Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, appears to ease depression symptoms at least as well as one of the most commonly used antidepressants, a new clinical trial shows. Patients showed significant improvement in their depressive symptoms after taking either a single dose of psilocybin or a six-week course of the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro),…  read on >  read on >

Having a husband or boyfriend with adult ADHD can harm a woman’s mental stability, a new study suggests. About 3 in 5 women (59%) with male partners with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had symptoms of depression, a rate on par with caregivers who help loved ones deal with health problems like autism, heart rhythm disorders, Alzheimer’s…  read on >  read on >

Research in rats and hibernating squirrels has pinpointed a naturally occurring protein that appears to reverse cataracts, scientists report. Animal studies don’t always pan out in people, of course. But the discovery of the RNF114 protein raises the possibility of surgery-free cataract removal, according to a team from the U.S. National Eye Institute (NEI). “Understanding…  read on >  read on >

Antidepressants have the potential to improve memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests. Some patients experienced a boost on brain tests after taking the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro), researchers report. The drug appeared to affect a serotonin receptor in the brain called the 5HT4 receptor, according to results published recently in the journal Biological…  read on >  read on >

Diabetes can worsen the state of your gums, but a new study suggests that diabetes medications may undo some of that damage. Researchers in Japan found a positive turnaround in markers of gum well-being after people with diabetes received medication. “Promoting collaboration between medical and dental care from the early stages of diabetes can significantly…  read on >  read on >

SATURDAY, Sept. 21, 2024 (Healthday News) — Workplace anxiety. Who hasn’t experienced it? However, if that anxiety is so strong that it hurts your performance or lingers for months, you might have a problem, one expert says. Dr. Asim Shah, executive vice chair in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor Colege…  read on >  read on >

The days of waiting for a flu shot at your doctor’s office or local pharmacy may be over: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved FluMist nasal spray as the first influenza vaccine that can be self-administered at home. It’s a “new option for receiving a safe and effective seasonal influenza vaccine potentially…  read on >  read on >

Controversial fentanyl lollipops and similar products will no longer be made by drug makers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced. Known as TIRF medications, these products contain fentanyl and are used to manage breakthrough pain in cancer patients who have become tolerant to around-the-clock opioid therapy, the FDA said in a statement released…  read on >  read on >