Not a day goes by without a significant depression-related announcement. Yesterday, one could read that Older Women More Likely to Suffer Depression (than Older Men; in the Washington Post). Today, we see that St. Jude Starting Trial On Brain Stimulation For Depression (CNN). A few days ago, Blue Cross of California Launched Maternity Depression Program (press release).
Time to step back and ask ourselves questions such as, "What is going On", "What is Depression", "What Treatments Work, and What is the Latest Research". Fortunately, thanks to our collaboration with Greater Good Magazine, Jill Suttie offers a fascinating answers to those questions-and more. Enjoy.
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Closing the Circuit
Helen Mayberg's research could revolutionize depression treatment.
--- By Jill Suttie.
At some point in their lives, 5 to 12 percent of American men and 10-25 percent of women will suffer an episode of depression, making it the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder today. Unlike normal sadness, which passes with time, depression feels unstoppable and causes people to lose interest in nearly all activities. Because it affects a person's ability to eat, sleep, work, and function normally, it exacts a huge cost on the economy, estimated at $30 billion dollars annually. The cost in human suffering cannot be measured.
Millions of people diagnosed with depression turn to medication as a treatment, and many of the most popular Continue Reading »
Roundup of recent articles:
1) Awards
-Very smart brains: Fun Slate article, Seven Ingenious Rules: How to become a MacArthur genius, once the 24 new MacArthur Fellows were announced (Dear reader: if you are a past, present or future winner, please forgive me for the title).
-The Tech Museum of Innovation Announces 2007 Awards (we had been nominated, didn't win).
2) Encouraging for the whole field: NASDAQ and NeuroInsights Launching Neurotech Index.
3) Cognitive Training Products: Hype or Hope for Maintaining Independence?.
Great June article we had missed, including a link to a 23-page PDF overview: Intellectual Functioning in Adulthood: Growth, Maintenance, Decline and Modifiability by K. Warner Shaie & Sherry L. Willis (San Francisco: American Society on Aging, 2005).
4) Military Backs Reforms: "The military will expand psychological screening for both new recruits and active-duty service members, and will make safeguarding mental health part of the core training for leaders".
5) Ed Boyden, who leads the MIT leads the Neuroengineering and Neuromedia Group, has a new neurotechnology blog.
6) More blog carnivals: Education, Tangled Bank (Science).
Zack Lynch from NeuroInsights reminds us that the earlybird registration for the Neurotech Industry Investing and Business conference is about to expire. You can register by April 13th to save $300.
Conference Details:
Date: May 17 - 18, 2007
Location: Westin San Francisco, Millbrae, CA
Highly recommended conference for anyone working on biotech, medical devices, diagnostics and neurotechnology in general, and with added value for anyone interested in learning more about science-based Brain Fitness thanks to what we hope will be a groundbreaking panel:
Title: Brain Fitness Through Software and Neurofeedback
Thursday May 17th, 4.45-5.30pm
Description: Spurred by the discovery of neuroplasticity, the aging baby boomer population and demand for safe treatments for childhood ADHD, software companies, large and small, are venturing into the realm of Continue Reading »
