Florida State University

Lead exposure from car exhaust in the 20th century caused up to 151 million cases of mental health disorders in Americans, with those born before 1996, especially in the 1960s-70s, at risk. Leaded gas use altered mental health, increasing depression, anxiety, and ADHD rates, and likely impacted personality and life success. The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, highlights the long-term effects of historical lead exposure.

Loneliness in midlife and old age increases dementia risk by 31%, affecting 7.9 million EU citizens. The study, published in Nature Mental Health, found loneliness raises risk of all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s, and vascular dementia, also increasing cognitive impairment by 15%. Researchers suggest loneliness is a critical risk factor for dementia.

FSU's Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases received $5 million in funding during its inaugural symposium, part of FSU's Discovery Days. The institute, launched in February, aims to advance research and precision medicine for rare diseases, with a focus on high-throughput sequencing technologies. State Rep. Adam Anderson, whose son died from a rare disorder, played a key role in establishing the institute.