A twice-daily pill can dramatically reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women who are genetically prone to the disease, researchers report. The pill — olaparib (Lynparza) — works by blocking a natural enzyme called PARP that normally fixes DNA damage in healthy cells, but in these women actually promotes the growth of cancerous… read on > read on >
All Food:
A Fruitful Approach to Preventing Diabetes
Want to lower your risk of diabetes? Eat plenty of fruit. An Australian study suggests that two servings a day could lower the odds of developing type 2 diabetes by 36%. “A healthy diet and lifestyle, which includes the consumption of whole fruits, is a great strategy to lower your risk of developing type 2… read on > read on >
Healthy Eating Lowers Pregnancy Complication Risk
If you’re planning to get pregnant or already “eating for two,” sticking to a healthy diet may reduce the risk of several common pregnancy complications, researchers say. The new study included nearly 1,900 women who completed diet questionnaires at eight to 13 weeks of pregnancy, along with estimates of what they ate in the previous… read on > read on >
NIH Starts Trial Assessing ‘Mix & Match’ COVID Vaccine Approach
Moderna plus Pfizer? J&J plus Moderna? There’s a new clinical trial underway to assess the safety and effectiveness of mixing different types of booster shots in adults who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “Although the vaccines currently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offer strong protection against COVID-19, we need to prepare… read on > read on >
Tai Chi Equal to ‘Regular’ Exercise in Trimming Your Tummy
Could exercise that uses slow movements and breathing, like tai chi, do as much for trimming belly fat in older adults as aerobic exercise? It might. A new study found that individuals aged 50 and up who practiced tai chi for 12 weeks lost about as much waist circumference as older adults who did conventional… read on > read on >
Losing Weight Can Beat Diabetes and Also Help the Heart
An aggressive weight-loss program not only achieves remission of type 2 diabetes, but may also end the need for blood pressure medications, new research shows. “Our study shows that, in addition to possible remission from type 2 diabetes, there are other very important health benefits, as weight loss is a very effective treatment for hypertension… read on > read on >
FDA Warns of Bogus Fertility Claims for Some Supplements
Women who are struggling to get pregnant, beware of false dietary supplements that claim to help cure infertility and other reproductive health issues. Such supplements are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and they could prevent patients from seeking effective, approved drugs, the agency warned. “These purported fertility aids seek to profit… read on > read on >
Boaters and Drivers, Stay Alcohol-Free This Memorial Day Weekend
It’s the first holiday since the pandemic began where Americans can mingle without masks if they are fully vaccinated, so celebrations are in order. But folks still need to avoid alcohol if they’re driving or boating over the Memorial Day weekend. “This Memorial Day weekend, as we honor our nation’s heroes who sacrificed their lives… read on > read on >
Amazon Tribe Could Hold Key to Health of Aging Brains
A native South American population that lives a pre-industrial lifestyle may have a slower rate of brain aging than the typical Westerner, a new study finds. The study focused on the Tsimane population, whose roughly 16,000 members dwell in a remote part of the Bolivian Amazon. They live by farming, hunting, gathering and fishing —… read on > read on >
FDA Approves Third COVID Antibody Treatment for Emergency Use
A third antibody treatment designed to keep high-risk COVID-19 patients from winding up in the hospital was approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. Importantly, in lab tests the newly authorized drug, dubbed sotrovimab, neutralized the highly infectious virus variant that is crippling India, as well as variants first… read on > read on >