Sep 25, 2026
Acadia Pharmaceuticals reported its experimental drug for psychosis associated with Alzheimer's disease missed the main goal of a mid-stage study testing whether it could reduce hallucinations and delusions. The company said it saw enough signal to continue with a modified Phase 3 trial.
Researchers are making progress on techniques to detect chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in living individuals, a significant advancement since the degenerative brain disease has previously only been diagnosable after death.
Array Behavioral Care, a Chicago-based virtual behavioral health provider, introduced a new triage and routing capability designed to help healthcare providers better respond to patients requiring urgent mental health care.
The Guardian reviews Derek Owusu's new work The Recovery House, praising it as a uniquely honest exploration of mental health that draws unexpected connections, including references to the Cranberries' 1994 song Zombie.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical presented new phase 3b clinical trial results for SIMTRIYO (centanafadine) at Psych Congress 2026, demonstrating consistent improvements across ADHD symptoms, anxiety, executive function, and emotional dysregulation in adults with ADHD and comorbid anxiety disorders.
The FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation to Definium Therapeutics' DT120 Orally Disintegrating Tablet after preliminary clinical evidence showed significant improvements in treating major depressive disorder.
Clinical trials for major diseases are experiencing a critical shortage of participants, with only 7% of adult cancer patients in the U.S. enrolling in trials and Alzheimer's treatment studies facing similar global recruitment challenges despite new drug developments.
Compass Pathways executives revealed plans to model their upcoming psychedelic treatment launch after Johnson & Johnson's strategy for Spravato, the ketamine nasal spray, as the FDA considers approval. The move comes as psychedelic therapeutics face a critical juncture following Lykos' failed MDMA therapy approval in 2024.
A small but growing body of research is examining whether Alzheimer's disease can be transmitted through certain medical procedures, exploring the concept of 'iatrogenic' AD. While the disease is not contagious through normal contact, scientists are investigating rare cases of potential medical transmission.
New research led by The University of Queensland reveals that people with severe mental illness die more than 10 years earlier than the general population, highlighting significant mental health inequality.
Researchers have made two breakthrough advances in autism research: identifying convergent patterns among 1,200+ autism-risk genes in brain activity, and successfully implanting human brain organoids into engineered mice to create living models for testing treatments for autism and epilepsy.
A new survey of 1,000 doctors by a physician advocacy group found that nearly half have made or considered major career changes in the past year due to well-being concerns, with a widening mental health gap between employed and independent physicians.
New research suggests that cats are the only common household pet associated with higher rates of anxiety and behavioral issues in young children, raising questions about pet ownership decisions for families with toddlers.
A major international meta-analysis found that both short- and long-term exposure to common air pollutants — particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide — are significantly associated with an increased risk of death by suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation.
A Calgary study found emergency department visits for suicide attempts among youth increased 22% globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Separately, Boston researchers discovered smartphone check-ins can help predict suicide risk days before an attempt in patients with serious mental illness.
A trauma clinic in Birmingham that opened in July is providing mental health services to asylum seekers dealing with trauma. The center offers therapeutic support to individuals like Azad, an Iranian asylum seeker, who are seeking refuge in the UK.
Researchers at the University of Warwick analyzed data from more than 1.9 million people across 23 studies and found that ADHD is associated with nearly double the odds of constipation, 58% higher odds of irritable bowel syndrome, and an almost 50% increase in overall gastrointestinal symptoms.
The FDA indicated openness to innovative approaches for studying psychedelic therapies, including the use of comparators other than placebo, signaling potential regulatory accommodation for this emerging treatment class.
The chief executive of Mind has stated that mental health organisations have failed to acknowledge the risk of violence from a minority of people with severe mental illnesses, speaking ahead of the closure of an inquiry.
Researchers have mapped critical protein interactions associated with profound autism using lab-grown brain organoids. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying severe forms of autism spectrum disorder.
New Zealand's pharmaceutical regulator has approved two psychiatrists to prescribe pharmaceutical-grade MDMA to patients suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, marking a significant shift in mental health treatment policy.
New research reveals that the number of young people with no close friends has risen fivefold since 2014, with experts attributing the trend to austerity, the pandemic, and social media's impact on a generation now described as the "loneliest generation."
Meta agreed to implement changes for minors on Instagram and Facebook, including cutting off access at night and during school hours. However, a whistleblower criticized the settlement as insufficient to meaningfully address harms to teen mental health.
A bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states began a landmark federal trial in Oakland, California, accusing Meta Platforms of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children and harm young users' mental health. The case could potentially reshape the social media platforms.
The FDA has approved TAUKLARIFY (florquinitau F 18 injection), a novel diagnostic imaging agent developed by Enigma Biomedical USA to identify tau neurofibrillary tangles in patients being evaluated for Alzheimer's disease, including tangles isolated to the medial temporal lobe.
A large study of over 2,000 women found those who used estrogen-only hormone therapy later in life were less likely to develop dementia and showed fewer signs of Alzheimer's disease in their brains upon autopsy.
Definium Therapeutics announced its experimental LSD-based pill significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in a late-stage study, meeting the trial's main goal. The results mark the company's second major win in two months and sent shares up more than 20% in premarket trading.
