Certain cholesterol-lowering drugs might speed dementia in some older adults whose memories are starting to fail, a small, preliminary study suggests. The researchers found that of 300 older adults with mildly impaired thinking and memory, those using “lipophilic” statins were more likely to develop dementia over the next eight years. Lipophilic statins include such widely… read on > read on >
Children may have an increased risk of obesity if their mothers were exposed to high levels of air pollution during pregnancy, researchers say. In a new study, 123 Hispanic mother-infant pairs were enrolled in an ongoing trial in the Los Angeles region. Before pregnancy, about one-third of the mothers were normal weight, one-third were overweight… read on > read on >
The American South and Midwest are home to the highest obesity rates in the nation, but a new study reveals that severely obese residents of those regions are the least likely to choose lifesaving weight-loss surgery. “Bariatric surgery has been shown to provide long-term weight loss, sustained improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health, and even… read on > read on >
Living longer often means living with multiple health problems and numerous medications to manage them. Understandably, many doctors and their patients wonder if any of these drugs can be discontinued safely. A new study from Italy suggests statins should not be culled from the list. Among more than 29,000 adults 65 and older, those who… read on > read on >
What can make a young person vulnerable to eating disorders? Teasing them about any extra pounds they may carry, researchers say. “Our findings add to the growing evidence that weight-based mistreatment is not helpful and is often harmful to the health of young people,” said study leader Laura Hooper, a PhD student at the University… read on > read on >
Antibody treatments are safe and effective for transplant patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, a new study shows. Monoclonal antibodies help prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus from attaching to cells, which helps block the spread of infection. The findings are important, researchers said, because transplant patients with COVID are more likely to be severely ill or… read on > read on >
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 >
Hoping to eat your way to a healthier heart? Diets rich in plant foods may beat low-fat eating regimens for cutting the risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study finds. Saturated fat, the kind largely found in animal products, has long been viewed as the enemy of the heart, since it can raise… 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 >
