm during the observation period. Because gun violence was relatively rare, it was measured as a simple “yes” or “no.”</p>
<p>“Gun carrying” was also measured as a “yes” or “no” variable, indicating whether the participant had carried a gun during the observation period. It’s important to note that for this particular group of young people, any gun carrying was likely illegal, as they were prohibited from obtaining a license due to their prior convictions.</p>
<p>The study found that for the entire sample of at-risk young men, both environmental and individual factors played a role in predicting gun violence. Specifically, young people were more likely to engage in gun violence if they reported carrying a gun, perceived easy access to guns in their neighborhood, had previously engaged in gun violence, were involved in gangs, witnessed violence, had peers who carried guns, perceived personal rewards from crime, and exhibited callous traits.</p>
<p>However, when the researchers focused only on the subgroup of young people who were actively carrying guns, the picture changed. Among this group, most of the environmental factors were no longer significant predictors of gun violence. Instead, only two individual factors remained significant: the perceived personal rewards of crime and callous traits. In other words, for young people who were already carrying guns, it was primarily their individual characteristics – specifically, the extent to which they found crime rewarding and lacked empathy – that predicted whether they would use a gun violently.</p>
<p>These findings suggest that different factors may be at play in leading to gun violence depending on whether a young person is simply at risk or is already carrying a firearm. Environmental factors might increase the general risk of gun violence, perhaps by making it more likely that a young person will start carrying a gun in the first place. However, once a young person is already carrying a gun, it seems that individual traits become more important in determining whether they will actually use that gun in a violent way.</p>
<p>“If I had to give a reason why individual factors play a relatively stronger role among active gun carriers, I’d say that it has something to do with the nature of gun violence itself. Unlike simply carrying a gun or engaging in lower-level crime, gun violence is a very serious and harmful behavior. Therefore, those who engage in this form of violence likely exhibit traits that reflect this harm. This includes a sense of thrill from crime and a degree of callousness that enables one to commit violence with relatively little regard for the welfare of others.”</p>
<p>The researchers suggested that environmental factors might indirectly influence gun violence by first influencing gun carrying. For example, being exposed to violence or having peers who carry guns might make a young person more likely to carry a gun themselves, which in turn could increase their risk of gun violence. In this view, environmental factors set the stage, increasing the likelihood of gun carrying, while individual traits then determine who among gun carriers is most likely to become violent.</p>
<p>The study highlights the importance of considering gun carrying not just as another factor related to gun violence, but as a potential step in the pathway towards gun violence. It suggests that to effectively prevent gun violence, it may be necessary to target different factors for different groups of young people.</p>
<p>“Gun violence is not randomly distributed among those who carry guns. It’s very concentrated among a relatively small number of individuals responsible for a large share of harm. Identifying these individuals and their characteristics can help in crafting more effective public health policies focused on mitigating their risk factors while also implementing criminal justice policies that selectively target the most violent offenders. What we find in our study is that environmental factors play a large role in increasing the risk of gun carrying, while individual factors play a larger role in the perpetration of gun violence.”</p>
<p>Impulsivity is thought to contribute to risky or aggressive actions because it can lead someone to act without weighing the consequences. Surprisingly, however, the evidence did not show that impulsivity was a key factor in predicting gun violence. When the researchers examined the data, they found that impulsivity did not have a statistically significant association with gun violence among the at-risk youth, whether they looked at the full group of young men or just those who were actively carrying firearms.</p>
<p>“Impulsivity has long been demonstrated to be a strong predictor of crime and violence. I was surprised it was not associated with gun violence in our study. My guess is that gun violence is so serious that the relevant individual factors are not related to impulse control but more of a disregard for causing harm.”</p>
<p>The researchers noted some limitations to their study. The sample was limited to young men with felony convictions, so the findings might not apply to other groups of young people, including females or those without criminal records. The data was also collected up to 2010, so it is possible that the factors related to gun violence have changed in more recent years.</p>
<p>“Our study only tells part of the story. I would like to see our findings replicated in similar samples and with the inclusion of a broader array of environmental and individual risk factors.”</p>
<p>Looking ahead, the study points to several directions for future research on gun violence among youth. One important next step is to distinguish between different types of gun violence.</p>
<p>“Gun violence comes in many forms, including a need for protection and self-defense. Future research should focus on distinguishing predatory from defensive gun violence among at-risk individuals or those living in crime-inducing environments. Predatory gun violence likely heightens the perceived need to carry for self-defense, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of gun violence.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241292820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What’s the Difference Between Me and You? An Examination of Causes and Correlates of Gun Violence Among Youth Who Actively Carry Firearms</a>,” was authored by Sultan Altikriti and Eric J. Connolly.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/loneliness-associated-with-lower-cognitive-function-in-older-adults/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Loneliness associated with lower cognitive function in older adults</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 9th 2025, 10:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1344044/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontiers in Psychology</a></em> suggests that feeling lonely can be a significant predictor of how well our brains function as we age, particularly for those who openly acknowledge their loneliness. However, the connection between loneliness and cognitive function isn’t straightforward and might differ depending on how loneliness is measured and a person’s racial and ethnic background.</p>
