In this study, researchers tracked 13 rule-breaking behaviors among 682 kids in Los Angeles for nine years and found a link between greater exposure to airborne particulate matter and an increased risk for delinquent behaviors. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, December 2017

Using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, researchers report that patients with either Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, osteoarthritis, or psoriatic arthritis have an elevated risk for developing dementia. The research team is unsure why patients with rheumatic diseases have a higher risk for dementia but suggest that increased inflammation may be…

In this study, researchers followed 86 parents of premature babies and found that both mothers and fathers had high levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva while their infant was in the hospital. However, the research team observed that after their baby came home, maternal cortisol levels stabilized while stress hormone levels increased…

Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort database, researchers found that seniors with mild-to-moderate anemia have about a 19-47% increased risk for developing dementia. Additionally, the research team also observed that patients with severe anemia have a nearly six-times greater risk for developing dementia when compared to their peers with…

Compared with those who are married, lifelong singles and widowers have a 20-42% increased risk for developing dementia. The researchers behind this finding recommend, “Dementia prevention in unmarried people should focus on education and physical health and should consider the possible effect of social engagement as a modifiable risk factor.” Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and…

Previous studies have noted that vitamin D deficiency increases one’s risk for a number of negative health outcomes. Now, a new study involving mice indicates that vitamin D deficiency also makes it more difficult to cope with stress. In the study, researchers fed mice either a normal diet or a vitamin D-poor diet for ten…

The results of a new survey suggest that individuals who were spanked as children face a greater risk for certain mental health problems later in life. The survey, which included over 8,300 adults, revealed that 55% were spanked during childhood at least a few times each year. Those who were spanked were 37% more likely…

After controlling for individual factors, French researchers report that older women living in deprived neighborhoods appear to have a 1.29-times greater risk for dementia and a 1.42-times increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, November 2017

Past research has linked the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brain with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, researchers analyzed spinal fluid samples from 208 older men and women without dementia and found signs that indicated the presence of brain plaque in the samples taken from those with sleep apnea. This concerns…

In this study, researchers in the United Kingdom followed 145 newly-diagnosed Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients for 36 months and found that those with poorer vitamin D levels at baseline experienced more severe motor difficulties by the end of the study. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, October 2017