Addiction Archive

Although executive function skills begin to develop in the first year of life, the time at which children reach these milestones varies. Some children experience challenges or delays related to their executive function skills, but these skills can be improved through evidence-based interventions.

Gender fluidity refers to changes over time in gender identity and gender expression. For many people, gender identity and expression develop early and stay the same; for others, one or both may change. Understanding and supporting young people exploring gender is important to their emotional and physical well-being.

In the journals

Many commonly used drugs have anticholinergic effects, meaning the drugs block the action of acetylcholine. Nerve cells release acetylcholine to transmit impulses to other nerves in the brain and throughout the body. Previous research has shown a link between these drugs and dementia. Now a study has found a similar link with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), especially if you take larger doses. The findings were published online Sept. 2, 2020, by Neurology.

Some medications are designed purposefully to block acetylcholine, such as those used for urinary incontinence. But more often the anticholinergic action is a side effect of drugs taken to treat conditions like allergies, colds, and depression.

Research we're watching

According to a study published in the Aug. 4, 2020, issue of Neurology, the number of new cases of dementia in Europe and North America has dropped 13% every 10 years over the past 30 years. Researchers looked at data collected by the Alzheimer's Research Consortium, which included people over age 65 in Europe and the United States.

The actual number of adults with dementia has increased dramatically in recent years as life expectancy increases. The condition currently affects some 47 million people worldwide, and that number is expected to increase in coming decades.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, some blood pressure drugs are linked to a lower risk of depression.

Like all medications, blood pressure drugs sometimes cause unwanted side effects. While many are mild and short-lived, some are more worrisome, including mood changes such as depression. But contrary to what doctors have long assumed, blood pressure drugs may not raise the risk of depression. In fact, some appear to be linked to a lower risk, according to a recent study (see "Depression rates in people taking different blood pressure drugs").

"The traditional view has been that blood pressure drugs that cross the blood-brain barrier are more likely to cause depression," says Dr. Randall -Zusman, a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Depression has also been associated with drugs known as beta blockers. But beta blockers (which work in part by slowing the heart rate) can also make you feel tired and listless, which may dampen your mood, Dr. Zusman explains.

News briefs

Need a little inspiration? The next time you take a walk outside, note things that spark a sense of wonder or awe. That's what some older adults tried for a small study published online Sept. 21, 2020, by the journal Emotion. Of the 50 people who took part, half went for weekly 15-minute walks outdoors (alone) for eight weeks, and snapped "selfies" along the way. The other half took the same walks and selfies, but visited a new place each time. They were asked, especially, to note things that inspired a sense of awe — like tree colors or leaves underfoot softened by rain. Participants also answered surveys about the emotions they felt on walk and non-walk days. After analyzing responses and photos, scientists found that people who people took the "awe walks" reported less distress and increasing awe, joy, compassion, and gratitude, compared with people on the regular walks. Awe walkers also smiled more and made themselves smaller in their photos, focusing more on landscapes — a sign of a greater appreciation of the world around them. Try it yourself: On your next walk, imagine you're seeing things for the first time. What will inspire you? Perhaps a path lined with trees, the shore of a lake, or an up-close look at skyscrapers. Jot down your observations, and see if you feel a sense of wonder and joy. Happy trails!

Image: © Igor Alecsander/Getty Images

The pandemic has made it especially hard for people with persistent depressive disorder.

Almost everyone goes through rough mental patches. You may feel down, sad, and lethargic. Most people bounce back with no problem, but if these feelings become more frequent and linger longer, you could have a mild, yet still serious form of depression called persistent depressive disorder (PDD), also known as dysthymia.

Older adults are especially vulnerable to PDD, and more so during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Dr. David Mischoulon, a psychiatrist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. "While the COVID pandemic affects everyone, older adults have experienced increased stressors like economic issues, prolonged isolation, and the threat of getting sick, all of which can trigger feelings of anxiety and depression beyond the norm."

This year has been extremely stressful for everyone, and that stress can lead to harmful habits. For those working to stay in recovery from an addiction, the challenge is even more profound. Those in this situation know that the more stressful things are, the more important it is to practice the healthy habits that sustain recovery.

In the journals

Researchers are close to finding early cancer with a blood test. They may soon do the same with Alzheimer's disease. A new blood test called p-tau217 has shown great promise in diagnosing people with the disease, according to findings published online July 28, 2020, by JAMA.

The test looks for a specific type of tau protein in the blood. In people with Alzheimer's, tau protein in the brain forms tangles. Accumulation of tau protein tangles along with beta-amyloid deposits is thought to play a key role in how the disease develops.