By: Dr. Mariliis Vaht
On: 13 June 2019
A violent history: how genes and environment influence aggression
Represented by a conscious propensity to harm others against their will, aggressiveness is a complex behavior depending on which environmental conditions we have been living in, and the kind of features we have inherited from our ancestors. Humans tend to be an aggressive species. Among mammals, members of the same species cause only 0.3 percent of deaths of their conspecifics [1]. Astonishingly, in Homo sapiens the rate is nearly 7 times higher, around 2% (1 in 50)! More than 1.3 million people worldwide die each year because of violence in all of its forms (self-directed, interpersonal and collective), accounting for 2.5%...
By: Dr. Jeanette Mostert
On: 6 June 2019
Can physical exercise or light therapy help people with ADHD?
Feeling more happy after a run? Or feeling a bit blue during the dark winter days? Regular exercising and regular daylight exposure can influence your mood, behaviour and sleep-wake cycle 1,2,3. But can this also be used in a therapeutical setting, for instance in addition to or instead of the usual treatment with medication? The PROUD trial aims to investigate the potential of bright light therapy and physical exercise to improve and prevent depression and obesity in adolescents and young adults with ADHD. This clinical trial is part of the CoCA research project, in which comorbid conditions of ADHD are...
By: Margreet Bierens
On: 15 May 2019
Should we offer yoga classes as early as in kindergarten?
Yoga practice has become very popular in the last two centuries. In most western countries, yoga studios are booming. For example, Dutch practitioners are said to spent 325 million euros per year on yoga classes, clothes and events.In scientific research, yoga and it’s beneficial effects on physical and mental health, have also become a serious topic of interest. In a previous post, Hannah Kurts had already outlined the positive effects of yoga for several psychiatric disorders. Recently, the effects of yoga on cognitive performance and behavioral problems in 5-year old children have been examined. A group of Tunisian researchers offered...
By: Prokopis Konstanti
On: 12 May 2019
The bacteria in your gut affect blood insulin levels and may influence your chances of developing type 2 diabetes
Developing type 2 diabetes is for a large part influenced by your diet but also genes. However, a recent study has now shown that your gut microorganisms might also play an important role in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). The article published in Nature Genetics entitled “Causal relationships among the gut microbiome, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA’s) and metabolic diseases”, claims evidence that bacterial metabolites such as SCFA’s are able to influence insulin levels and increase the risk of getting T2D. Various studies have suggested that increased SCFA production benefits the host by exerting anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects,...
By: Dr. Margus Kanarik
On: 6 May 2019
What makes us crave (junk)food?
Why do some people have a higher craving for carbohydrate-rich and junk-food than others? Why are weight-loss programs more effective in some individuals than others? And why are some people more physically active? The dopamine system in the brain plays an important role in regulating how much you eat and whether or not you gain weight. When this system does not function optimally, people have a higher craving for junk-food, lower physical activity and unsuccessful body weight control. There are, by large, two mechanisms that determine food-related behaviour. The more direct, homeostatic, mechanism constantly surveys the body’s energetic needs and...
By: Hannah Kurtz
On: 2 May 2019
Does yoga help with psychological complaints?
The popularity of yoga practice has risen sharply in recent years. In 2006, already 2.6 million people in Germany practiced yoga regularly (1). The arguments for yoga are widely spread in the population, for example the energy and immune function are increased and back pain, arthritis and stress are relieved (2). For others, the practice of yoga is an important factor in doing something good for themselves, while for others the discipline and control of the body is more in focus. But, where does yoga come from?The yoga tradition originates from India, the religion of Buddhism, and has a philosophical...
By: Dr. Lizanne Schweren
On: 29 April 2019
Why do we eat what we eat? The role of genetics
We, human beings in Western society, make over 200 food choices each day (1). That’s a lot! Fortunately (or, according to others, unfortunately), we don’t actually have to think about each and every one of them, or at least not consciously. If our food choices are not so much a conscious decision, then how do we make them? A lot has been written about external factors influencing our food choices, for instance alluring displays in supermarkets or the availability of unhealthy foods in our day-by-day environment. In this blog, I will address the potential role of genetics on food choices:...
By: Dr. Lizanne Schweren
On: 11 April 2019
How does ADHD medication change your appetite?
Loss of appetite is among the most common side effects of stimulant for ADHD. Across studies, approximately 20% of patients with ADHD who were treated with stimulants reported a loss of appetite [1,2]. Weight loss is also quite common, as are digestive problems [3]. Together, such side effects are often referred to as “gastro-intestinal adverse events”. But why do stimulants change the way we go about eating? And what could this tell us about ADHD itself? Appetite can arise in response to physical cues, such as an empty stomach or low blood sugar. Psychological cues can also influence our appetite;...
By: Joanna Szopinska-Tokov
On: 9 April 2019
A 3-minute pitch on gut bacteria and ADHD
Recently, I participated in the Radboud Talks 2019, a scientific pitch competition, where I was lucky to be one of the eight finalists. Why Radboud Talks? It is a perfect opportunity to share my work/ideas with the world and to gain more experience regarding presentation skills. They organized two workshops beforehand, where I had the opportunity to learn presentation techniques from professionals (actors and science communication advisors). We also got a lot of feedback, so I really learned a lot about how to present my scientific work to a general audience. Below you can find the video from the preliminaries...
By: Prof. Liv Grimstvedt Kvalvik
On: 26 March 2019
Can smoking cessation increase mental well-being?
Cigarette smoking may give immediate pleasure, but is dangerous for your health. Smoking may be seen as a way to deal with feelings like anxiety and stress and may be viewed as a way of coping with everyday life. Smoking a cigarette may also be used as a reward, and as part of celebration of big and small victories. But what happens to your mental well-being if you quit smoking? Smoke cessation is one of the best things, if not the best, you can do for your health! Smoking is ranked as the second leading cause of death by a...