Entries tagged with: Depression
Blog
Eat More Curry for a Brain Boost
Eat More Curry for a Brain Boost
Curcumin, found in turmeric root, possesses serious brain boosting powers. Check out my most recent Farmacy Blog post for Psychology today co-written with my graduate student from the Institute for Human Nutrition, Mala Nimalasuriya. Read the Post →
The Science
Restriction of meat, fish, and poultry in omnivores improves mood: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Restriction of meat, fish, and poultry in omnivores improves mood: A pilot randomized controlled trial
The Science
Reduced expression of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in the prefrontal cortex of patients with major depressive disorder.
Reduced expression of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in the prefrontal cortex of patients with major depressive disorder.
The omega-3 fat DHA is essential for healthy brain – it is a primary component of neurons and is also converted to molecules that protect the brain. For most people DHA comes from the diet, but you also make DHA in your liver. This study looks at the enzymes in the liver that make DHA. It shows that those with major depressive disorder have less expression of the genes that make DHA. The genes involved in making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acid, both required for good health, are not as present ie “down-regulated” in the prefrontal cortex of MDD patients. The study was only 10 patients, but this was of human brains postmortem, which is quite interesting data. I’ve been seeing a lot of data on DHA and suicide and I wonder if this pathway provides the sort of Biosignatures that my colleague Maria Oquendo, MD is investigating? Read the abstract →
Blog
ADHD and Diet in Kids (WLNY Follow Up)
ADHD and Diet in Kids (WLNY Follow Up)
Does food contribute to Attention Deficient/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? I had a great time again with the crew of Live from the Couch on WLNY CBS TV this morning. I wanted to post some of the references for those interested and to recap the information. Read the Post →
The Science
The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
This is the most recent review of all the data on diet and ADHD. This is a gold-mine of a paper that is very well written and presents the whole spectrum of evidence. If you are interested in the issue of diet and ADHD, this is a must read. Just like we are increasingly linking depression to dietary patterns, the data seems increasingly clear that for some, symptoms of ADHD can be ameliorated by dietary change. Read the abstract →
The Science
ADHD is Associated with a "Western" Dietary Pattern in Adolescents
ADHD is Associated with a "Western" Dietary Pattern in Adolescents
Another large, long prospective trial that implicates a “Western” diet with worse brain health. We have seen numerous studies implicate modern foods in depression and dementia. Now this amazing study from down under. This is the first study to clearly link a “western-style” diet with ADHD. This study followed almost 3000 kids from birth for 14 years. It found that eating more fat, saturated fat, sugar, refined carbs, and sodium and less omega-3s, folates, and fiber doubles the risk of getting an ADHD diagnosis. Kids who ate the most take-out food, potato chips, and soda were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Read the abstract →
Blog
Fat Brains Need Tomatoes
Fat Brains Need Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the easiest and most economical ways to increase your intake of a brain-protecting class of plant nutrients called carotenoids. Pronounced ca-ROT-en-oids, these molecules safeguard fat in the body, which is very valuable for brain function, since your brain is mainly made of fat. Read the Post →
The Science
Bisphenol A Interferes with Synaptic Remodeling
Bisphenol A Interferes with Synaptic Remodeling
Emerging science indicates that exposure to BPA-- bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in plastics--interferes with brain development. Used to mold plastics, it is found in food containers, in the lining of metal food cans, and the treated paper used for cash register receipts. Read the abstract →
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Half the World is Nuts! Or What’s A DALY
Half the World is Nuts! Or What’s A DALY
A comprehensive survey of mental disorders in the European Union published in September 2011 found that close to 40 percent of the population suffers from brain-based mental disorders like depression, dementia, and alcohol addiction. This study includes children and teens. Another recent, similar study in the US by the CDC found 25 percent of adults suffered from brain-based disorders. And headlines also buzzed when in 2005, Harvard researcher Ronald Kessler found that that about half of Americans would struggle with mental illness at sometime in their life.
Pundits express outrage at these numbers, asking, “How can half the world be mentally ill?” But given that brain disorders are the largest health care challenge facing modern medicine, you should understand more about the studies behind these headlines…and why these numbers are the tip of the iceberg. Read the Post →
Blog
“Traditional” Diets and Mood
“Traditional” Diets and Mood
There’s been a lot of talk about how “traditional” diets (i.e., what your grandmother served for dinner) are better for you. I’ve generally taken issue with this precept; I wanted to believe it was true, but where’s the science supporting it? Read the Post →
The Science
Exercise and Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Major Depression: One-Year Follow-Up of the SMILE Study
Exercise and Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Major Depression: One-Year Follow-Up of the SMILE Study
Let’s review the health benefits of an antidepressant I think everyone should start taking: exercise Read the abstract →
The Science
Dietary Intake of N-3 and N-6 Fatty Acids and the Risk of Clinical Depression in Women: a 10-y prospective follow-up study
Dietary Intake of N-3 and N-6 Fatty Acids and the Risk of Clinical Depression in Women: a 10-y prospective follow-up study
I love a Walter Willett study. But this one is bittersweet for me. A victory for omega-3s. Another strike against excess omega-6s. But no noted benefits from fish, one of my top brain foods?! That is hard to digest. Read the abstract →
The Science
A Meta-analytic Review of Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trials of Antidepressant Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
A Meta-analytic Review of Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trials of Antidepressant Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
This study concludes that more comprehensive trials looking at the anti-depressant efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids were needed. Subsequent research continues to support the use of these fats to augment and enhance the treatment of patients with clinical depression. Read the abstract →
The Science
Association Between Obesity and Psychiatric Disorders in the US Adult Population
Association Between Obesity and Psychiatric Disorders in the US Adult Population
How obesity increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes is making headlines all the time. Another risk, often over looked, is the link between obesity and brain disorders like depression, bipolar, disorder, and panic disorder. Read the abstract →
The Science
Dietary Linoleic and Oleic Fatty Acids in Relation to Severe Depressed Mood: 10 Years Follow-up of a National Cohort
Dietary Linoleic and Oleic Fatty Acids in Relation to Severe Depressed Mood: 10 Years Follow-up of a National Cohort
I want you to get to know oleic acid as it is a great fat for the brain and body and one that pretty much everyone agrees is good for your health. Read the abstract →
Blog
Everybody’s Favorite Fat – Omega-9
Everybody’s Favorite Fat – Omega-9
You have likely heard of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. I’d like to introduce you to omega-9 fatty acids. Actually, you’ve met them under different names— olive oil, lard, and almonds. I want you to get to know oleic acid as it is a great fat for the brain and body and one that pretty much everyone agrees is good for your health. Read the Post →
The Science
Association of Western and traditional diets with depression and anxiety in women
Association of Western and traditional diets with depression and anxiety in women
There’s been a lot of talk about how “traditional” diets (i.e., what your grandmother served for dinner) are better for you. I’ve generally taken issue with this precept; I wanted to believe it was true, but where’s the science supporting it? Read the abstract →
The Science
Exercise for Depression
Exercise for Depression
This set of researchers pooled all of the data from 25 trials that explored exercise as a treatment of depression and could not find a significant effect when they included the most rigorously designed trials. Read the abstract →