Most people think hemp and marijuana are the only plants that contain cannabinoids. But it turns out, cannabinoid-like compounds are found in a variety of plants. These compounds are often referred as Phytocannabinoids.   What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?  ...

A recent study conducted by University College London has found people exposed to a lifetime of adversity may actually have a reduced ability to produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. One of the consequences of inadequate dopamine levels is a lessened ability to cope...

Trauma in childhood is associated with poor mental and physical health later in life. Those who experience childhood trauma are more likely to suffer from obesity, stroke and adult depression, amongst many other disorders. In a fascinating recent study, researchers...

A new study in Nature has found that gut microbes are essential for extinguishing the fear response in mice. This may help clinicians devise strategies for people with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study is the latest in a continuing...

Grieving for a loved one can elevate the risk of heart attack (acute myocardial infarction) by 20%, according to a study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation. Study authors found the chance of a heart attack was 21 times higher than normal...

Adversity in childhood is a major risk factor for the development of psychological and behavioural problems later in life. Sarah Baracz from Macquire University and Femke Buisman-Pijlman from University of Adelaide mention that higher rates of depression, suicidality,...

Adverse childhood experience (ACE) is a term established in a 1997 study conducted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is used to describe all types of abuse, neglect, and other potentially traumatic experiences that occur to people under 18....

Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of heart arrhythmia, around 17 million people in Europe are estimated to have this condition by next year. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and death. What causes atrial fibrillation is still...

When people feel emotional pain, the same regions of the brain get activated as when people feel physical pain. These areas of the brain are the the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex. In 2011, a study from the PNAS showed that people who recently...

Depression is a complex condition that causes a person to have low mood and feel persistently sad or hopeless. These symptoms can be a temporary experience as a result of grief or trauma. However, if symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, it can be a sign of a serious...