A new study from scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego could be a gamechanger for researchers looking to better treatments for pain-based neurological disorders like post-traumatic stress and anxiety.

The unanticipated toll of suicides by troops and veterans has become another Pentagon failure.

Currently, the first-choice treatment for PTSD is exposure-based psychotherapy, where therapists help rewire the emotions associated with the traumatic memory in the patient’s brain, shifting from fear and arousal to a more neutral response. However, up to 50% of patients fail to respond well to this treatment. In a new study published on August 7 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology, scientists showed for the first time that reactivating therapeutically-altered memories during sleep leads to more brain activity related to memory processing, which is associated with a reduction in PTSD symptoms.

A new study is the first to shed light on the high prevalence of head injuries, and related mental health symptoms, in a previously overlooked population when it comes to concussion surveillance: law enforcement officers. The survey of Ohio law enforcement officers found that 74% reported a lifetime history of one or more head injuries, and 30% had a head injury that happened on the job. Many more of these injuries went unreported than were treated by a health care professional. And further analysis showed post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms were higher in those who had experienced one or more head injuries.

In a show of bipartisanship, 80 members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have united in letters urging President Joe Biden and the US Food and Drug Administration to further consider studies on MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder — an effort that aims to expedite access to a treatment they hope could help veterans. The coordinated effort is a call for action from the highest levels of government to provide relief to millions of people experiencing PTSD amid a dramatic rise in veteran suicides.

Among men who played American football, researchers found that exposure to the sport at a younger age was strongly associated with worse cognitive performance and resilience, particularly in those who lived to at least 60 years. “We know what a positive impact football has in the community, and we want to make sure we know all the risks going in so that parents and children can make informed decisions,” Sophia Nosek, BS, a research specialist at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center (CTE).

Brad Marchand, the Boston Bruins captain, suffered a concussion during a playoff game after colliding with an opponent. Despite showing signs of a head injury, Marchand continued to play until the medical staff pulled him out of the game. He later admitted to not being upfront about his condition. The current concussion evaluation protocol in the NHL relies on subjective observations and symptom reporting by players. These methods are not always accurate and can be influenced by various factors, leading to potential misdiagnoses. Traditional diagnostic tools like the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5) have limitations in detecting concussions.

Adolescent concussion patients who performed more than 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week scored better on a sleep quality questionnaire than a group who exercised less, according to a small study funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Many concussion patients experience sleep problems, which may worsen concussion symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest the possibility that a higher volume of aerobic exercise could potentially improve sleep quality among adolescent concussion patients, although more research is needed.

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide in early August whether MDMA should be approved for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. The decision has garnered a huge amount of attention and lobbying by people who want the treatment to get the green light. If approved, MDMA would represent a milestone in the efforts to bring psychedelics into the mainstream. However, the drug company behind the treatment has been mired in controversy, fending off criticism that the clinical trials weren't sound. That has raised the possibility that the FDA reject the drug.

A military report on suicide rates broken down by occupation finds the highest rates among categories of troops that often work and train around weapons blasts.