Medscape (7/22, Yasgur, Subscription Publication) reported, “There is no convincing evidence that low serotonin levels are the primary cause of depression,” investigators concluded in a 17-study systematic umbrella review, the findings of which were published online July 20 in Molecular Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— Medscape (requires login and subscription)

The Hill (7/22, Folmar) reported, “Calls to the national suicide hotline increased by 45 percent during the week after it switched to 988 from a longer number,” after “the hotline received approximately 30,000 more calls, texts and chats.” In fact, “from July 14 through Wednesday, called ‘transition week’ by the 988 Lifeline, the hotline received over 96,000 communications, including calls and texts.”

Related Links:

— “Calls increased by 45 percent after suicide hotline number switch “Chloe Folmar, The Hill, July 22, 2022

The New York Times (7/21, Hassan) reports that “in just eight weeks, the Omicron subvariant known as BA.5 has gone from a blip in United States case counts to the dominant version of the coronavirus in the country.” BA.5, “perhaps the most transmissible subvariant yet…is driving increases in positive tests, hospitalizations and intensive care admissions across the country.”

The Hill (7/21, Choi) reports, “About 78% of coronavirus cases in the U.S. are caused by the BA.5 subvariant, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
In addition, CNN (7/21, Goodman) reports that more reinfections are occurring amid the current wave, “but on average, these reinfections do not seem to be happening more rapidly, according to a new analysis from…Helix.”

Related Links:

— “The risk from the coronavirus is rising in much of the United States. “Adeel Hassan, The New York Times, July 21, 2022

HealthDay (7/21, Mann) reports, “Women, but not men, had greater cognitive reserves if they exercised regularly and took classes, read or played games,” while “taking part in more mental activities improved thinking speed for both women and men,” investigators concluded in a brain scan study that “included 758 people (average age, 76).” The findings were published online in the journal Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Exercise, Puzzles, Games: They Help Men’s, Women’s Brains Differently “Denise Mann, HealthDay, July 21, 2022

HCPlive (7/21, Walter) reports research indicates that “high school students using cannabis as a sleep aid are more prone to cannabis dependency, binge drinking, and psychiatric symptoms, such as depression and anxiety.” Investigators came to that conclusion after examining data on “407 9-11 graders at an urban Northeastern US public high school.” The findings were published online ahead of print in the November issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Related Links:

— “Cannabis Use as a Sleep Aid Linked to Dependency for High School Students “Kenny Walter, HCPliv, July 21, 2022