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Can Botox be the new cure for depression?

Previous clinical trials have shown that injecting Botox into frown lines alleviated depression in about one-third of patients

Men are now injecting botox into their scrotums, for some reason

Welcome to your daily roundup of important health news

Every day, an estimated 6,800 new peer-reviewed academic articles are published. That’s a whole lot of science to wade through—but don’t fret. We’ll do the legwork for you, each and every morning. Here’s your daily dose of the latest discoveries from journals, research institutions, and news outlets from around the world.

Prick Away the BluesThe same treatment that erases your wrinkles might boost your mood, too. Previous clinical trials have shown that injecting Botox into frown lines alleviated depression in about one-third of patients with the condition, according to a review in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. This might be due to something called emotional proprioception: When Botox paralyzes your nerve muscle fibers, that may signal a relief in physical stress to your nerve endings—possibly resulting in decreased emotional stress, too, the researchers write.

Eat Mediterranean to Boost Your BrainIt doesn’t just help your heart: People who closely followed the Mediterranean diet—rich in vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats like fish, olive oil, and nuts—retained more volume in their brains over three years than people who didn’t stick to it as much, researchers from the U.K. found. That’s important, since losing brain volume can affect your cognitive function.

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Check Your Blood PressureHalf of all people who had their blood pressure taken in public places like shopping malls and community centers actually have hypertension—blood pressure readings 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or above, a new Canadian study revealed. More alarmingly, 2 percent of these people had levels high enough (180/110 mm Hg or above) to qualify as a medical emergency, though the majority had no idea that their BP was even abnormal in the first place.

Lose Weight to Clear Your SkinPeople with psoriasis—an inflammatory skin condition that causes red, scaly patches—who lost about 10 percent of their body weight after 16 months experienced a significant, lasting reduction in their skin symptoms, researchers from Denmark report. Too much fat sparks inflammation in your body, which can make your psoriasis even worse, they believe.

Search Your Dog For GrayToo much stress might turn your dog gray well before his time: Young dogs 1 to 4 years old with anxious behaviors—like destroying the house when left alone, cringing or cowering, or showing hair loss after a vet appointment or being in a new place—were more likely to show graying around the muzzle than their calmer counterparts, a new study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science found. If your dog is showing salt and pepper too soon, it might be a sign you need to help him chill out, so talk to your vet.

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