An analysis of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data found that individuals with more severe depressive symptoms tend to report higher levels of social isolation at a later time point. In turn, individuals who are more socially isolated tend to report slightly worse cognitive functioning. Analyses showed that social isolation mediates a small part of the link between depressive symptoms and worse cognitive functioning. The paper was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, and feelings of hopelessness that interfere with daily functioning. It adversely affects the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It can lead to difficulties in work, relationships, and self-care.

People with depression may experience fatigue, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbances. Concentration and decision-making can become harder, reducing productivity and motivation. Physical symptoms such as pain, headaches, or digestive issues may also appear without clear medical causes.

Depression can diminish the ability to enjoy previously pleasurable activities, leading to social withdrawal. This isolation can worsen depressive symptoms, creating a cycle of loneliness and despair. Social isolation itself is both a risk factor for developing depression and a common consequence of it.

Study author Jia Fang and her colleagues note that depressed individuals also tend to show worse cognitive functioning. They conducted a study aiming to explore the likely causal direction underpinning the longitudinal association between depressive symptoms and cognitive decline, and a possible mediating role social isolation has in this link among Chinese adults aged 45 years and above. These authors hypothesized that social isolation mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive function.

Study authors analyzed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). CHARLS is a nationally representative longitudinal survey of Chinese residents aged 45 and above. This analysis used CHARLS data from three waves in 2013, 2015, and 2018, including a total of 9,220 participants. 51.4% were women. Participants’ average age was 58 years.

The authors of the study used data on participants’ depressive symptoms (the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), social isolation, and cognitive function (assessed with tests of contextual memory and mental integrity). A social isolation score was calculated based on four factors: being unmarried (single, separated, divorced, or widowed), living alone, having less than weekly contact with children (in person, via phone, or email), and not participating in any social activities in the past month.

Results showed that depressive symptoms were associated with subsequent social isolation. Social isolation, in turn, was associated with subsequent worse cognitive functioning. Further analyses showed that social isolation partially mediated the link between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning, explaining 3.1% of the total effect.

The study authors concluded that the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive function is partially mediated by social isolation. They suggest that public health initiatives targeting depressive symptoms in older adults could reduce social isolation and help maintain cognitive health in middle-aged and older adults in China.

The study sheds light on the nature of the link between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning. However, it should be noted that the design of the study does not allow definitive causal inferences to be derived from these results. Additionally, social isolation was assessed through self-reports, leaving room for reporting bias to have affected the results. Finally, the reported mediation effect was very modest in size, indicating that the link between depression and cognitive functioning depends much more on factors other than social isolation.

The paper, “Social isolation mediates association between depressive symptoms and cognitive function: Evidence from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study,” was authored by Jia Fang, Wencan Cheng, Huiyuan Li, Chen Yang, Ni Zhang, Baoyi Zhang, Ye Zhang, and Meifen Zhang.

An analysis of massive cognitive and neuroimaging databases indicated that more education was associated with better memory, larger intracranial volume, and slightly larger volumes of memory-sensitive brain regions. However, contrary to popular theories, education did not appear to protect against the rate of age-related memory decline, nor did it weaken the effects of brain decline on cognition. The paper was published in Nature Medicine.

As people reach advanced age, they tend to start gradually losing their mental abilities. This is called age-related cognitive decline. It typically affects functions such as memory, attention, processing speed, and problem-solving. This decline is a normal part of aging and differs from more serious conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Many older adults notice mild forgetfulness, slower thinking, or difficulty learning new information. Biological changes in the brain, such as reduced neural activity and decreased blood flow, contribute to this process. Lifestyle factors like lack of physical activity, poor diet, and chronic stress can accelerate cognitive aging.

On the other hand, regular mental stimulation, social engagement, and physical exercise can help maintain cognitive health. Adequate sleep and managing conditions like hypertension or diabetes also play a role in slowing decline. The rate and severity of decline vary greatly among individuals. Some people maintain sharp cognitive abilities well into old age, while others experience noticeable difficulties.

Study author Anders M. Fjell and his colleagues note that leading theories propose that education reduces brain decline related to aging and enhances tolerance to brain pathology. Other theories propose that education does not affect cognitive decline but instead reflects higher early-life cognitive function. With this in mind, they conducted a study aiming to resolve this long-standing debate.

