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Red Meat Tied to Cognitive Decline, Neurology Study Finds
Source: United Press International - Health NewsEating red meat—especially processed meat such as bacon and sausage—increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, a new study suggests. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was published Wednesday in Neurology, journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study adds to earlier results linking red meat to a higher risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Processed meats also increase the risk of...
FDA Releases Proposal to Make Cigarettes Less Addictive
Source: PBS HealthU.S. officials released a far-reaching proposal Wednesday to make cigarettes far less addictive by capping their nicotine content, a goal long sought by antismoking advocates. The FDA said Wednesday that cutting nicotine would help nearly 13 million current smokers quit cigarettes within one year. Roughly 48 million more young people would never take up the habit because cigarettes would essentially become nonaddictive, according to agency...
Global Study Pinpoints Genes for Depression Across Ethnicities
Source: Science Daily - Top HealthThe world's largest and most diverse genetic study ever conducted on major depression has revealed nearly 300 previously unknown genetic links to the condition, experts say. One hundred of the newly discovered genetic variations—small differences in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene—were identified due to the inclusion of people of African, East Asian, Hispanic, and South Asian descent, the study found. The results appear in the research...
Almost Half of Americans Over 55 Face Dementia Risk
Source: Google News - HealthNew research finds that the lifetime risk of dementia after age 55 in Americans is 42%—significantly higher than previous estimates. Dementia involves progressive declines in memory, concentration, and judgment. Women face a higher risk than men (48% vs. 35%), a difference attributable in part to their longer life expectancy. The risk factors for dementia include genetic predisposition, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and limited physical...
U.S. House Passes Ban on Transgender Students in Girls Sports
Source: CBS News - U.S. NewsThe U.S. House passed a Republican measure on Tuesday banning transgender girls and women from competing on school sports teams that match their gender identity. The bill, called the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act," would amend Title IX, the federal law banning sex discrimination in schools, to define a person's sex as "based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth." Schools defying the ban risk losing...
Biden Signs Executive Order Seeking to Grow AI Infrastructure
Source: PBS SciencePresident Joe Biden on Tuesday signed an ambitious executive order on artificial intelligence that seeks to ensure the infrastructure needed for advanced AI operations, such as large-scale data centers and clean power facilities, can be built quickly and at scale in the U.S. The order directs federal agencies to accelerate large-scale AI infrastructure development at government sites, while imposing requirements and safeguards at the same time.
Supreme Court Allows Hawaii Climate Lawsuits Against Oil and Gas Industry
Source: CBS News - U.S. NewsThe U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said it will not consider whether to block lawsuits brought by Honolulu seeking billions of dollars from oil and gas companies for the damage caused by the effects of climate change, clearing the way for the cases to move forward. The lawsuits claim that the oil and gas industry engaged in a deceptive campaign and misled the public about the dangers of their fossil fuel products and the environmental impacts.
How Wildfire Smoke Exposure Affects Physical and Mental Health
Source: Huff Post Environment The wildfires blazing in California aren't just dangerous for the people and wildlife at risk of being burned, but also for those nearby who are exposed to heavy smoke. And because smoke can travel long distances, even people thousands of miles away from the fires can feel their effects, some of which may be long-lasting. For example, wildfire smoke can affect pregnancies and is thought to be a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Robotic Puppy "Jennie" Designed to Boost Mental Health
Source: United Press International - Health NewsEmotional support dogs can serve people with various mental health needs, but many of them can't care for an animal at home. That's where Tombot comes in. The company has designed a robotic puppy to aid individuals, families, and communities in dealing with health adversities. This week, Tombot unveiled Jennie, its battery-operated Labrador retriever puppy intended to help people with dementia, autism, anxiety, PTSD, and other health conditions.
Blackrock Quits Climate Change Group in Latest Green Climbdown
Source: Google News - HealthBlackRock has become the latest financial firm to quit a big climate change industry group in the wake of Donald Trump's election as U.S. president. The world's largest money manager told clients in a letter on Thursday that it had quit Net Zero Asset Managers. All six of the largest U.S. banks—JPMorgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs—have recently quit Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a similar group...
