With COVID-19 vaccines working and restrictions lifting across the country, it’s finally time for those now vaccinated who’ve been hunkered down at home to ditch the sweatpants and reemerge from their Netflix caves. But your brain may not be so eager to dive back into your former social life. [Read more…] about The neuroscience behind why our brains will need time to adjust to ‘un-social distancing’
COVID-19
Debate: Are depression and dementia two sides of the same coin? And, if they are, how to best approach treatment?
Every seven seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia. A typical case that I often see in my practice is as follows: A 76-year-old woman has a two-year history of progressive worsening of short-term memory and cognitive decline. She can’t recall the names of her grandchildren and is devastated by her deteriorating abilities.
However, this is not the first time in her life that she has had feelings of loss and despair. Over the past 30 years, she has intermittently struggled with depression and anxiety. Her family has many questions: Does she have dementia or Alzheimer’s? Could her depression have led to a dementia diagnosis? Is it only depression and not dementia? These are all good questions and the collective answer to them is “yes.” [Read more…] about Debate: Are depression and dementia two sides of the same coin? And, if they are, how to best approach treatment?
Innovation in COVID times: Otsuka and Click Therapeutics announce fully virtual clinical trial, leveraging Verily’s Project Baseline
Otsuka launches pivotal trial of digital therapeutics for depression (MedCity News):
Otsuka Pharmaceutical is launching a virtual study to see if digital therapeutics can reduce depression symptoms.
It’s the next step in a partnership between the Tokyo-based drugmaker and Click Therapeutics, a digital health startup that is developing programs for smoking cessation, depression and insomnia. [Read more…] about Innovation in COVID times: Otsuka and Click Therapeutics announce fully virtual clinical trial, leveraging Verily’s Project Baseline
Four trends accelerating mental health innovation in the COVID/ post-COVID era
The money behind mental health: How the pandemic increased innovation, investment in behavioral health care (Fierce Healthcare):
Earlier this month, Modern Health marked a milestone few companies ever reach: unicorn status.
With the help of its latest $74 million funding round, the startup, which serves as a mental health benefits platform for employers, topped a $1 billion valuation. [Read more…] about Four trends accelerating mental health innovation in the COVID/ post-COVID era
Survey finds concerns AND hope to address growing mental health needs due to the covid pandemic
Digital providers come to the fore to support global mental health during pandemic (press release):
Research published today shows how digital providers are coming together to support the mental health needs of millions of users unable to access traditional services during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…] about Survey finds concerns AND hope to address growing mental health needs due to the covid pandemic
Can COVID-19 coronavirus “invade” human brain tissue? (Quick answer: evidence so far is mixed)

Taking a Closer Look at COVID-19’s Effects on the Brain (NIH Director’s blog):
While primarily a respiratory disease, COVID-19 can also lead to neurological problems. The first of these symptoms might be the loss of smell and taste, while some people also may later battle headaches, debilitating fatigue, and trouble thinking clearly, sometimes referred to as “brain fog.” All of these symptoms have researchers wondering how exactly the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV‑2, affects the human brain. [Read more…] about Can COVID-19 coronavirus “invade” human brain tissue? (Quick answer: evidence so far is mixed)