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New research suggests that those who have grandparents with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a threefold risk of developing the disorder themselves.
Researchers have long believed that if parents have depression, children are more prone to developing it. Now, we are seeing that grandchildren of those with MDD are at a much higher risk than previously thought. Researchers say that this helps with early intervention and helps psychiatrists understand what signs and symptoms to look for in those who have a predisposition to depression. [1]

A new Danish study has found that people who have been hospitalized for a serious infection are at a higher risk for suicide. Researchers think that perhaps it has to do with the inflammation in the brain as a result of the infection, though there a few possibilities.
The study examined the Danish national registry, combing through records of 7.2 million people from 1980 to 2011. Using this information, it was found that those who had been hospitalized for infections had a 42% increased risk for death by suicide compared to those who were hospitalized for other reasons. [1]

A new study by researchers at Harvard University shows that the water supplies of nearly 6 million Americans are tainted with unsafe levels of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs – a class of industrial chemicals linked to potentially serious health problems. [1]
PFASs have been used for decades in a wide variety of industrial and commercial products, including non-stick coatings on pans, food wrappers, water-repellent clothing, and firefighting foam.

Morrie Boogart, 91, may be in hospice care in his hometown of Grandville, Michigan, but that hasn’t stopped him from thinking of others.
Boogart is well aware that soon the summer weather will give way to a harsh Michigan winter, and he wants the homeless population to be well prepared for it. So in order to do his part, Boogart has been knitting hats for them–to the tune of 8,000 total.  [1]

There are now 6 more brands of turmeric being recalled due to lead contamination. So far, there have been no illnesses or injuries reported from the high lead levels in the turmeric, but Gel Spice, Inc., the company expanding the recall, is taking precautions.
The FDA lists the following products as being recalled due to potential lead contamination:

Many hoped that the Obama administration would reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule II substance this year, but no such luck. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also announced on August 11 that marijuana would remain illegal under federal law. Other Schedule I substances include heroin, LSD, peyote, ecstasy, quaaludes, and bath salts, among others. [1]

As you grow older, having a positive attitude about aging may make you more resilient to stress, a new study suggests.
One of the study’s coauthors, Jennifer Bellingtier, of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, said:

“Previous research has generally found the same thing, a more positive attitude is beneficial. People with positive attitudes are less likely to be hospitalized and tend to live longer.” [1]

It was revealed earlier this month in a study published in the journal Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases that cases of advanced prostate cancer in the United States have spiked 72% in the last decade. There are a few reasons why this might be happening.
The findings made researchers wonder whether the increase was attributable to a recent trend of fewer men getting screened for the disease.

Gene-testing company 23andMe, known for giving customers insight into their heritage, has made a major breakthrough in the study of depression. With data linked to 450,000 volunteers, they have pinpointed 15 regions of the human genome that link to a risk of the mental health issue. [1]
The study was done in conjunction with the drug company Pfizer, which allowed them to access one of the largest pools of participants in a genetic study. Getting this number of people to participate is often extremely difficult, especially when factoring in travel and other efforts and costs.

A new poll by Research!America has indicated that Americans fear blindness as much as they fear Alzheimer’s, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. It was ranked as one of the top “worst things that could happen to you” by survey respondents.