More than two-thirds of NHS mental health providers in England are planning to cut services, with half expected to eliminate jobs, threatening to increase wait times for millions of adults and children seeking mental health care.
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million to address harms to young people from Facebook and Instagram in the second phase of a landmark trial. The ruling brings Meta's total penalties in the case to over $1 billion and requires sweeping protections for teen users.
New research published in Neurology Open Access finds that maintaining normal blood pressure, avoiding type 2 diabetes, and not smoking between ages 45-68 is associated with nearly 13 more years of dementia-free life after age 55 compared to those with all three risk factors.
A randomized controlled trial conducted through the NHS in England found that a single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, produced significant improvements in depression symptoms among 60 adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder compared to placebo, with good tolerability.
The UK government has unveiled plans to open more than 100 walk-in mental health hubs in accessible community locations including libraries, banks and high street premises across England, alongside dedicated mental health emergency departments in hospitals. Health Secretary Andy Burnham described the initiative as the 'biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation' aimed at providing earlier intervention and preventing people from reaching crisis point.
A randomized controlled trial in Germany found that dronabinol, a cannabis-derived THC medication, significantly decreased nightmares in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder in a double-blind study published in Nature Medicine.
The LiBBY clinical trial found that a combination of CBD and THC rapidly and significantly reduced agitation in hospice-eligible dementia patients, with nearly 90% of participants showing behavioral improvement in the nationwide study.
Researchers found that mild inflammation during pregnancy led mouse offspring to develop persistent brain overactivity and autism-like behaviors, but remarkably, one dose of rapamycin reversed these symptoms in adult mice within hours.
An international research team led by the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim has published the largest genome-wide association study on borderline personality disorder to date, analyzing data from approximately 13,000 individuals and identifying 11 genetic locations and 9 genes associated with the condition. The findings, published in Nature Genetics on July 20, 2026, represent the first significant genetic clues for this complex mental health disorder.
Eli Lilly is in advanced talks to acquire AtaiBeckley, a psychedelic medicine company, with a deal potentially announced this week. The acquisition underscores growing interest from major pharmaceutical companies in psychedelic therapies.
A new study demonstrates that a blood test measuring p-tau217 levels can identify healthy older adults at high risk of developing Alzheimer's symptoms within five to 10 years, potentially enabling early intervention as prevention trials advance.
The World Health Organization has issued updated global guidelines on reducing cognitive decline and dementia risk, stating that up to 45% of dementia cases may be preventable or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors throughout life.
An experimental drug called diranersen demonstrated the ability to lower levels of tau protein in the brain and slow cognitive decline in early Alzheimer's patients, offering a new treatment approach distinct from current therapies. Clinical trial data released July 14, 2026, showed the drug can reduce tau tangles, one of the hallmark proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Compass Pathways reported results from a pivotal study showing its psilocybin-based therapy demonstrated long-lasting benefits for treatment-resistant depression, though investor reaction was mixed as shares fell nearly 10% on the data.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $281 million in grant funding opportunities across 15 programs aimed at addressing addiction, overdose, and mental illness. The funding was made available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
ALZpath announced a global licensing deal with Abbott Laboratories to advance blood-based testing for Alzheimer's disease, joining the race to develop easier-to-use diagnostic options for the neurodegenerative condition.
Definium Therapeutics reported that a single dose of its LSD-based experimental pill significantly reduced symptoms of major depression in patients in a late-stage trial, sending shares higher. The data brings the drug closer to potential FDA approval.
Health officials under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explored banning certain SSRI antidepressants as part of plans to reduce their use in the United States, sparking significant debate over medication safety and federal regulatory authority.
Research published in Nature Communications shows that a 25mg dose of psilocybin induced both acute functional changes (detected via EEG one hour later) and enduring anatomical changes (detected via DTI one month later) in 28 healthy adults experiencing their first psychedelic trip.
New research using brain imaging has revealed three distinct subtypes of ADHD, each associated with different underlying brain systems, co-occurring conditions, and learning challenges. The findings suggest that inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptom profiles follow separate neural pathways, potentially enabling more targeted treatment interventions.
New research published in The Lancet shows that accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation (a-cTBS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, improved social communication in autistic children at one-month follow-up after just five days of treatment.
The federal autism committee met for the first time since HHS Secretary Kennedy fired most scientific experts and replaced them with activists and advocates, focusing on 'profound autism.'
A new study shows that suicide rates among young people dropped 11% following the U.S. launch of the 988 national suicide and crisis hotline, with increased calls to the hotline correlating with reduced suicide deaths.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an at-home starting dose of Eisai and Biogen's Alzheimer's drug, allowing some patients to begin therapy with injections administered by themselves or a caregiver rather than requiring initial doses in a clinical setting.
President Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA to expedite reviews of breakthrough psychedelic therapies for PTSD, depression, and trauma, and to reevaluate their status as controlled substances. The order targets substances including psilocybin.
Scientists at the Buck Institute and UC San Francisco discovered that APOE4, the most common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, causes bone quality deterioration in women, revealing an unexpected connection between neurological and skeletal health.
Research from Emory University and University of Iowa demonstrates that noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can calm the brain's fear center and significantly reduce PTSD symptoms, offering a non-surgical, non-medication treatment option.