Behavioral Health | Penn Today

Three adults rhesus macaques and two infants macaques sitting on a rock in a forest located on the island of Cayo Santiago.

Social connections influence brain structure of rhesus macaques

Researchers from Penn, Inserm, and elsewhere observed that the number of grooming partners an individual animal had predicted the size of brain areas associated with social decision-making and empathy.

Senior person lying in bed in the daytime.

Inflammation is not always linked to depression

A new Penn Medicine study finds that late-life depression is not linked to inflammation when other inflammatory conditions are excluded, but that depression occurs independently of inflammation.

Gun locks are one important tool in preventing violent deaths, Penn trauma expert says

Sunny Vespico Jackson, an injury-prevention coordinator at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, spoke about the benefits of gun locks, which she says can protect children and prevent suicides. A grant from Penn Medicine CARES allowed Jackson to purchase 200 cable locks to give to local gun owners.

A group of older people at a restaurant clinking half-full wine glasses, with their masks pulled down around their chins to reveal a smile. Food is on the table.

New COVID-19 roadmap: Four takeaways

A report spearheaded by PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel, with input from other Penn experts, lays out a dozen priorities for the federal government to tackle in the next 12 months. The aim: to help guide the U.S. to the pandemic’s “next normal.”

Young child pulling a face mask down off an adult’s nose and mouth.

How first responders and other parents can protect their children from trauma

While first responders try their best to shield their families from the emotional weight of their work, their children may take notice. First Responder Treatment Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health offers ways to help.

Just one beer or glass of wine a day may cause your brain to shrink, study suggests

Henry Kranzler of the Perelman School of Medicine co-authored research that found daily alcohol consumption, even in moderate quantities, can lead to a loss of brain volume. "For pretty much any level of drinking, a reduction is likely to yield health benefits," he said.

A scale with an alcoholic beverage on one side and a brain on the other

One drink a day linked with reduced brain size

The Penn-led research, using a dataset of more than 36,000 adults, revealed that going from one to two drinks a day was associated with changes in the brain equivalent to aging two years. Heavier drinking was linked with an even greater toll.

A movie marquee with the words "1. Elbow Bumps 2. Foot Shakes 3. Just Wave!"

Perceptions shaped social behavior during the pandemic

Research from Penn psychologists found that Americans who most feared losing their connections continued interacting with others, paradoxically acting in ways that risked prolonging disease-mitigating social restrictions.

Silhouette of a person sitting against a wall on the side of the image, legs pulled up close to her chest.

Why are alcohol- and drug-related deaths rising in the U.S. and not elsewhere?

With insights from anthropology and neuroscience, Penn researchers Michael Platt and Peter Sterling find that, in comparison, 16 other wealthy nations offer communal assistance at every life stage, support that protects individuals and families long term.

Cover of the book "Creating conspiracy beliefs: How our thoughts are shaped" by Dolores Albarracín, Julia Albarracín, Man-pui Sally Chan, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson

A novel theory on how conspiracy theories take shape

In a new book, Dolores Albarracín, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, and colleagues show that two factors—the conservative media and societal fear and anxiety—have driven recent widespread conspiracies, from Pizzagate to those around COVID-19 vaccines.

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