On its front page, the Washington Post (9/3, A1, Kunkle) reports that “recent findings suggest that biological, genetic and even cultural influences may play heavy roles” in why more women than men get Alzheimer’s disease. For example, “a recent study…found that women with the APOe4 gene were twice as likely to get Alzheimer’s as women who did not carry the gene,” even though “the risk factor appeared to be little different between men who had the APOe4 gene and those who did not.”

Women are more likely to develop depression, and previous research has tied late-life depression to dementia. Scientists are also trying to narrow down the role played by the hormone estrogen, which helps regulate brain metabolism in females.

Related Links:

— “Why do more women get Alzheimer’s? Research points to genetics, other factors,” Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, September 3, 2014.

Modern Healthcare (9/4, Rice, Subscription Publication) reports that, according to a study published in the September issue of JAMA Psychiatry, “an estimated 267,000 patients visited an emergency department between 2009 and 2011 because of adverse drug events such as overdose, excessive sleepiness and head injuries associated with use of psychiatric prescriptions.”

Specifically, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Johns Hopkins University found that some “89,094 adult patients visited an emergency department annually because of adverse drug events from taking sedatives, antidepressants and antipsychotics.” In September 2013, through the Choosing Wisely campaign, the American Psychiatric Association issued “a list of recommendations for safe-prescribing of antipsychotics.”

Related Links:

— “Nearly 90,000 ED visits annually linked to psychiatric drug events/a>,” Sabriya Rice, Modern Healthcare, September 3, 2014.

HealthDay (9/2, Preidt) reports on a new study that challenges the perception that marijuana is not addictive, highlighting that many teen marijuana users showed withdrawal symptoms when they made efforts to stop using the drug. “As more people are able to obtain and consume cannabis legally for medical and, in some states, recreational use, people are less likely to perceive it as addictive or harmful,” study co-author John Kelly, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Addiction Medicine, said in a statement.

In the new study, researchers followed outcomes for 127 teens between the ages of 14 to 19. “Of those 90 teens, 76 (84 percent) met criteria for marijuana dependence, including increased tolerance for, and use of, marijuana, as well as unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop using the drug,” the article notes.

Related Links:

— “‘Pot Addiction’ May Be Real, Study Suggests,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, September 2, 2014.

The NPR (9/2, Hobson) “Shots” blog reported that, according to the results of a 340-patient study published online Sept. 1 in the journal Pediatrics, taking stimulant medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) in childhood appears not to lead to “height deficits in adulthood.”

HealthDay (9/3, Reinberg) reports that the study’s lead author “said this study is unique because it followed a group of people with AD/HD who were taking stimulant medications and compared them with a group with AD/HD who were not taking medication and also a group that didn’t have AD/HD.” All participants “were followed from childhood to adulthood, she said.” HealthDay also notes, “AD/HD is one of the most common disorders of childhood, according to the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).”

Related Links:

— “More Evidence That ADHD Drugs Don’t Curb Ultimate Height,” Katherine Hobson, National Public Radio, September 1, 2014.

Reuters (9/2, Doyle) reports a study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that regular dinners with their families may help children cope with online bullying. The study also suggests that other means of talking with family members, such as during car rides, also helps.

TIME (9/2, Sifferlin) reports on the study indicating “about 1 in 5 young people experience some form of online bullying, which can have serious effects on mental health and behavior.” Investigators found “a positive association between cyberbullying and problems like anxiety, depression and self-harm as well as substance abuse like frequent drinking and prescription drug abuse.”

Related Links:

— “Family dinners may help kids cope with cyberbullying,” Kathryn Doyle, Reuters, September 1, 2014.