Research conducted at University of Exeter, shows for the first time that a group-based psychological treatment, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), could be a viable alternative to prescription drugs for people suffering from long-term depression. In a study, published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, MBCT proved as effective as maintenance anti-depressants in preventing a relapse and more effective in enhancing peoples’ quality of life. The study also showed MBCT to be as cost-effective as prescription drugs in helping people with a history of depression stay well in the longer-term.

A research conducted on a large patient population in the U.S. have shown that the use of the anti-inflammatory and painkiller ibuprofen is linked to lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. According to the researchers, patients who took the drug for over 5 years were 40% less likely to develop the disease compared with patients who did not use that type of drug at all.