Play time: Games to beat the blues
Talk
therapy isn’t the only help for depressed children.
A computer
game designed to lift teenagers out of depression is as effective as
traditional talk therapy, researchers from the University of Auckland (New
Zealand) reported in the British Medical Journal.
A computer game designed to lift teenagers out
of depression is as effective as traditional talk therapy
Researchers
tested an interactive 3D fantasy game called Sparx on
young people diagnosed with depression. Sparx sees
participants tackling a series of seven challenges, over four to seven weeks,
where an avatar has to learn to deal with anger and hurt feelings and swap
negative thoughts for helpful ones.
Researchers
found that Sparx was at least as effective as
conventional face-to-face counseling. In addition, 44 percent of the participants
who carried out at least four of the seven challenges recovered completely. In
contrast, in the conventional treatment group, only 26 percent recovered fully.
“Use of the
programme resulted in a significant reduction in
depression, anxiety and hopelessness. The kids also had an improvement in
quality of life,” said study leader Sally Merry, an associate professor at the
university’s Department of Psychological Medicine.
The
youngsters, who had an average age of 15 and a half, rated the game hightly, saying the liked being able to use it at home and
to learn at their own pace.
I’ve got you baby
Making music makes babies less anxious and
enhances brain development
Making
music makes babies less anxious and enhances brain development, according to a
study from McMaster University (Canada). Researchers studied 50 six-month-old
infants – some were placed in special music classes, while others weren’t. By
age 1, those toddlers who’d been taught musical skills showed increased brain
activity and musical skills. These infants were also not as distressed by
frustration, showed less anxiety about new experiences, laughed more and were
easier to calm. They also had better early communication development – like
waving “bye-bye”.
Beware The Sweet Poison
A recent
study from the University of California, Los Angeles, is the first to
demonstrate how a high-fructose diet slows the brain, hampering memory and
learning.
omega-3 fatty acids
It also
showed that omega-3 fatty acids can help minimize the damage. “What you eat
affects how you think,” said study leader Fernando Gomez-Pinilla.
His team researched the effect of the high-fructose corn syrup that is commonly
added to processed foods, including fizzy drinks.
Keep
fructose intake to a minimum and swap sugary desserts for fresh berries and
Greek yoghurt, advise Gomez-Pinilla.
Also eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon and walnuts.
