Science News from 2013

NIMH Twitter Chat on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Science Update • April 26, 2013

Looking for more information and the latest findings on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? Join NIMH’s Ben Vitiello on Twitter for a chat about this topic.

Suppressing Protein May Stem Alzheimer’s Disease Process

Press Release • April 25, 2013

Scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health have discovered a potential strategy for developing treatments to stem the disease process in Alzheimer’s disease, by blocking activity of a little-known regulator protein called CD33.

Fat-free See-through Brain Bares All

Press Release • April 10, 2013

Scientists can now study the brain’s finer workings, while preserving its 3-D structure and integrity of its circuitry using a breakthrough method, called CLARITY, that substitutes a clear gel for fat that normally holds the brain’s working components in place, making its normally opaque and impenetrable tissue see-through and permeable.

New NIH Funding for Two Autism Centers of Excellence

Press Release • April 02, 2013

The National Institutes of Health announced new funding for two Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE), bringing to eleven the number of ACE centers now being funded for up to five years.

Autism Risk Unrelated to Total Vaccine Exposure in Early Childhood

Science Update • March 29, 2013

Autism Not Linked to Early Vaccines

NIH Study Shows People with Serious Mental Illnesses Can Lose Weight

Press Release • March 21, 2013

Losing weight is challenging for everyone. It can be particularly difficult for someone with a serious mental illness. An NIMH-funded clinical study proves that a modified diet and exercise program can work for people with serious mental illnesses. Participants lost 7 pounds more than controls—and continued to lose weight.

Prevalence of Parent-reported Autism

Science Update • March 20, 2013

Prevalence of Parent-reported Autism

Developing Male Brain Exposed to Less Stress-Protective Protein

Science Update • March 12, 2013

Why are rates of schizophrenia and autism higher in males? New evidence implicates an enzyme expressed in the placenta that helps protect the developing fetal brain from adverse effects of maternal stress early in pregnancy.

Twitter Chat on The Teen Brain—NIMH Experts Discuss Brain Awareness Week

Science Update • March 12, 2013

Miss the Twitter chat on the teen brain and Brain Awareness Week? Read the transcript.

Students Explore the Wonders of the Brain

Press Release • March 11, 2013

As part of the National Museum of Health and Medicine museum’s 14th annual Brain Awareness Week celebration, several hundred curious students from the Washington, D.C., area will have a chance to learn about what goes on inside the human brain, through a series of interactive exhibits led by scientists from eight institutes of the National Institutes of Health.

NIMH’s Dr. Aleksandra Vicentic: Sleep Brain Wave Key to Conquering Fear Memories

Science Update • March 08, 2013

An NIMH-funded research study in rats identifies a specific group of cells in the brainstem whose activation during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep helped in eradicating unwanted memories, paving the way for future therapeutics for these disorders.

NIH-funded Study Finds Community-based Efforts Increase HIV Testing, Prompt Behavior Change

Press Release • March 07, 2013

An international study supported by NIMH reported today that community efforts, in comparison to standard clinical testing and counseling, yielded greater testing and lower HIV incidence in high-risk individuals.

Five Major Mental Disorders Share Genetic Roots

Science Update • March 01, 2013

Five major mental disorders share some of the same genetic risk factors, the largest genome-wide study of its kind has found.

Five Major Mental Disorders Share the Same Genes

Science Update • February 28, 2013

Largest study yet into genetics and mental health reveal that the five most common disorders—autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disease, schizophrenia, and major depression—all share similar genetic components.

Mapping Brain Circuits Provides Clues to Schizophrenia, Earlier Detection of Psychosis

Science Update • February 26, 2013

A newly identified brain circuit could lead to earlier detection of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia.

Differences in On/Off Switches Help Explain How the Human Brain Evolved

Science Update • February 19, 2013

A recent NIMH-funded study identified small regions of the genome that are uniquely regulated in human neurons, but not in primate neurons. The findings provide insight into human intellectual function and risk for human diseases, including autism and Alzheimer’s disease.

Science/AAAS Webinar on Translational Neuroscience Research Featuring NIMH’s Carlos A. Zarate, M.D.

Science Update • February 14, 2013

Want to know how the latest findings in neuroscience research go from bench to bedside? NIMH and Science/AAAS partnered to produce an informative webinar on translating neurobiological research into treatments.

NIMH Director Thomas R. Insel Received AMA’s Top Government Service Award

Science Update • February 13, 2013

The American Medical Association feted Thomas Insel M.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health, with its top government service award.

Threat Bias Interacts with Combat, Gene to Boost PTSD Risk

Press Release • February 13, 2013

Excess attention to avoidance of threat – depending on the situation – can increase risk for PTSD, suggests a new study.

Long-term Course of ADHD Diagnosed in Preschool Years Can be Chronic and Severe

Science Update • February 12, 2013

Long-term Course of ADHD Diagnosed in Preschool Years Can be Chronic and Severe

Precursor Symptoms to Autism Detected in 6-Month-Old Infants

Science Update • February 11, 2013

Some autism symptoms can be seen in 6-month-old infants, possibly leading to even earlier intervention for this disorder.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the State of Mental Health Care in the United States

Science Update • February 05, 2013

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius discusses state of U.S. mental health care, commemorates JFK’s speech on the topic 50 years ago.

Imaging Biomarker Predicts Response to Rapid Antidepressant

Press Release • February 04, 2013

A boost of activity in visual cortex at the back of the brain, triggered by the processing of emotional information, predicted depressed patients’ responses to a rapid-acting antidepressant.

Brain Imaging Predicts Psychotherapy Success in Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder

Science Update • February 01, 2013

Brain imaging might soon predict which treatment options would work best for patients with social phobia.

50 years ago, President John F. Kennedy Sent a Special Message to Congress About the State of Mental Health

Science Update • January 29, 2013

Fifty years ago, President John F. Kennedy addressed Congress about the state of mental health—and changed the way Americans view mental health care.

Leading Neurobiologist Appointed NIMH Scientific Director

Press Release • January 24, 2013

Renowned neurobiologist Susan Amara recently joined NIMH as scientific director of its intramural research program.

Study Documents that Some Children Lose Autism Diagnosis

Press Release • January 15, 2013

An NIH-supported study has confirmed that some children who are accurately diagnosed in early childhood with autism lose the symptoms and the diagnosis as they grow older.

Emergency Department Suicide Screening Tool Accurately Predicts At Risk Youth

Science Update • January 04, 2013

Time-crunched ER nurses and doctors can use four questions to screen youth at risk for attempting suicide.

Different Genes, Same Risk Pathway in Schizophrenia

Science Update • January 02, 2013

Work by NIMH-supported scientists illustrates the variability of the genes and biology underlying illnesses like schizophrenia.