While there is evidence that long-chain n-3 PUFA supplementation benefits mood, the extent to which a single high dose of n-3 PUFA can induce acute mood effects has not been examined. The present study investigated whether a single dose of a DHA-rich powder affects self-reported mood in middle-aged males during elevated cognitive demand. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a balanced crossover design, twenty-nine healthy males (age M = 52.8 years, sd = 5.3) were administered a powder (in a meal) containing 4·74 g n-3 PUFA (DHA 4020 mg; EPA 720 mg) or placebo in random order on two different testing days separated by a washout period of 7 ± 3 d. Participants completed mood assessments before and after completing two cognitive test batteries at baseline and again 3·5–4·0 h following the consumption of the active treatment or placebo. While completion of the cognitive test batteries increased negative mood, differential effects for alertness (P = 0·008) and stress (P = 0·04) followed consumption of the DHA-rich powder compared with placebo. Although alertness declined when completing the cognitive batteries, it was higher following consumption of the DHA-rich powder compared with placebo (P = 0·006). Conversely, stress was lower following consumption of the DHA-rich powder relative to placebo, though this difference only approached significance (P = 0·05). Overall, results from this pilot study demonstrate that a single high dose of n-3 PUFA may deliver acute mood benefits following elevated cognitive demand in healthy middle-aged males.

Research has demonstrated that positive and negative moods may differently affect semantic processing due to the activation of mood-dependent thinking. Interestingly, recent studies have indicated that the interplay between mood and semantic processing may also be modulated by the language of operation (native [L1] vs. second language [L2]). Still, it remains an open question if and how mood interacts with varying depths of semantic processing, particularly in bilinguals. Here, we show that a negative mood may differently modulate shallow and deep semantic processing in bilinguals at a behavioral level. In two experiments, Polish–English bilinguals, induced into positive and negative moods, performed a lexical decision task (marking shallow semantic processing; Experiment 1) and a semantic decision task (marking deep semantic processing; Experiment 2) with sentences in L1 and L2 of varying semantic complexity: literal, novel metaphoric, and anomalous sentences. While no interactive mood–language effect was observed for shallow semantic processing, we found faster semantic judgments when bilinguals were in a negative relative to positive mood in L2, but not L1, for deep semantic processing. These findings suggest that a negative mood may activate more analytical and effort-maximizing thinking in L2, yet only when the linguistic content requires deeper understanding.

Previous studies show that maternal mind-mindedness positively impacts children’s social development. In the current studies, we examine the relation between mind-mindedness during parent–child interaction, oxytocin (OT), and postnatal depression in a sample of mothers (N = 62, ages 23–44) and their infant (ages 3–9 months). In Study 1, infant salivary OT was positively correlated with mothers’ appropriate mind-related comments, and negatively correlated (at trend level) with maternal depression scores. Mothers experiencing symptoms of depression used fewer appropriate mind-related comments than controls. Study 2 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, experimental study, in which the same women who participated in Study 1 were administered nasal OT. This did not significantly influence levels of mind-mindedness. Study 2 warrants a larger trial to investigate the effect of OT on mind-mindedness further. Study 1 is the first to demonstrate an association between maternal mind-mindedness and variation in children’s OT levels. Since both OT and mind-mindedness have been repeatedly implicated in processes of maternal–infant attachment, this association highlights the centrality of mothers’ caregiving representations in facilitating the parent–child relationship and children’s early development.

We examined the efficacy of cognitive and behavioral interventions for improving symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults with neurological disorders. A pre-registered systematic search of Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Neurobite was performed from inception to May 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which examined the efficacy of cognitive and behavioral interventions in treating depression and/or anxiety among adults with neurological disorders were included. Estimates were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed on categorical and continuous moderators, respectively. Main outcomes were pre- and post-intervention depression and anxiety symptom scores, as reported using standardized measures. Fifty-four RCTs involving 5372 participants with 11 neurological disorders (including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke) were included. The overall effect of interventions yielded significant improvements in both depression (57 arms, Hedges' g = 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35–0.54) and anxiety symptoms (29 arms, g = 0.38, 95% CI 0.29–0.48), compared to controls. Efficacy was greater in studies which employed a minimum baseline symptom severity inclusion criterion for both outcomes, and greater in trials using inactive controls for depression only. There was also evidence of differential efficacy of interventions across the neurological disorder types and the outcome measure used. Risk of bias, intervention delivery mode, intervention tailoring for neurological disorders, sample size, and study year did not moderate effects. Cognitive and behavioral interventions yield small-to-moderate improvements in symptoms of both depression and anxiety in adults with a range of neurological disorders.

