Folks with metabolic syndrome have up to a 40% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a new study says. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health problems that include excess belly fat, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels. It’s already known to increase people’s risk of heart disease, stroke and type…  read on >  read on >

Seniors with known heart-related problems aren’t doing a very good job taking steps to protect their health, a new study says. Older folks with high blood pressure, stroke survivors and heart failure patients in the United States all have been neglecting Life’s Essential 8 — a checklist of lifestyle factors that can protect heart health,…  read on >  read on >

Exposure to a common pesticide during pregnancy can impair children’s brain development and motor function for years to come, a new study says. The widely used pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) is linked to altered brain function and poorer fine motor control among children exposed to it while in the womb, researchers report in JAMA Neurology. “The…  read on >  read on >

For the first time, people can get their annual flu vaccine without leaving the comfort of home. FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine made by AstraZeneca, is now available for at-home use through a service called FluMist Home, the company announced. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved FluMist in 2003 for use…  read on >  read on >

Diabetes risk appears to cluster in households, a new study says. Three-quarters of people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes are living under the same roof as another person who either already has diabetes or carries risk factors for the condition, researchers will report at the upcoming annual meeting of the European Association for…  read on >  read on >

Supportive parents. Regular household routines. Comforting beliefs. Strong connections to the community. All these positive childhood influences can lower a college student’s risk of developing an eating disorder, even in the face of some negative experiences, a new study says. Previous studies have linked child abuse and neglect to greater risk of eating disorders like…  read on >  read on >