Youngsters might have good cause to think they’re brainier than their parents or grandparents, a new study finds. It turns out that human brains are getting larger with each generation, potentially adding more brain reserve and reducing the overall risk of dementia, researchers report March 25 in the journal JAMA Neurology. People born in the… read on > read on >
People worry about deadly viruses leaping from animals into humans, but a new study suggests that wildlife is more at risk than humans are. Roughly twice as many viruses pass from humans to animals than the other way around, researchers report March 25 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. “We should consider humans just… read on > read on >
Migraines in young adults appear to increase their risk of stroke more than traditional risk factors like high blood pressure, a new study reports. Results show that migraine is the most important non-traditional risk factor for stroke among adults ages 18 to 34, accounting for 20% of strokes in men and nearly 35% in women.… read on > read on >
Chemicals found in common household products might damage the brain’s wiring, a new study warns. These chemicals — found in disinfectants, cleaners, hair products, furniture and textiles — could be linked to degenerative brain diseases like multiple sclerosis and autism, researchers report. The chemicals specifically affect the brain’s oligodendrocytes, a specialized type of cell that… read on > read on >
New research offers an easy prescription to get people to roll up their sleeves for a flu shot. Just ask them to. And then reinforce the invitation with a little video and print encouragement. “Our study adds to the growing body of knowledge showing that a number of important public health interventions can and should… read on > read on >
A protein that shuts down immune cells in the lungs could be key to a new treatment for asthma attacks, a new report says. The naturally occurring protein, called Piezo1, prevents a type of immune cell called type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) from becoming hyperactivated by allergens. An experimental drug called Yoda1 that switches… read on > read on >
Milk from dairy cows in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico has tested positive for the presence of bird flu, U.S. officials say. In a news release issued Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the virus is the Type A H5N1 strain, known to cause outbreaks in birds and to sometimes infect people. “As of… read on > read on >
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments Tuesday in a case that could determine nationwide access to the abortion pill, a new study finds requests for the medication made outside the traditional health care system surged after Roe v. Wade was overturned. There were about 26,000 more self-managed medication abortions than expected, based… read on > read on >
The bright lights of the big city might seem exciting, but they could also raise a person’s risk of stroke, a new study suggests. Bright artificial lights that illuminate the night seem to affect blood flow to the brain in ways that make stroke more likely, researchers report. People with the highest levels of exposure… read on > read on >
Six out of every 10 stroke survivors wind up struggling with depression later in their lives, a new study says. That compares to the 22% depression rate of the general population, results show. Further, 9 of 10 stroke-related depression cases occur within five years of surviving a stroke, researchers found. “Depression is common in stroke… read on > read on >
