The Weekly Mind Reader: Turkish Earthquake Survivors, Fructose and Alzheimer's, Zombie Drugs

Here’s a roundup of all the science and news related to psychiatry, neurology, and CNS disorders highlighted by Front of Mind News this week. 

Monday

The death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Turkey stands at more than 40,000, while neighboring Syria has reported nearly 6,000 deaths. But what about the survivors? A study that couldn’t be more timely just published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry looking at the effects of PTSD in earthquake survivors a decade on. It’s a must read. We also reviewed a theoretical paper that suggested our evolutionary drive to eat foods high in fructose may be making our brains more susceptible to Alzheimer’s.

Tuesday

The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders published an investigation on the association between the severity of depression and asthma in the US population. One reason for the connection proposed by the researchers is that high inflammatory mediators associated with depression may have a pathogenic role in asthma. And if you think calming a cranky toddler with a phone is a good idea, think again. You’re probably setting the stage for future tantrums, a new study warned. 

Wednesday

We said goodbye to the father of pediatric psychopharmacology and a long-time member of the JCP editorial board, Joseph Biederman, MD. This In Memoriam by his respected colleagues reflects on his life and legacy. For patients with bipolar disorder, resilience is a huge predictor for quality of life, a new JCP study concluded. And, for the first time, scientists were able to watch the exact instance Alzheimer’s forms in brain cells. 

Thursday

Some promising news for people trying to kick the habit. According to a PCC review, more veterans who attended smoking cessation sessions led by pharmacists were able to quit. Also, how you talk about an atypical antipsychotic to your patient actually matters. Plus, experts are sounding the alarm over a terrifying new “zombie drug” that causes skin rot and does not respond to opioid reversal treatments. 

Friday

In an investigation of more than 500,000 people, regular laxative users had a 51 percent increased risk of dementia. Published in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, the study stopped short of saying that correlation equals causation. 

Looking Ahead

Do college students procrastinate at bedtime? Sure. Does it affect their sleep? Find out next week.