They conducted a large-scale mega-analysis of data from multiple longitudinal cohorts, including the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the Lifebrain consortium. In total, they analyzed over 407,000 episodic memory scores from more than 170,000 participants across 33 countries. For the neuroimaging component, they analyzed 15,157 magnetic resonance imaging scans with concurrent memory tests from 6,472 participants across seven countries. In their analyses, they defined brain decline as reductions over time in memory-sensitive brain regions within the same participant.

Results showed that while older age was associated with lower memory scores, the association between education level and the rate of memory decline was negligible. Individuals with a higher education level tended to have better memory throughout their lives but did not differ from their less-educated peers in the speed with which their memory declined as they aged.

Individuals with more education also tended to have a larger intracranial volume (a proxy for maximum brain size developed early in life) and slightly larger volumes of memory-sensitive brain regions.

“In this large-scale, geographically diverse longitudinal mega-analytic study, we found that education is related to better episodic memory and larger intracranial volume and modestly to memory-sensitive brain regions. These associations are established early in life and not driven by slower brain aging or increased resilience to structural brain changes. Therefore, effects of education on episodic memory function in aging likely originate earlier in life,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of factors affecting age-related cognitive decline by providing strong evidence that education provides a “head start” rather than acting as a shield against decline. The research focused on episodic memory because it is particularly sensitive to the effects of aging and is a key indicator in dementia research. Sensitivity analyses on other cognitive tests, such as numeric skills and orientation, showed the same pattern, strengthening the study’s main conclusion.

The paper, “Reevaluating the role of education on cognitive decline and brain aging in longitudinal cohorts across 33 Western countries,” was authored by Anders M. Fjell, Ole Rogeberg, Øystein Sørensen, Inge K. Amlien, David Bartrés-Faz, Andreas M. Brandmaier, Gabriele Cattaneo, Sandra Düzel, Håkon Grydeland, Richard N. Henson, Simone Kühn, Ulman Lindenberger, Torkild Hovde Lyngstad, Athanasia M. Mowinckel, Lars Nyberg, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Cristina Solé-Padullés, Markus H. Sneve, Javier Solana, Marie Strømstad, Leiv Otto Watne, Kristine B. Walhovd, and Didac Vidal-Piñeiro.

A study of men seeking help for delayed or premature ejaculation in Italy found that those suffering from delayed ejaculation tended to have more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms, and lower sexual desire than men suffering from premature ejaculation. They also tended to be older. The paper was published in IJIR: Your Sexual Medicine Journal.

Premature ejaculation is a sexual condition in which a man reaches orgasm and ejaculates sooner than desired, often within a minute of penetration or with minimal stimulation. It can lead to frustration, anxiety, and reduced sexual satisfaction for both partners. The causes may include psychological factors such as stress, depression, or relationship problems, as well as biological ones like hormonal imbalances or nerve sensitivity.

In contrast, delayed ejaculation is the persistent difficulty or inability to reach orgasm and ejaculate despite adequate sexual stimulation. This condition can also cause emotional distress, relationship strain, and decreased confidence. Delayed ejaculation may result from psychological issues, nerve damage, certain medications, or chronic health conditions such as diabetes. Both conditions are forms of ejaculatory disorders and sexual dysfunction. They can occur occasionally or become chronic depending on underlying causes.

Study author Fausto Negri and his colleagues note that many men experiencing ejaculatory disorders have difficulty expressing their negative feelings and that sexuality and emotional expression are closely connected. With this in mind, they conducted a study aiming to define specific clinical and psychological profiles of individuals suffering from premature and delayed ejaculation and to investigate the association between delayed ejaculation and other domains of sexual functioning.

Study participants were 555 men who were seeking medical help for ejaculation disorders. 76 of them reported for delayed ejaculation, while the rest of them sought help for premature ejaculation. Participants’ average age was approximately 45 years. 53% of participants with delayed ejaculation reported having a stable partner, and this was the case with 64% of participants with premature ejaculation.

Participants completed assessments of erectile function (the International Index of Erectile Function) and depression (the Beck Depression Inventory). Researchers also measured levels of various hormones and collected other medical and demographic information about the participants.

