Microplastic pollution is altering the gut microbiomes of wild seabirds and that could be a warning sign for humans, researchers report. Scientists from McGill University in Montreal, along with colleagues from around the world, found that tiny bits of plastic present in the gastrointestinal system of seabirds have modified the gut’s microbiome. The plastics are also reducing levels of advantageous bacteria typically found within the intestines. “Our discoveries mirror the conditions experienced by wildlife. Given that humans also ingest microplastics through environmental exposure and food consumption, this study should serve as a cautionary signal,” the researchers warned. Their findings were recently published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. Scientists have long been concerned about microplastics, minute fragments of plastic about 5 mm in size found everywhere from deep in the oceans to isolated territories in Antarctica and in the fish people eat. “The gut microbiome encompasses the entire assemblage of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract, crucially involved in regulating processes such as food digestion, immune system function, central nervous system activity, and other vital bodily functions. It serves as a pivotal indicator of overall health and well-being,” study co-author Julia Baak said in a McGill news release. She’s a PhD candidate in natural resource sciences at McGill. The research team analyzed the gut microbiome of two seabird species: the northern fulmar and the…  read on >  read on >

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system and leaves patients suffering from a host of symptoms, and now new research finds life stressors can make those symptoms even worse. Poverty, abuse and divorce in childhood and adulthood can significantly impact the level of disability someone with MS experiences, according to researchers from Michigan Medicine. “MS is the leading cause of non-traumatic disability among young adults, and additional research is needed to identify these external drivers of disability that can be addressed or prevented, including stress, to improve functional outcomes,” said study co-author Dr. Tiffany Braley. She is director of the multiple sclerosis/neuroimmunology division and multidisciplinary MS Fatigue and Sleep Clinic at University of Michigan Health, in Ann Arbor. “This knowledge is needed to inform MS research as well as clinical care. Referrals to resources, such as mental health or substance use support, could help reduce the impact of stress and enhance well-being,” Braley added. For the study, the researchers used survey data from more than 700 people with MS. While the findings showed impact from both childhood and adult stressors on relapse after the start of the pandemic, the impact of childhood stress on disease lost significance when further accounting for experiences in adulthood. Studies on stress and MS that don’t focus on the whole life span may miss…  read on >  read on >

You’ve been diagnosed with depression. What’s next? The cornerstone of treatment remains antidepressants, so it’s likely your doctor will prescribe one for you, but which one might be best? You will join millions around the world who struggle with how to treat the mental health disorder. An estimated 3.8% of the global population experiences depression, according to the World Health Organization. The numbers are staggering, but when depression is left untreated, it can impair daily functioning, raise the risk of suicide and lower quality of life. Fortunately, there are many different types of antidepressants available, each with unique mechanisms of action, benefits and potential side effects. Here, experts will explore the most commonly prescribed depression medications, how they work and their common side effects. Depression medications Dr. Abid Nazeer, founder, chief medical officer and medical director of Advanced Psych Solutions in Naperville, Ill., stated, “If you don’t treat depression, there’s a risk that you may get through the day, but it will feel like a struggle. If it’s been adequately treated, you can have a much better day.” Meanwhile, Pardis Khosravi, a psychologist and clinical director at Children’s Health Council in California, said, “Depression is not something you can ‘power through’ or think your way out of with positive thoughts. It is a medical illness that left untreated can have a profound impact on your…  read on >  read on >

Be cautious when heading to Florida’s beaches this summer, an expert warned, as a 5,000-mile floating mass of sargassum seaweed has begun washing up on the state’s shores. It can be low risk in some instances, but it also has the potential for triggering serious respiratory health issues. “The sargassum itself is not dangerous. It can have different jellyfish and sea creatures in it that could be a source of sting,” said Dr. Sarah Shafer, medical toxicologist and an assistant professor in the department of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. However, “once the sargassum washes up on the beach, in 48 hours it will start to break down and lose toxic gasses. As it decomposes, we have to worry about potential exposure to humans.” Sargassum can decompose in one of several ways. It can release ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which is toxic, she explained in a college news release. Even at low levels, hydrogen sulfide can produce the smell of rotten eggs. Yet when the gas reaches a certain level, humans can become “nose-blind” and not smell it. “At low levels, it smells like rotten eggs in the air. This happens in natural hot springs, like at Yellowstone. It can cause some irritant effects,” Shafer said. “In high levels, it can cause sudden death.” This can be a concern in closed-off…  read on >  read on >

