"Controlling seizures during pregnancy is an important part of prenatal care for women with epilepsy, but for years, the effects of newer anti-seizure medications on their children was unknown," said Adam Hartman, M.D., program director at NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). "One major component of this study was correlating the cognitive … [Read more...]
How Your Skin Tone Could Affect Your Meds
Skin pigmentation may act as a "sponge" for some medications, potentially influencing the speed with which active drugs reach their intended targets, a pair of scientists report in a perspective article published in the journal Human Genomics. The researchers argue that a sizable proportion of drugs and other compounds can bind to melanin pigments in the skin, leading to … [Read more...]
Excess Body Weight Tied to Increased Risk for Second Cancers
Cancer survivors who had overweight or obesity at the time of their initial cancer diagnosis have a higher risk for a second primary cancer, particularly an obesity-related cancer, a new analysis found. Cancer survivors have an increased risk for another primary cancer. Studies suggest that lifestyle factors, such as excess body weight, may contribute to the risk for a … [Read more...]
Time-Restricted Eating May Help Adults With Metabolic Syndrome Improve Several Health Markers
Adults with metabolic syndrome and elevated blood sugar levels who eat within a time-restricted window may experience modest improvements in several measures, including A1c levels, weight, and body fat, according to a randomized controlled trial published in Annals of Internal Medicine. For the study, participants kept to an 8- to 10-hour window of eating, a dietary … [Read more...]
One in Three Americans has a Dysfunctional Metabolism, but Intermittent Fasting could help
More than one-third of adults in the United States have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that significantly raise a person's risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, excess abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels. In a new clinical trial, researchers at the Salk Institute and … [Read more...]
Study Proposes New Heart Failure Treatment Targeting Abnormal Hormone Activity
In heart failure, which is considered a global pandemic, the heart can no longer pump blood effectively. In HFpEF, the heart can pump normally but its muscles are too stiff to relax to re-fill the chambers with blood properly. It is often seen in older adults and people with multiple risk factors including high blood pressure (hypertension), obesity and diabetes. They … [Read more...]
New Therapeutic Approach to Preventing Cancer From Spreading to the Brain
Researchers at McMaster University have identified a new therapeutic approach to preventing cancer from spreading to the brain. In a new study, published recently in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, researchers Sheila Singh and Jakob Magolan discovered a critical vulnerability in metastatic brain cancer, which they say can be exploited with new drugs to prevent … [Read more...]
Games, Puzzles and Reading can Slow Cognitive Decline in the Elderly — Even in Those with Mild Cognitive Impairment
The aging process can lead to diminished cognitive functioning for older adults. In addition, about 10 percent of people previously diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia every year. Although a few studies have found that activities such as putting together jigsaw puzzles can protect against cognitive aging, the … [Read more...]
Excessive Light Pollution May Increase Risk of Alzheimer’s, Especially in Younger People
In some places around the globe, the lights never go off. Streetlights, roadway lighting, and illuminated signs can deter crime, make roads safer, and enhance landscaping. Undisrupted light, however, comes with ecological, behavioral, and health consequences. In the US, some states have legislation in place to reduce light pollution; however, levels of light at night remain … [Read more...]
The Secret to Sleepy Cells’ Control of Inflammatory Secretions
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have revealed a new secret regarding senescence, a cellular state similar to sleep that is more likely to affect aged cells. This drowsy condition is known to provide health benefits under certain conditions while also potentially causing collateral damage. "Senescence is not all bad," said Peter … [Read more...]
A Ketogenic Diet Could Improve The Response to Pancreatic Cancer Therapy
A study of fasting and the ketogenic diet reveals a new vulnerability of pancreatic tumors to an existing cancer drug. Scientists at UC San Francisco have discovered a way to get rid of pancreatic cancer in mice by putting them on a high fat, or ketogenic, diet and giving them cancer therapy. The cancer therapy blocks fat metabolism, which is the cancer's only source of … [Read more...]
Confronting Trauma Alleviates Chronic Pain Among Older Veterans
A new study led by UCLA Health and the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office found chronic pain among older adults could be significantly reduced through a newly developed psychotherapy that works by confronting past trauma and stress-related emotions that can exacerbate pain symptoms. Published in JAMA Network Open on June 13, the study compared the newer therapy, known as emotional … [Read more...]
Ozempic And Other Weight Loss Drugs Pose New Risks for Surgery, Europe Warns
Patients taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound could be at risk for respiratory complications during surgery The agency’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) recommended new measures to lower the risk of respiratory complications during surgery for patients taking GLP-1 treatments. GLP-1 drugs are a class of diabetes and weight loss drugs that mimics … [Read more...]
WHO Warns mpox Remains Global Health Threat
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, First, an update on H5N1 avian influenza. Last week, the United States reported a fourth human case of H5N1 following exposure to infected dairy cows. Cambodia also reported two cases in children who had contact with sick or dead chickens. For the moment, no human-to-human transmission has been reported, which is why … [Read more...]