<p>Cognitive decline, which refers to a worsening in abilities like memory, thinking, and problem-solving, is a major concern for older adults. It impacts quality of life, puts a strain on healthcare systems, and is a top research priority. The number of older adults in the U.S. is projected to grow significantly, with a substantial portion being Black or Latino individuals. These groups are also more likely to experience cognitive problems compared to their White counterparts. Because of this, there’s a pressing need to find factors that influence cognitive health and that can potentially be changed – and loneliness is one such factor.</p>
<p>Loneliness isn’t simply about being alone. It’s the distressing feeling that arises when someone perceives that their social connections aren’t fulfilling their needs, particularly in terms of quality. While loneliness can happen at any age, older adults may face unique challenges that could affect their social lives, such as health problems or the loss of loved ones. At the same time, older adults might be more resilient to loneliness due to changed expectations and a focus on closer relationships.</p>
<p>Previous research globally has shown a link between loneliness and poorer cognitive function. It’s thought that loneliness might trigger long-term activation of stress responses in the body, leading to higher levels of stress hormones. These hormones, over time, could potentially damage brain cells and affect cognitive abilities. However, the exact mechanisms are still unclear, and most of the studies have not focused on the U.S. population or specific racial and ethnic groups within it. Because experiences and management of loneliness can vary across different groups, researchers are looking for more precise and accurate information.</p>
<p>The researchers analyzed data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a large-scale survey of middle-aged and older adults in the U.S. They focused on data collected in 2015-2016, which included in-person interviews and questionnaires. The study included 2,757 participants aged 50 and older who identified as White, Black, or Latino, and who had complete data on cognitive function and loneliness.</p>
<p>To measure cognitive function, the researchers used the Chicago Cognitive Functions Measure, which assesses various cognitive abilities like orientation, memory, and problem-solving. The scores from this measure were converted to scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a widely used screening tool for cognitive impairment. Higher scores indicate better cognitive function.</p>
<p>Loneliness was assessed in two ways. The first was a single question from a depression scale (the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) asking how often participants felt lonely in the past week. Those who reported feeling lonely some, much, or most of the time were classified as “lonely.” The second measure was the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project Felt Loneliness Measure, which is similar to a commonly used three-item loneliness scale. This measure asks about feelings of lacking companionship, feeling left out, and feeling isolated. Participants rated how often they experienced these feelings, and a total score was calculated, with higher scores indicating greater loneliness.</p>
<p>The researchers also considered various other factors that could influence cognitive function. These included demographic factors like age, sex, marital status, and education. They also looked at factors related to socioeconomic status, such as perceived economic position and whether participants had skipped healthcare due to inadequate insurance. Experiences of discrimination, which can negatively affect health, were also assessed. Additionally, the researchers considered the number of chronic medical conditions participants had, their level of depressive symptoms, and their participation in community activities.</p>
<p>The study found that feeling lonely, as measured by the single question about loneliness frequency, was linked to lower cognitive function scores. This means that people who reported feeling lonely more often tended to perform worse on the cognitive assessment. However, when loneliness was measured using the three-item scale, there was no significant association with cognitive function for White or Black participants. Surprisingly, for Latino participants, higher scores on the three-item loneliness scale were actually associated with better cognitive function.</p>
<p>The researchers also looked at how the two loneliness measures related to each other. While there was a significant overlap, only 40% of individuals identified as lonely were classified as such by both measures. This suggests that the two measures might be capturing different aspects or experiences of loneliness. People who were identified as lonely only by the single question (the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) had lower cognitive function scores and higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to those identified as lonely only by the three-item scale.</p>
<p>When the researchers examined the relationship between loneliness and cognitive function separately for each racial and ethnic group, the results were even more nuanced. The negative association between feeling lonely (single question) and cognitive function didn’t differ significantly across groups. However, as mentioned earlier, the three-item loneliness scale showed a different pattern. It wasn’t related to cognitive function for White or Black participants, but it was linked to better cognitive function for Latino participants.</p>
<p>The study has some limitations. Because the data was collected at a single point in time, it’s impossible to say whether loneliness causes a decline in cognitive function, or if it’s the other way around. Also, the sample sizes for Black and Latino participants were smaller than for White participants, which might limit the ability to detect certain effects.</p>
<p>The researchers suggest that future studies should investigate how different dimensions of loneliness, such as its duration and intensity, relate to cognitive function. It’s also important to explore how cultural factors and experiences of discrimination might influence the relationship between loneliness and cognitive health, particularly for minority groups.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1344044" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loneliness and global cognitive functioning in racially and ethnically diverse US midlife and older adults</a>,” was authored by David Camacho, Kelly Pacheco, Jerad Moxley, Maria P. Aranda, M. Carrington Reid, and Elaine Wethington.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
<p><strong>This information is taken from free public RSS feeds published by each organization for the purpose of public distribution. Readers are linked back to the article content on each organization's website. This email is an unaffiliated unofficial redistribution of this freely provided content from the publishers. </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><s><small><a href="#" style="color:#ffffff;"><a href="https://blogtrottr.com/unsubscribe/565/DY9DKf">unsubscribe from this feed</a></a></small></s></p>