Reuters (5/14, Rapaport) reports that long-term depression may increase stroke risk in older adults, even if the depression is treated, according to a study published online May 13 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

TIME (5/14, Oaklander) reports that after analyzing “data from more than 16,000 middle-aged adults” who were followed for about 12 years, researchers found that those “who reported high symptoms of depression – three or more symptoms from an eight-item depression scale – for four consecutive years had about 114% higher risk of stroke compared to those who did not have symptoms of depression.” Those whose symptoms of depression had subsided “still had a 66% higher risk of stroke.”

Related Links:

— “Depression may double stroke risk in older adults,” Lisa Rapport, Reuters, May 13, 2015.

HealthDay (5/13, Reinberg) reports that research published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggests that patients “undergoing hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer may experience impaired mental function within the first six months that persists for at least a year.” Investigators also found that “the risk of memory, learning and concentration problems associated with hormone therapy was greatest for men with a particular gene mutation.”

Related Links:

— “Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer May Impair Thinking,” Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, May 12, 2015.

HealthDay (5/13, Preidt) reports that research published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention suggests that individuals “who have suffered a traumatic brain injury are at increased risk for road rage.” Investigators “surveyed nearly 4,000 Canadian adult drivers, aged 18 to 97.” The researchers “found that those who had suffered at least one traumatic brain injury in their lifetime had many more incidents of serious road rage than those without a brain injury.”

Related Links:

— “Brain Injury Linked to Raised Risk of Road Rage,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, May , 2015.12

Medscape (5/12, Lowry) reports that a study published in the May issue of Psychiatric Services, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association, reveals that approximately “20% of patients who are prescribed antidepressants stop taking them without telling their” physician. The 1,411-participant study also revealed that “characteristics of those most likely to discontinue these medications include younger age, being diagnosed with anxiety or substance use disorder in addition to depression, and being treated in a general medical setting rather than by a psychiatrist or other mental health specialist.” An accompanying editorial (5/12) observed that “the study addresses a key issue ‘that is commonly hidden from physicians.’”

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

The Los Angeles Times (5/12, Healy) “Science Now” blog reports that “after sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury, nearly nine in 10 teens who have ongoing concussion symptoms also have academic problems related to headaches, fatigue and difficulty concentrating,” according to a study (5/6) published online May 11 in the journal Pediatrics. In addition, “more than three-quarters of those who have yet to recover fully after four weeks report a decline in such academic skills as note-taking, studying and completing homework assignments.”

CNN (5/12, LaMotte) reports that the study also revealed that “across grades of schooling, high school students reported having the most learning problems, significantly more than middle or elementary school children.” The study authors “say their findings suggest that school systems and medical professionals should be working together to support students who are still in the recovery phase.”

Focusing on the study methodology, HealthDay (5/12, Haelle) reports that investigators “surveyed 239 student-parent pairs plus another 110 parents about any concerns they had regarding school work after students experienced a concussion.” The students, who ranged in age from five to 18, “were evaluated within a month of having had a concussion with several thinking, memory and concentration tests.”

Related Links:

— “After concussions, kids face persistent difficulties with school,” Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2015.