Children with autism differ socially and developmentally from their typically developing peers. Now, researchers say there are also differences in their array of healthy gut bacteria or “microbiome.” The findings may lead to earlier treatment for kids with an autism spectrum disorder, suggested the authors of a new small study. The gut microbiome can vary…  read on >  read on >

Accidental exposure to fentanyl pain patches is putting children’s lives at risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid pain reliever; so powerful that fentanyl patches are typically only prescribed to patients who require round-the-clock, long-term pain relief, such as cancer patients. They’re generally replaced every three days. Kids can…  read on >  read on >

The controversial new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm is creating something of a civil war in medicine, as health networks, hospitals, insurers and individual doctors weigh impending discussions with patients about whether they should take the medication. Many doctors believe the U.S. Food and Drug Administration “moved the goalposts” to approve Aduhelm (aducanumab) in early June, and…  read on >  read on >

A drug that eases hallucinations in people with Parkinson’s disease may be able to do the same for those with dementia, a new clinical trial finds. The medication, called Nuplazid (pimavanserin), is already approved in the United States for treating hallucinations and delusions related to Parkinson’s. The new study, published July 22 in the New…  read on >  read on >

As he urged Americans who are still hesitant to get vaccinated, President Joe Biden told an Ohio town hall on Wednesday night that he expected the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would soon give final approval to COVID-19 vaccines. At the moment, all three vaccines being used in this country have only emergency use approval.…  read on >  read on >

Possible listeria contamination has triggered the nationwide recall of more than two dozen muffin products made by Give and Go Prepared Foods, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. The recalled products were sold across the country and include a variety of Uncle Wally’s twin muffins, The Worthy Crumb large muffins, Stop n Shop…  read on >  read on >

Changes in Americans’ grocery shopping habits during the pandemic made pre-existing gaps in access to food even worse, researchers report. While many wealthier people switched to online ordering and did more stocking up, most low-income people still had to shop in-person at local small grocers and dollar stores and do so regularly because they couldn’t…  read on >  read on >

Thinking of starting a family? Start getting your heart in shape. New research suggests that how healthy a woman’s heart is before conception affects outcomes in her pregnancy. Study author Dr. Sadiya Khan said the findings make a case for more comprehensive heart assessments prior to pregnancy rather than focusing on isolated individual risk factors,…  read on >  read on >

Eating beef, lamb, pork and processed meats spells trouble for your heart, and the more you eat, the worse it gets, new research warns. The meta-analysis — an overview of data from a large number of studies — included more than 1.4 million people who were followed for 30 years. It found that for each…  read on >  read on >