Artificial Intelligence Could Make IVF More Successful, Study Suggests
Source: United Press International - Health NewsArtificial intelligence might be able to boost the success rates of in vitro fertilization among hopeful families. An AI program can help doctors analyze ultrasound scans to determine the best timing for a hormone injection associated with egg collection, researchers reported Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications. Getting the timing right can optimize the number of eggs retrieved and improve the odds of having a successful pregnancy.
Is It Still "Social Media" If It's Overrun by Artificial Intelligence?
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Company - World NewsBack in 2010, a 26-year-old Mark Zuckerberg shared his vision for Facebook: "The primary thing that we focus on all day long is how to help people share and stay connected with their friends, family and the people in the community," Zuckerberg said. Now, Facebook's parent company Meta has a new vision: characters powered by AI existing alongside actual friends and family. Some experts caution that this could mark the end of social media as we...
In Sudan's Vicious Civil War, U.S. Accuses One Side of Genocide
Source: CBS News - World NewsThe U.S. has determined that genocide has been committed by the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary and its allied militias in Sudan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. The RSF and its allies are one side in a vicious civil war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives in less than two years. In his statement, Blinken called the war a "conflict of unmitigated brutality that has resulted in the world's largest humanitarian...
Caregivers Face Rising Physical and Mental Health Risks, Study Finds
Source: United Press International - Health NewsMore and more adults are stuck in the middle of their families, caring not only for their kids but for aging parents and other older family members. The mental and physical health of these "sandwich carers" is more likely to deteriorate over time, suggests a new study published in the journal Public Health. The study analyzed data from about 2,000 sandwich carers, comparing them with 2,000 people who only care for a child younger than 16.
Pentagon Agrees to Historic Legal Settlement with LGBTQ+ Veterans
Source: CBS News - U.S. NewsThe Pentagon has reached a historic legal settlement with more than 35,000 gay and lesbian military veterans who were dismissed because of their sexual orientation, and in many cases denied an honorable discharge and various services they had earned, CBS News has learned. Veterans can now have their paperwork reissued without reference to their sexuality, and if they were denied an honorable discharge, they will be eligible for an immediate...
Psychology Research Collaborations Becoming More Global
Source: APA MonitorPsychological science is going global, seeking larger, more representative samples and tackling issues that go beyond WEIRD nations (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic). Technology is one factor enabling global collaborations, but equally important is a shift in the science community. In 2025, researchers predict more collaborative projects in Africa, Latin America, the Pacific Islands, and other historically...
Older Parents, Climate Change and AI: Say Hello to Generation Beta
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Company - Top Stories NewsBaby Boomers grew up in a wealthy post-war world, whereas Generation Z was raised with an iPhone in hand. More recently, Generation Alpha spent their childhood knowing the face masks and work-from-home lifestyle of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, enter Generation Beta. The newest generation is expected to grow up in a world defined by artificial intelligence, smaller families, and ongoing climate change, say experts.
Psychology Leaders Seeking to Modernize the Profession
Source: APA MonitorThough psychology has historically been a doctoral-level field, APA's elected and appointed leaders are creating a blueprint to become a multitiered profession that embraces the training of master's-level psychology professionals who can help meet an unprecedented demand for mental health services. The goals are to build consistency for the field and improve public access to care that is rooted in psychological science.
How Artificial Intelligence Is Impacting the Field of Psychology
Source: APA MonitorAs artificial intelligence is driving what some call the fourth industrial revolution, its power and potential have wrought excitement and fear across nearly every sector of society, from finance to education to psychology. In response, psychologists have begun developing, testing, and integrating AI tools into the discipline and beyond, and in August of 2024, APA released a policy statement entitled "Artificial Intelligence and the Field of...
Psychological Tips From Conflict Zones to Deal With Incivility
Source: APA MonitorIncivility is surging across the United States, seeping into workplaces and online spaces. Researchers who focus on psychology within conflict zones and fractured societies have science-backed methods to help challenge misconceptions, focus on shared values, and increase social connections in a way that promotes civility. Here's what the latest research says about how incivility starts and what you can do to alleviate it.

Psychology in the News