Results showed that participants suffering from delayed ejaculation were older than participants suffering from premature ejaculation (average age of 47 years vs 44 years). They also more often suffered from other disorders. Participants with delayed ejaculation also tended to have more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety. Their sexual desire tended to be lower, as were their orgasmic function scores, compared to participants with premature ejaculation. The two groups did not differ in relationship status, waist circumference, body mass index, or levels of examined hormones.

“Roughly one of ten men presenting for self-reported ejaculatory dysfunction as their main complaint in the real-life setting suffers from DE [delayed ejaculation]. Usually, they are older than men with primary PE [premature ejaculation] and overall less healthy. Likewise, they depict an overall poorer quality of sexual life, with lower SD [sexual desire] and OF [orgasmic function]. Moreover, men with DE have higher chances to report clinically significant depression and anxiety, which significantly impact their overall sexual satisfaction,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the differences in psychological characteristics between people with different forms of ejaculation disorders. However, it should be noted that the design of the study does not allow any causal inferences to be derived from the results. Additionally, all participants came from the same clinical center. Results on men from other geographical areas might differ.

The paper, “Men with delayed ejaculation report lower sexual satisfaction and more depressive symptoms than those with premature ejaculation: findings from a cross-sectional study,” was authored by Fausto Negri, Christian Corsini, Edoardo Pozzi, Massimiliano Raffo, Alessandro Bertini, Gabriele Birolini, Alessia d’Arma, Luca Boeri, Francesco Montorsi, Michael L. Eisenberg, and Andrea Salonia.

An analysis of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study combined with weather and air pollution information showed that exposure to heatwaves, air pollution, and lack of access to blue spaces are all associated with an increased risk of depression. The increase in depression risk was even higher in individuals simultaneously exposed to these factors. The paper was published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Climate change refers to long-term alterations in global temperatures, weather patterns, and ecosystems. It is understood that currently observed climate changes are mainly driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, industrial emissions, and deforestation. These processes release large amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, trapping heat in the atmosphere and disrupting natural climate systems. As a result, the planet experiences more frequent heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires.

Air pollution, which often comes from the same sources that cause climate change, adds another layer of harm by degrading air quality and contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Fine particulate matter and toxic pollutants can adversely affect brain health as well. Extreme weather events linked to climate change can create massive devastation, triggering physical and psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and long-lasting psychological distress for those affected.

Chronic exposure to uncertainty about the environment fuels eco-anxiety, a growing concern especially among young people. Communities facing displacement or loss of livelihoods due to environmental degradation may suffer from grief and helplessness. The psychological burden is particularly heavy on farmers, children, and low-income populations with limited access to healthcare.

The study’s authors, Weiqi Wang and his colleagues, wanted to investigate the individual and joint impacts of heatwaves, air pollutants, and access to blue and green spaces on depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older Chinese populations.

They analyzed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). CHARLS is a national survey in China focused on the issue of population aging, encompassing data from individuals aged 45 and older. It was started with a survey in 2011 and included four additional surveys conducted up to 2020. In each of these follow-up surveys, the study recruited a small number of additional participants.

The data analyzed in this study came from 12,316 participants across 124 cities in 28 of 31 provinces of China. The number of participants per city ranged between 51 and 211. Participants’ average age was approximately 58 years. About 53% were men, and 58% lived in rural areas.

This study used data on depressive symptoms from the CHARLS dataset (assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), and air pollution data (concentrations of ground-level pollutants CO, SO₂, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀ derived from the China High Air Pollutants (CHAP) dataset), data on heatwave exposure (based on maximum daily temperature data during the warm season from monitoring stations across China, provided by the United States Air Force Weather Agency), and exposure to green and blue spaces (based on the degree of vegetation cover and the proportion of open water bodies in a city).

Green spaces are areas of land covered with vegetation such as parks, gardens, forests, and grasslands that provide natural environments within urban or rural settings. Blue spaces are natural or artificial water environments like rivers, lakes, seas, and fountains.

Results indicated that exposure to heatwaves was associated with a 4-14% increase in the odds of depression. Likewise, exposure to air pollution was also associated with depression risk. The authors reported that for every 10 μg/m³ increase in ambient concentrations of PM_2.5 particles, the odds of depression increased by 25%. The increase was 13% per the same unit increase in PM₁₀ particle concentrations, 1% for CO, while the odds increased 55% for every 10 μg/m³ increase in SO₂ concentrations.

