For some, aging may bring on — or rekindle — an eating disorder.

Most people who develop eating disorders — an estimated 90% — are female. Typically associated with adolescents and young women, eating disorders also affect middle-aged or elderly women — although, until fairly recently, not much was known about prevalence in this older age group.

Secrecy and shame are part of the disorder, and women may not seek help. This is particularly true if they fear being forced to gain unwanted weight or stigmatized as an older woman with a "teenager's disease."

Despite underdiagnosis of eating disorders ...

Anxiety can fuel a gambling problem. A book offers advice.

Gambling and anxiety often go hand in hand. The 2001–2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, as well as other research, suggests that among people with the most severe type of gambling problems — what mental health professionals label pathological gambling — more than 11% are dealing with a generalized anxiety disorder, almost 15% are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, nearly 22% are dealing with a panic disorder, and 52% are struggling with a specific phobia.

Many people gamble as a way of managing anxiety. As they gamble, ...

A large study suggests the caffeinated version may boost mood.

In the United States, 90% of adults consume caffeine on a regular basis — most often by drinking coffee. A study suggests that coffee not only wakes people up, but also may offer some protection against depression. What's less clear is why this might be.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital analyzed data collected from nearly 51,000 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study, all free of depression in 1996. The researchers then determined how many of the women had developed depression ...

Medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder does not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in adults.

An analysis of Medicaid data showed an increase in spending on depression care, mainly on medications.

Q. My father-in-law was just diagnosed with vascular dementia. The doctor said heart disease probably contributed to the problem. What exactly is vascular dementia, and how can I help my husband avoid the same fate?

A. The word "dementia" means "deprived of mind." It's a catchall term that covers the memory loss, confusion, changes in personality, and dwindling ability to perform everyday activities that affect millions of older people. One main cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, a progressive accumulation of tangles and clumps of protein in and around brain cells. These tangles and clumps make it difficult for brain ...