In the News

You might be tempted to sleep in after a late night—but scientists have found that it’s better for your brain and heart health to stick to your regular schedule. Andrea Goldstein-Piekarski, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.

The new issue of Stanford Medicine magazine highlights new paths for chronic disease prevention, management and care. Faculty featured from our department include: Sergiu Pasca, the Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and Bonnie Uytengsu and Family Director of the Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, in "Tracking pain's pathway" / Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Chinyere Ogbonna, clinical instructor (affiliated), in "Training doctors to treat addiction" / Shebani Sethi, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, in "A taste of health" / and Diana Naranjo, clinical professor of pediatrics - endocrinology and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, in "Laugh, cry, repeat".

Gummy clumps called amyloid plaques have long been the focus of Alzheimer’s therapies. But some Stanford Medicine neuroscientists are focusing on the stringy tangles of a protein called tau, the unsung second hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Emmanuel Mignot, the Craig Reynolds professor of sleep medicine in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and professor, by courtesy, of genetics and of neurology and neurological sciences, is quoted.

Music affects us so deeply that it can essentially take control of our brain waves and get our bodies moving. Now, neuroscientists are taking advantage of music’s power to synchronize brain waves to boost the effectiveness of a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a promising tool for both basic brain research and treating neuropsychiatric disorders. Jessica Ross, instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Corey Keller, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, are interviewed.

Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, explains how sleep deficit impacts a kids physical health to their mental health.

A new study published in Translational Psychiatry suggests that testosterone may play a more complicated role in mental health than previously understood. Researchers found that both low and high testosterone levels were associated with higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, while mid-range levels were linked to the fewest symptoms. The findings, which were consistent for both men and women, raise questions about whether hormonal balance might shape the risk for stress-related mental health problems—and whether this relationship might be influenced by body weight. Laramie Duncan, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.