The role of flavonoids on cognitive performance in older adults has been intensively studied, with the subclass of anthocyanins showing promising outcomes(1). However, there is conflicting evidence in the case of individuals at high risk of developing dementia, namely those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A recent study has suggested that cognitive scores in people with MCI were higher in those who had higher anthocyanin intake (>10 mg)(2). Baseline data from 65 participants of an ongoing clinical trial that had an MIS (Memory Index Score) score ≤ 13 with self-reported subjective memory complaints, (mean age 69.1y ± 6.2) were used to investigate the relationship between dietary anthocyanin intake and indices of mood and cognitive performance. Repeated 24-hour dietary intake was recorded through Intake24 (a computer-based program) for three days (2Xweekday and 1Xweekend day) and anthocyanin intake was quantified using the PhenolExplorer food composition database. The primary outcome of interest was the Buschke and Grober Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test-Immediate Recall (FCSRT+IR) (assesses auditory anterograde memory functioning), while other cognitive functions assessed included: Spot the Word-2 (assessing premorbid estimate); Oral Symbol Digit Test (speed of processing); List Sorting (working memory); Trail Making Test A & B (speed of processing/executive function); and Verbal Fluency (language/semantic memory). Subjective memory complaints were assessed using the Memory Assessment Clinic-Q (MAC-Q) and mood was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Independent t-tests were used to compare differences in cognitive tasks and mood scores between high (>10 mg/d) and low consumers of anthocyanins (<10 mg/d). There was a trend for high anthocyanin consumers (n = 35, median = 44.87 (10.01, 177.83)) to score better on FCSRT-Delayed Free Recall scores (16.57 ± 3.74) compared to lower consumers (n = 30, median = 0.01 (0, 9.51)), (15.97 ± 0.18) with a mean difference (SE) of −1.06 (0.58) (p = 0.06) suggesting recall of 1.06 more words after a 20-30 minute delay. Higher consumers had a lower GDS score (1.77 ± 3.73) compared to lower consumers (3.73 ± 1.77), p = 0.01. Spot the word test scores (assesses premorbid verbal abilities using a robust lexical decision task) were higher for high anthocyanin consumers (53.06 ± 4.38) compared to lower consumers (50.40 ± 4.38), mean difference (SE) = −2.66 (1.10), p = 0.01, meaning participants with higher intake of dietary anthocyanin were able to point at 2.7 more real words than low consumers. Dietary consumption of anthocyanin in older adults with MIS is associated with beneficial effects on depressive scores and the ability to retrieve words. Further research is warranted to identify optimal dosage for recommended intake. This cross-sectional study used baseline data from a randomised controlled trial registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR):12622000065796.

Gold kiwifruit consumption and increased vitamin C intake have been associated with improved mood, vitality, and wellbeing in healthy individuals(1,2). However, to date, no studies have focussed exclusively on the efficacy of gold kiwifruit for improving such outcomes in participants with disturbed mood. A randomised crossover trial was undertaken to examine the efficacy of ZespriTM SunGoldTM kiwifruit for improving psychological wellbeing and vitamin C concentrations in adults with sub-clinical levels of mood disturbance. In a two-period, non-blinded crossover trial, N = 26 adults aged 21 to 60 years (M = 36.1, SD = 11.0) with mild to moderate mood disturbance were randomised to a counter-balanced sequence. Participants consumed 2x SunGold kiwifruit daily or their typical diet for four weeks, with a two-week washout between periods. The primary outcome was change in mood disturbance, with secondary outcomes including plasma vitamin C, wellbeing, vitality and gut health. Results indicated a significant time x treatment interaction effect for mood disturbance (F(2,107.3) = 6.19, p = ,003) with significant improvements in mood disturbance scores between baseline and post-intervention during the SunGold kiwifruit period. A significant time x treatment interaction effect for blood plasma vitamin C (F(2,98.5) = 3.65, p = ,029) also demonstrated increased vitamin C concentrations during the SunGold kiwifruit period. A significant time x treatment interaction effect for wellbeing (F(2,104.7) = 4.5, p = ,013) was evident with wellbeing significantly improved between baseline and post-intervention during the SunGold kiwifruit period. The time x treatment interaction for vitality approached significance (F(2,104.7) = 2.89, p = ,06) with increases in vitality following SunGold kiwifruit consumption. These results provide preliminary evidence that SunGold kiwifruit consumption improves psychological wellbeing in mood-disturbed adults, which corresponds to increased plasma vitamin C concentrations. Future research is required to replicate this effect and to further demonstrate the potential benefit of whole-food interventions for treating mood-disturbance.