The risk of depression was also heightened in areas where access to blue spaces was lower. The study found a synergistic effect: individuals simultaneously exposed to both heatwaves and high air pollution, or to heatwaves combined with a lack of green and blue spaces, had a significantly higher increase in depression risk than would be expected from adding the individual risks together.

“The findings indicate that heatwaves, air pollution, and lack of blue spaces each independently have a detrimental impact on depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the interactive effects of air contaminants, insufficient blue and green spaces, and heatwaves exposure significantly affect depressive symptoms, both on multiplicative and additive scales. Our results emphasize the necessity of developing public health strategies to curb air pollution, and preserve blue and green spaces, especially during periods of heatwaves,” study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the links between climate and mental health. However, it should be noted that the design of this study does not allow any definitive causal inferences to be derived from the results.

The paper, “Individual and combined effects of heatwaves, air pollution, green spaces, and blue spaces on depressive symptoms incidence,” was authored by Weiqi Wang, Yuqing Hao, Meiyu Peng, Jin Yan, Longzhu Xu, Haiyang Yu, Zhugen Yang, and Fanyu Meng.

A meta-analytic study looking into the safety and efficacy of LSD for treating mental health disorders found that its effectiveness largely depends on the type of disorder. While the analysis found no conclusive evidence for treating anxiety or depression, the analyzed studies indicated that LSD has a small but statistically significant positive effect when used to treat substance use disorders. The paper was published in Psychiatry Research.

LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is a powerful hallucinogenic drug first synthesized in 1938 by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann. It is derived from lysergic acid, a substance found in the ergot fungus that grows on rye and other grains.

LSD is known for its profound psychological effects, called a “trip,” which can include visual and auditory hallucinations, an altered sense of time, and intense emotional experiences. It is usually taken orally, on small pieces of paper called “blotters” that are soaked in the drug. The effects typically begin within 30 to 90 minutes after ingestion and can last up to 12 hours. The experience can be pleasant or frightening depending on the user’s mood, environment, and dose. LSD does not cause physical addiction, but it can lead to psychological dependence and tolerance. Some users report lasting changes in perception, such as visual distortions or flashbacks, long after use.

In most countries, LSD is classified as an illegal substance due to its potent effects and potential risks. Despite this, it is being studied for potential therapeutic uses in treating anxiety, depression, and addiction under controlled medical conditions.

Study authors Maria Helha Fernandes-Nascimento and her colleagues wanted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LSD in the treatment of various mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders in patients over 18 years of age. They conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis, a method that involves statistically integrating the findings of multiple previous studies.

These authors searched nine databases of scientific publications, including Embase, PubMed, and Scopus, to find studies conducted on adults that investigated the efficacy and safety of LSD. They focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs)—studies where researchers actively assign participants to receive either LSD or a control treatment. They excluded observational studies where researchers only recorded participants’ pre-existing use of LSD.

Their initial search identified 3,133 records. However, after removing duplicates and publications that did not meet their strict criteria, they ended up with a set of 11 studies to be included in the analysis. All of these 11 studies were double-blind, meaning that neither the participants nor the researchers administering the treatment knew who was receiving LSD versus a control substance (like a placebo or a different active drug).

Results showed that LSD administration was associated with a small, statistically significant beneficial effect on substance use disorders. Notably, the effects on substance use disorders reported by different studies were very consistent with one another, which increases confidence in this particular finding.

Regarding safety, the authors noted that the evidence was difficult to interpret. While five of the 11 studies (45%) did not report any adverse events, the paper suggests this may reflect poor reporting standards in the older trials rather than an actual absence of side effects. Other studies in the analysis did report adverse events, including serious ones such as acute anxiety and delusions during an LSD session, seizures, and cases requiring extended hospitalization.

“The effectiveness of LSD appears to vary significantly depending on the type of mental disorder treated. Results suggest a positive effect on substance use disorders. High heterogeneity requires caution and highlights the need for more double-blind RCTs [randomized controlled trials],” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the exploration of the potential use of LSD in treating mental health disorders. However, the authors note that most of the studies included in their analysis were conducted in the 1960s and 1970s, with only three studies conducted in more recent years, underscoring a need for modern research.

The paper, “Efficacy and Safety of LSD in the treatment of mental and substance use disorders: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials,” was authored by Maria Helha Fernandes-Nascimento, Priscila Weber, and Andre Brooking Negrao.