Tony Head was depressed and fearing death from stage 4 prostate cancer when, as part of a supervised scientific trial, he took a large dose of the psychedelic agent in “magic mushrooms,” psilocybin. Head donned a mask and headphones to shut out the world around him, and had an experience that changed the course of… read on > read on >
The Omicron variant appears to spread at twice the rate as the Delta variant does, due mostly to a combination of contagiousness and an ability to dodge the body’s immune defenses, scientists report. The degree to which each factor contributes to the spread of Omicron is still unclear, according to the findings of an analysis… read on > read on >
U.S. pharmacies are struggling to keep up with Americans’ demand for coronavirus vaccines and tests, and the pressure could intensify as antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 are approved by federal regulators. “There’s crazy increased demand on pharmacies right now,” Theresa Tolle, an independent pharmacist whose store in Sebastian, Fla., has seen COVID-19 vaccine demand quadruple… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 People with a longtime history of epilepsy show signs of rapid brain aging that may raise their odds for developing dementia down the road. This is the key finding of new research reporting that the brains of people with epilepsy that began in childhood appear to be about 10 years older… read on > read on >
Checking older adults’ resting heart rate could help identify those who are more likely to experience a decline in mental function, a Swedish study suggests. The researchers found that a high resting heart rate was associated with a greater risk of dementia. “We believe it would be valuable to explore if resting heart rate could… read on > read on >
New research offers fresh proof that the COVID-19 pandemic delayed cancer diagnoses in the United States, increasing patients’ risk for poor outcomes. For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 9 million patients at over 1,200 Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. Procedures to diagnose cancer were used less often and there were fewer new… read on > read on >
It happens very rarely, but most teens and young adults who do experience heart inflammation (myocarditis) after a COVID-19 shot have mild symptoms and recover quickly, new research shows. “Overwhelmingly, data continue to indicate that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination — 91% effective at preventing complications of severe COVID-19 infection including hospitalization and death —… read on > read on >
In nearly two-thirds of U.S. states, cancer patients weren’t put at the front of the line for COVID-19 vaccines in the initial phase of vaccination, a new study finds. Many cancer patients are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 as the disease or related treatments leaves them with weakened immune systems. Perhaps many cancer patients were skipped… read on > read on >
You might think de-cluttering would make it easier for people with dementia to do daily tasks. Not so, says a new study from the United Kingdom. “It is generally assumed that a person with dementia will be better able to carry out daily tasks when their home space is tidy and clutter-free,” said Eneida Mioshi,… read on > read on >
If you’re a patient with a weakened immune system, roll up your sleeves to stay safe over the holidays and winter months. “Immunocompromised patients absolutely should get a flu shot as well as an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose,” said Dr. Marwa Kaisey, a neuroimmunologist and assistant professor of neurology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. “Otherwise,… read on > read on >
