A 2026 PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis in Drug and Alcohol Review consolidated 30 publications covering 202 prevalence estimates from 120,041 South African adolescents: pooled lifetime prevalence was 35.09% for alcohol use, 25.47% for tobacco use, and 10.47% for cannabis use.1 Research Highlights 30 publications, 202 estimates: pooled data covered 120,041 South African adolescents. Alcohol …
Parkinson’s disease has a years-to-decades prodromal stage where motor symptoms haven’t yet emerged but pathology is accumulating. A 2026 review by Schaeffer et al. synthesizes the case for (and limits of) intervening during this window — with implications for high-risk individuals weighing whether to enter preventive trials.1 Research Highlights Prodromal Parkinson’s disease is the period …
Studies of adolescent cannabis effects on cognition have been limited by self-report and confounding. A 2026 longitudinal study by Wade and colleagues uses the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) cohort with both self-report and biological toxicology, separating THC and CBD effects on developing cognition.1 Research Highlights Adolescence is a critical window for cognitive maturation, with …
Parkinson’s disease (PD), a prevalent neurodegenerative brain disease, is marked by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Recent research has illuminated the significant role of Vitamin D (VD) in the brain, particularly its neuroprotective effects on these neurons. Highlights: Vitamin D’s Role in the Brain: Beyond its well-known functions in bone health, …
Nearly all individuals taking Adderall can attest to the fact that its psychostimulatory effect is most potent after an initial “first-time” dosage. Thereafter, its efficacy is generally maintained for weeks, or perhaps months after the initial dosage with favorable results. However, eventually Adderall users may notice that its therapeutic psychostimulation seems to have dwindled and/or …