People who repeatedly suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may be more apt to develop Alzheimer’s disease, new research shows. TBI can result from direct hits to the head or from indirect sources such as shockwaves from battlefield explosions. The brains of otherwise healthy military personnel who were exposed to explosions were found to have an… read on > read on >
As a U.S. Food Drug Administration advisory panel prepares to weigh whether to recommend that a birth control pill be sold over the counter in this country, a coalition of advocates on Monday called attention to the safety and effectiveness of the medication. If approved, Opill, a daily progestin-only birth control pill, would become the… read on > read on >
While newborns are only screened for about 60 treatable conditions, there are hundreds of genetic disorders that have targeted treatments. Now, a national survey of experts in rare diseases found the vast majority support DNA sequencing in healthy newborns. Testing, surveillance and treatment options exist for over 600 genetic conditions. This includes a growing number… read on > read on >
It’s easy for kids to get drawn into Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok, and a leading U.S. psychologists’ group warns they need some training in social media literacy beforehand. The American Psychological Association on Tuesday issued 10 science-based recommendations for teen and preteen social media use, the first time it has done so. The APA compares… read on > read on >
What puts kids at risk for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and what could help prevent it? A review of 36 observational studies that included 6.4 million kids offers some key clues. Taking antibiotics at an early age, eating a Western diet and living in a more affluent family were associated with an increased IBD… read on > read on >
The influence of Neanderthals is evident right in the center of the faces of modern humans. New research finds that genetic material inherited from Neanderthals affects nose shape. A particular gene made the nose taller from top to bottom. This may have been necessary as ancient humans adapted to colder climates. “In the last 15… read on > read on >
About 4.5 million adults in the United States have liver disease. If they’re looking for information about their condition, they’d be wise to look beyond TikTok, new research suggests. About 40% of posts about liver disease on the social media platform are false or misleading, pushing claims about fad diets and detox drinks, according to… read on > read on >
When Ann Alexander underwent chemotherapy to treat breast cancer a decade ago, she was warned about potential hair loss, nausea and vomiting. The 73-year-old wasn’t, however, told about the potential side effects of radiation therapy, namely acute radiation dermatitis. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and they include itchy skin, swelling, blistering and open… read on > read on >
The synthetic opioid fentanyl is killing increasing numbers of U.S. kids, emulating the chilling trends seen among adults, a new study finds. Pediatric deaths from fentanyl increased more than 30-fold between 2013 and 2021, according to study author Julie Gaither, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine. Nearly half of the… read on > read on >
The U.S. federal government has committed $5 million to study three existing and planned safe drug injection sites to see if they help prevent overdoses and whether they may offer savings in the health and criminal justice systems. At these overdose prevention centers (OPCs), people can use heroin or other illegal drugs under supervision so… read on > read on >
