LiveScience (1/27) reports on a new Gallup Poll that found moderate drinkers may be less likely to be depressed than those who abstain from alcohol. The poll showed that 13 percent “of moderate drinkers reported having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives, compared with 19 percent of nondrinkers and 17 percent of heavy drinkers.” Additionally, only 7 percent “of moderate drinkers said they are currently depressed or are being treated for the condition, compared with 11 percent of nondrinkers and 8 percent of heavy drinkers.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Director George Koob, “who was not involved in the poll, told Live Science that he was not surprised by the results.”

Related Links:

— “Moderate Drinkers Less Depressed Than Teetotalers, Poll Finds,” Sara G. Miller, LiveScience, January 26, 2016.

The CBS Evening News (1/26, story 6, 0:25, Pelley) reported, “Today a medical advisory panel recommended that all pregnant women and new mothers be screened for depression.” NBC Nightly News (1/26, story 9, 2:05, Holt) reported that the panel also “recommended screening every adult for depression.”

On its front page, the New York Times (1/26, A1, Belluck, Subscription Publication) reports that yesterday, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), “an independent group of experts appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services,” made its first-ever recommendation for “screening for maternal mental illness” in wake “of new evidence that maternal mental illness is more common than previously thought; that many cases of what has been called postpartum depression actually start during pregnancy; and that left untreated, these mood disorders can be detrimental to the well-being of children.” The guidelines were published online Jan. 26 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The Los Angeles Times (1/26, Healy) reports in “Science Now” that the USPSTF also “recommended that general physicians screen all adults for depression and treat those affected by the mood disorder with antidepressant medication, refer them to psychotherapy or do both.” According to the Times, these new recommendations “ensure that virtually all adults consulting with a physician will at some point be asked a battery of questions aimed at discerning the signs of depression.”

Related Links:

— “Panel Calls for Depression Screenings During and After Pregnancy,” Pam Belluck, New York Times, January 26, 2016.

NPR (1/21, Chen) reports in its “Shots” blog that a study published last August in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors “that found no connection between male teens’ marijuana use and the risk of psychotic disorders is in error, the researchers said Wednesday.” Upon reanalyzing their data, the researchers “found that the men in the study who smoked weed as youngsters were more likely to have psychotic disorders, but still were not more likely to report any health problems than nonsmokers.”

Related Links:

— “Study Erred In Finding No Link Between Teen Pot Use And Psychosis,” January 21, National Public Radio, January 21, 2016.

The Wall Street Journal (1/21, Marcus, Subscription Publication) reports that with people who have Down syndrome living longer lives, they are now more often battling Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers are now seeking ways to address this issue. For instance, the National Institutes of Health recently launched a new initiative with the goal of finding biomarkers that may help detect and track the condition in individuals with Down syndrome. Meanwhile, homes are being built to provide specialized care to this population.

Related Links:

— “Down Syndrome Is Thought to Hold Clues to Alzheimer’s,” Amy Docker Marcus, Wall Street Journal, January 21, 2016.

HealthDay (1/21, Norton) reports that research suggests “very premature infants may have an increased risk of being diagnosed with autism by age 4, although the research questions just how high the odds are.” Investigators “found that just under 2 percent of tiny preemies were later diagnosed with autism between 2 and 4 years of age.” But, “that prevalence, the researchers say, is lower than what’s been seen in” previous research, “where figures have ranged from roughly 4 percent to 13 percent.” The findings were published in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “More Evidence Preterm Birth Could Raise Autism Risk,” Amy Norton, HealthDay, January 21, 2016.