Heavy users of marijuana might face an increased risk of bipolar disorder and depression, a new study suggests. The analysis of more than 6.6 million Danish individuals found that having cannabis use disorder doubled or even tripled the odds for most forms of depression or bipolar disorder. When it came to bipolar disorder in particular, “cannabis use disorder was associated with higher risk for psychotic than non-psychotic subtypes of bipolar disorder,” the researchers noted. These results, however, cannot prove that marijuana use was the cause of these conditions, the investigators said. “Our results are compatible with the idea that cannabis may increase the risk of developing depression or bipolar disorder, but we cannot prove this for certain, since we are working with observational data,” explained lead researcher Dr. Oskar Jefsen, from the psychosis research unit at Aarhus University in Denmark. “Unequivocal evidence would require a randomized controlled trial, but this would be unethical.” Still, one expert noted that while the study can’t prove that cannabis was the cause of bipolar disorder or depression, it adds to growing evidence that the drug is not harmless. “This is a powerful and well-conducted study that adds to the emerging evidence of the added risk of cannabis regular use to the development of serious mental health disorders,” said Beatriz Carlini, director of the Cannabis Research and Education program and…  read on >  read on >

Attachment theory sounds like a complicated concept, but when you’re a parent it can sometimes boil down to a crying, clinging child who does not want to be separated from you. Put simply, attachment theory explores the lasting psychological and emotional bonds between individuals. Developed by British psychologist John Bowlby and then expanded by scientist Mary Ainsworth, think of attachment theory as a lasting feeling of connectedness between human beings. Here, experts offer insights into its core principles, stages and attachment styles. Bowlby emphasized the significance of secure infant-caregiver attachments, proposing distinct stages in attachment formation. Ainsworth’s research introduced different attachment styles. Understanding attachment theory can help you navigate relationships and emotions with greater understanding and empathy. What is attachment theory? Attachment theory is explained in a video published by students from McMaster University, in Ontario, Canada. In the video, students explain that the theory of attachment was discovered by John Bowlby, a British psychologist, back in 1969. Bowlby was trying to comprehend the intense distress experienced by infants who had been separated from their parents. Bowlby believed that behaviors such as crying and searching were adaptive responses to separation from a primary attachment figure who provides support, protection and care. Bowlby attachment theory Bowlby’s theory of attachment, as outlined in a recent article published by Simply Psychology, highlights the importance of secure attachments between…  read on >  read on >

Ketamine may be an alternative to shock treatment for people with treatment-resistant major depression, a new study suggests. Currently, patients with major depressive disorder who don’t find a medication or therapy that works may undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as shock therapy. But researchers have also been studying intravenous ketamine — a powerful anesthetic that’s also long been used as an illicit ‘party’ drug — as a potential antidepressant. They say the results of a new study were surprising. “I have to say it was a wow,” said principal investigator Dr. James Murrough, director of the Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. That isn’t to say that ketamine is superior to ECT, Murrough cautioned. This study wasn’t assessing that. What it does mean is that in this comparative effectiveness trial, “by the numbers ketamine performed very well,” Murrough said. The findings apply to patients who don’t have psychosis but have treatment-resistant major depression that has not been helped through two or three earlier medications. The main takeaway, Murrough said, is that for doctors treating these patients, ketamine is something they could consider as an alternative to ECT. “The take home from this study is there’s another option that’s in that conversation now that really wasn’t before in a meaningful way,”…  read on >  read on >