An overwhelming majority of older Americans think health insurers and Medicare should cover the cost of weight-loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy or Zepbound, a new survey has found. More than four out of five older adults (83%) think insurance companies should pay for drugs that help obese people manage their weight, according to poll results… read on > read on >
Teens who avidly use weed typically use it either for enjoyment or to cope, but both uses have a dark side to them, new research finds. Teenagers who use marijuana for enjoyment or to forget their problems have more demand for it, meaning that they are willing to both consume more weed when it’s free… read on > read on >
A healthy plant-based diet can reduce a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes by 24%, a new study has found. Eating plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains has this protective effect even in people with a genetic predisposition for diabetes or risk factors like obesity, advanced age or lack of physical activity, researchers… read on > read on >
Doctor’s brains are great decision-makers, but even the smartest physicians might be well-served with a little diagnostic help from ChatGPT, a new study suggests. The main benefit comes from a thinking process known as “probabilistic reasoning” — knowing the odds that something will (or won’t) happen. “Humans struggle with probabilistic reasoning, the practice of making… read on > read on >
Marijuana use by expecting moms is associated with unhealthy pregnancy outcomes, especially low birth weight babies, a new study finds. Further, heavier weed use is associated with higher risks for the pregnancy, the researchers added. “Cannabis use is not safe,” said senior researcher Dr. Robert Silver, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of… read on > read on >
A study involving twins suggests that if you have a sibling who develops dementia, that might not bode well for your life span. That’s true even if you don’t go on to develop dementia yourself, according to a study from U.S. and Swedish researchers. One investigator was surprised by the finding. “We expected a different… read on > read on >
Many Americans battling diabetes are turning to a new class of injected drugs that includes blockbusters like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). But a new study finds half of patients who use these “second line” therapies — a class called GLP-1 RAs — quit them within a year. The main factor: Gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting… read on > read on >
Late December is typically a time when holiday stress and winter weather can collide, creating a perfect recipe for a rise in heart attacks and stroke. Luckily, one expert has some advice on how to dodge the danger. “When we look across the year in terms of heart attack rates, what we see is fairly… read on > read on >
Gun advocates often claim that mental illness is the driving force behind mass shootings in the United States. But new research argues that gun violence is more likely driven by the massive numbers of firearms available throughout the country, providing easy access to anyone with a homicidal bent. In the study, investigators compared mental illness… read on > read on >
The diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic does not appear to harm a developing fetus when taken by pregnant women, a new study reports. Researchers found no elevated risk of birth defects among newborns of women who took medications to control their type 2 diabetes, compared with those who took insulin. During the decade-long study, researchers… read on > read on >
