Add a heightened risk for depression to the list of challenges facing the caregivers of loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease. A new study found that older adults caring for spouses newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s had a 30% increase in symptoms of depression compared to those whose spouses didn’t have Alzheimer’s or related dementia. And… read on >
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2020 (Healthday News) — Final testing of a leading coronavirus vaccine candidate was paused by drugmaker AstraZeneca on Tuesday after a trial volunteer experienced a serious adverse reaction. The company did not release specifics on the case, but whether the reaction was caused by the vaccine or was coincidental is still unclear,… read on >
New hepatitis C medications are allowing people to receive a kidney transplant from a deceased donor who had the liver disease — a strategy aimed at getting more lifesaving organs to patients languishing on waitlists. Two new studies are highlighting the promise of the approach, showing that if patients are given the drug Mavyret, they… read on >
The new coronavirus and antibodies that fight it can be in children’s bodies at the same time, surprised researchers have found. “With most viruses, when you start to detect antibodies, you won’t detect the virus anymore. But with COVID-19, we’re seeing both,” said Dr. Burak Bahar, director of laboratory informatics at Children’s National Hospital in… read on >
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2020 (Healthday News) — In a sobering illustration of the toll the coronavirus pandemic took this summer, tallies now show the number of Americans who have died of COVID-19 jumped from just under 100,000 to over 186,000 between Memorial Day and Labor Day, while cases more than quadrupled, to over 6.2 million.… read on >
Visiting your dentist during the coronavirus pandemic poses little risk, an expert says. Dentists have taken measures to protect patients, but some people are still reluctant to get dental care, said Dr. Cecile Feldman, dean of Rutgers University’s School of Dental Medicine in New Jersey. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines… read on >
Social media has been rife with fake health products and financial scams during the coronavirus pandemic, a new study finds. Thousands of posts have touted illegal or unapproved testing kits, untested treatments and purported but counterfeit cures, according to researchers who analyzed posts on Twitter and Instagram. “From March to May 2020, we have identified… read on >
If your favorite feline has ever deposited a dead bird or snake on the front porch, your reaction to this “gift” may be far different from your best friend’s. A survey in Britain found that cat owners have wide-ranging views about their pets’ hunting habits. Some — the “conscientious caretakers” — are concerned about cats’… read on >
As some school sports return this fall, a number of measures should be followed to keep students safe from the new coronavirus, an expert says. “The best way to prevent risk is to remind students of frequent hand-washing or have hand sanitizers readily available, especially before, during and after practice,” said Dr. Irvin Sulapas, a… read on >
Even light smokers are much more likely to die of lung disease or lung cancer than nonsmokers, a new study warns. “Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you, but it’s easy to assume that if you only smoke a little, the risks won’t be too high,” said study co-leader Pallavi Balte, of Columbia University… read on >
