After years of improvement, Americans with diabetes may be losing some ground in controlling the condition, a new government-funded study shows. Researchers found that between 1999 and the early 2010s, U.S. adults with diabetes made substantial gains: A growing percentage had their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol down to recommended levels. Since then, the…  read on >  read on >

Breast cancer patients who have adequate levels of vitamin D — the “sunshine vitamin” — at the time of their diagnosis have better long-term outcomes, a new study finds. Combined with the results of prior research, the new findings suggest “an ongoing benefit for patients who maintain sufficient levels [of vitamin D] through and beyond…  read on >  read on >

People who have Crohn’s disease often seek to ease their symptoms by changing what they eat, and new research suggests the Mediterranean diet may be their best bet. The study evaluated one of the commonly used diets for Crohn’s disease, known as the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), comparing it with the Mediterranean diet, which is…  read on >  read on >

ADHD medications might help lessen the risk of suicide in children with serious behavioral issues, a new study suggests. Researchers found that medications like Ritalin and Adderall, commonly prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), were linked to a lower risk of suicidal behavior among 9- and 10-year-olds with substantial “externalizing” symptoms. That included children with high…  read on >  read on >

Fewer temptations at checkout? People may spend more money when they buy their groceries online, but they also tend to buy fewer unhealthy, “impulse-sensitive” foods like candy and cookies, new research shows. For the study, the researchers looked at the shopping habits of 137 primary household shoppers in Maine to compare their in-store and online…  read on >  read on >

Advocates of plant-based diets suggest they can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and help the environment. Now, new research suggests they may provide another health benefit: lowering COVID-19 severity. A plant-based diet was associated with 73% lower odds of moderate to severe COVID-19 infection in the study. A pescatarian diet,…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease in nearly two decades, in a controversial decision that left the agency defending its reputation and its science. Aduhelm (aducanumab) treats Alzheimer’s by clearing out amyloid beta, a sticky protein known to form plaques in the brains of early-stage…  read on >  read on >