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A new study indicates that a sweet tooth in children may be an indicator for problems with depression and, later, alcoholism.

The study, conducted by the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, included 500 children ages 5 to 12. The children were asked to taste five samples of sugar (sucrose) water with varying amounts of sugar and indicate their preferred level of sweetness. About one-fourth of the participants had depressive symptoms and 49 percent had a family history of alcoholism.

Researchers found that a liking for intense sweetness was greatest in the 37 children with both depressive symptoms and a family history of alcoholism. Among these children, the preferred level of sweetness was 24 percent sucrose -- the equivalent of 14 teaspoons of sugar, or about twice as much sugar as the average soda. The other children participating in the study preferred about 18 percent sucrose, or one-third less sugar.

The researchers believe that more study is needed to establish whether a liking for intense sweetness is a reliable indicator of later alcohol problems.

Study author Julie A. Mennella, a developmental psychobiologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, said in a news release: "We know that sweet taste is rewarding to all kids and makes them feel good. In addition, certain groups of children may be especially attracted to intense sweetness due to their underlying biology. At this point, we don't know whether this higher 'bliss point' for sweets is a marker for later alcohol use."

(Source: www.businessweek.com)

Labels: depression, sugar, alcoholism

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Teenagers who smoke pot on a daily basis may be more susceptible to depression and anxiety in adulthood because of damage inflicted on their developing brains. This finding comes from a new study conducted by McGill University in Canada.

Scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre utilized adolescent and adult lab rats to conduct the study. The researchers found that after 20 days of exposure to cannabinoids (the active ingredient in marijuana), only the adolescent rats were negatively affected.

The adolescent rats exhibited a decrease in brain serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is known to be involved in emotional perception and that has been linked to depression. In addition, the adolescent rats showed increased levels of norepinephrine, which plays a key role in the fight-or-flight response. Increased levels of this chemical could contribute to heightened anxiety.

Gabriella Gobbi, one of the study's co-authors, commented on the findings: "Just because marijuana is a plant doesn't mean that it is harmless. Our study demonstrated that the cannabinoid, when consumed daily, can induce a permanent change in the brain."

(Source: www.canada.com)

Labels: marijuana, depression, anxiety, pot

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A study conducted in Taiwan found that teenagers with psychosocial disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), social phobia and depression are at higher risk for Internet addiction.

The study, which appears in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, followed 2,293 seventh graders (who were an average of 12 years old) for two years. At the beginning of the study, the students completed a questionnaire about whether they suffered from any psychosocial disorders and about their Internet usage habits. After two years, approximately 11 percent of students were addicted to using the Internet, and teens with psychosocial disorders were more likely to become addicted.

Michael Gilbert, senior fellow at the Center for the Digital Future at University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication, commented on the findings:

"It makes a great deal of sense to me why children with these kinds of issues would find the Internet utterly compelling ... If you have a child that is hyperactive, the Internet can move at their pace ... If you have a child that is depressed or has social phobia, they can get in touch with other kids dealing with the same kinds of issues.

Labels: depression, Internet addiction, ADHD

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