A new study based on surveys of people in 16 countries finds that people 65 and older who have hobbies report higher life satisfaction and less depression, as NPR’s Allison Aubrey reports. As the authors of the study point out, hobbies involve imagination, novelty, creativity, relaxation and stimulation – and often the opportunity to socialize.
But hobbies aren’t the only habits that can make a difference to mental health.
Making time for social interaction, exercise, a healthy diet, and a good night’s sleep were shown to prevent depression in a new study. The study included data from nearly 300,000 people in the UK Biobank database initiative, and included individuals who had episodes of depression as well as those diagnosed with recurring depression. Researchers identified seven healthy habits and found that people who maintained most of them — five or more — had a 57% lower risk of depression – ”which is really quite a massive amount,” says study author Barbara Sahakian, a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge.
And they found a reduction in the risk of depression held up even among people who have genetic variants that make them more susceptible.
Aubrey’s packed her report with links to some of NPR’s best tips on how to put habits like sleeping well, quitting smoking, and cutting back on screen time into practice. Learn more.
Humans evolved itch as a signal that there might be something dangerous on the skin or in the environment. An itchy mosquito bite may be no more than a nuisance. But dermatologist Dr. Shawn Kwatra, who both experiences chronic itch and treats patients with persistent itches, says the impact on quality of life can be major. For example, an itch that doesn’t go away can keep you up night after night, robbing patients of a decent night’s sleep.
Treating itch is tricky, as NPR’s Short Wave reports. You may have taken an antihistamine, like Benadryl, or used a topical version to calm down hives or a reaction to an insect bite. But antihistamines don’t work for a variety of conditions, like atopic dermatitis and eczema, says Kwatra. That’s because histamine, a chemical released by our immune system, is not involved.
If the cause of the itch isn't obvious, the first thing Kwatra does for his patients is order blood test to determine if the immune system is activated. He says, "The immune system plays a very important role in itch biology, because it… can stimulate and irritate these nerves that are transmitting the itch message." He adds, "If you can knock down that stimulation of nerves, in many cases you can cure itch." He also takes stock of risk factors like advanced age, gender (women are more likely to experience chronic itch), and history of kidney and liver disease.
Last Sunday in Keene, N.H. over 600 runners participated in the 45th annual Clarence DeMar Marathon. The race is named in honor of a local legend and long distance runner who changed the way the medical community thought about exercise, as Paul Cuno-Booth reports for New Hampshire Public Radio.
Living as we are in the era of “sitting is the new smoking,” it might surprise you to know that in the early 20th century, many medical experts thought prolonged exercise was dangerous – that you could wear the body out and die early. 1910 Boston Marathon runner-up Clarence DeMar had one such doctor, who warned him to quit distance running after detecting a heart murmur. Instead, DeMar signed up for the 1911 Boston Marathon, and won. He would go on to claim first place in that race 7 times, and win races well into his 40s, earning the nickname “Mr. DeMarathon.”
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