Mental Health

“pioneering and innovating” to faltering – and that American hegemony is partly to blame for the French decline.

Play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well.

Under the new rules insurers must cover mental treatments the same way they cover physical ailments regarding copayments, deductibles, doctor visits and hospitalizations.

Lead author of a new autism study, Dr. Young Shin Kim, talks about the findings and implications.

Food has been found to help traumatic brain injuries among military personnel in the field. Kelsey Hubbard talks to WSJ's Shirley Wang about the new nutritional recommendations from the Institute of Medicine.

Amid news that actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has sought help for Bipolar II Disorder, many are eager to know more about the condition. Dr. Igor Galynker, director of the Family Center for Bipolar Disorder at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, sheds light on the disorder. WSJ's Christina Tsuei reports.

Do you feel tired and run down during the holiday season? Do you find it hard to stay focused on the task at hand? Are you always reaching for the pot of coffee, an energy drink, or candy to get you through your day?

Stop! These quick-fix energy boosters are actually energy robbers in the long run. They reduce blood flow to the brain, and when the immediate effects wear off, make you feel even more fatigued and mentally foggy.

The next time you need an energy boost, consider some of these natural supplements that support brain health, energy, and focus.

Feel sharper, concentrate better, and stop brain fog.

Strange but true: the brain is shaped by bacteria in the digestive tract

People may advise you to listen to your gut instincts: now research suggests that your gut may have more impact on your thoughts than you ever realized. Scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the Genome Institute of Singapore led by Sven Pettersson recently reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that normal gut flora, the bacteria that inhabit our intestines, have a significant impact on brain development and subsequent adult behavior.

"For some time now, I have been writing about high fructose corn syrup and how it contributes to obesity. Thanks to a fascinating new brain imaging study, we can see what fructose does in the brain that could be part of the problem."

Scientists say certain chemicals could lower the IQ of your children.

UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital's Dr. Max Wiznitzer explains.

Five simple steps that could put you in a positive mood.

A report finds children who are pathological gamers may have more depression. Ninette Sosa reports.

An advanced MRI gives neurosurgeons real-time road map during surgery. WVIT's Diana Perez reports.

A new study says that good-looking men and women tend to be more intelligent. NBC's Keir Simmons reports.

Do video games have negative affects on children? A new study tried to find out, as Ninette Sosa reports.

A study shows the distractions of living in a city has a negative impact on people's brains.

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with an addiction specialist about a new study ranking the harmfulness of popular drugs.

"(They) divided them into groups based on their HDL or healthy cholesterol number and found that those with an HDL above 65 were at a 60% lower risk of having Alzheimer's disease. -- we know very clearly that what's good for the heart is also good for the brain and vice versa, so that's one theory."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/14/earlyshow/health/main7148433.shtml