Healthy Adults Under Age of 75 Urged to Take Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin D
Vitamin D use and blood vitamin D levels have been associated with many common diseases. However, whether vitamin D supplementation lowers the risk of these diseases and what vitamin D blood levels are needed for better health have been debated for years. In this new guideline, the panel of experts established guidelines for vitamin D use and testing for vitamin D levels in … [Read more...]
Medical School isn’t Teaching Doctors Much About Nutrition
Nutrition is a key determinant of health. But American physicians aren't receiving effective training to counsel patients on the topic, according to a new paper from University of Georgia researchers. Current medical training focuses on weight and body mass index (BMI), exacerbating anti-obesity bias and increasing the risk of eating disorders, the authors said. And it … [Read more...]
Study Reveals how ‘Forever Chemicals’ may Impact Heart Health in older Women
New research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has linked multiple types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals") with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. Specifically, the study reveals how PFAS chemicals interact with pro-inflammatory pathways in older women, providing potential explanations … [Read more...]
Century-old Vaccine Protects Type 1 Diabetics From Infectious Diseases
In new research, investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) show that the 100-year-old Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, originally developed to prevent tuberculosis, protects individuals with type 1 diabetes from severe COVID-19 disease and other infectious diseases. Two back-to-back randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trials found that the BCG … [Read more...]
Robotic Device Restores Wavelike Muscular Function Involved in Processes Like Digestion
A team of Vanderbilt researchers has developed a wirelessly activated device that mimics the wavelike muscular function in the esophagus and small intestine responsible for transporting food and viscous fluids for digestion. The soft-robotic prototype, which is driven by strong magnets controlled by a wearable external actuator, can aid patients suffering from blockages … [Read more...]
Childcare Pick-Up: A 1-Hour Window to Build Healthier Eating Habits
Millions of working parents know the routine: bustle the kids off to childcare in the morning, work all day, then fight the daily traffic jams to get the kids back home. Something to drink, maybe a snack to munch, can help ease the commute. Understandably, few parents take the time to think about the nutrients or calories involved, but experts at Cincinnati Children's … [Read more...]
Survey Finds Loneliness Epidemic Runs Deep Among Parents
A new national survey conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds a broad majority of parents experience isolation, loneliness and burnout from the demands of parenthood, with many feeling a lack of support in fulfilling that role. The survey of parents conducted this month found: About two-thirds (66%) felt the demands of parenthood sometimes or … [Read more...]
Use of Acid Reflux Drugs Linked to Higher Risk of Migraine
People who take acid-reducing drugs may have a higher risk of migraine and other severe headache than people who do not take these medications, according to a study published in the April 24, 2024, online issue of Neurology®Clinical Practice, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The acid-reducing drugs includeproton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole and … [Read more...]
Researchers Identify Causal Genetic Variant Linked to Common Childhood Obesity
Both environmental and genetic factors play critical roles in the increasing incidence of childhood obesity. While the exact role of genetics in childhood obesity is still not fully understood, prior studies show that neuronal pathways in the hypothalamus control food intake and are key regulators for the disease. Prior international genome-wide association studies (GWAS) … [Read more...]
Cranberries Provide Runners With an all-Natural Boost
Competitive athletes are always looking for an extra edge that can help them improve performance. According to a new study by Concordia researchers published in the journal Physical Activity and Nutrition, they can find one in the common cranberry. In a series of trials involving trained distance runners, the researchers found that ingesting a cranberry supplement for 28 … [Read more...]
The Impact of the Family Dog on The Exercise Habits of Kids.
With two-thirds of children in the U.S. failing to meet national physical activity guidelines, kinesiologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have been looking at the impact of the family dog on the exercise habits of kids. Could having a canine best friend get kids on their feet and help bring them more in line with the minimum recommendation of 60 minutes of … [Read more...]
Making Long-Term Memories Requires Nerve-Cell Damage
"Inflammation of brain neurons is usually considered to be a bad thing, since it can lead to neurological problems such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease," said study leader Jelena Radulovic, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and the Sylvia and Robert S. Olnick Chair in … [Read more...]
Genes Dictate Taste: Study Finds Genetic Links to Food Preferences
In the present systematic review, researchers evaluated the genetic influence on dietary preferences among adults. In August 2022, the team searched the Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, OpenGrey, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for relevant studies evaluating the impact of genotypes on food choices, preferences, and intake among healthy adults, … [Read more...]
New Study Reveals Black Pregnant Individuals’ Preference for Black Obstetric Care Providers
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrate that Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than are white women. Health disparities among people of color are the result of broader social and economic inequities rooted in racism and discrimination. In a new study to be presented today at the … [Read more...]
Gut Microbiota Influence Severity of Respiratory Viral Infection
The composition of microbiota found in the gut influences how susceptible mice are to respiratory virus infections and the severity of these infections, according to researchers from the Center for Translational Antiviral Research in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. The findings, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, report that … [Read more...]
New Weight Loss Medication may help Lower Blood Pressure in Adults with Obesity
The new weight loss medication tirzepatide significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) for nearly 500 adults with obesity who took the medication for about eight months, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. Systolic blood pressure, or the top number in the blood … [Read more...]
