An advanced form of LASIK eye surgery that uses a virtual 3D model of a person’s eye appears to offer patients better vision, a new study says. About 98% of eyes treated with the “wavelight plus” form of LASIK gained improved vision, compared to 82% of eyes treated with a competing process called SMILE Pro,… read on > read on >
Antidepressants are widely used to treat depression and anxiety, but a new study finds that some of these medications can cause noticeable changes in weight, heart rate and cholesterol levels. The study, published Tuesday in The Lancet, analyzed data from more than 58,000 participants to compare 30 different antidepressants or a placebo for an average… read on > read on >
If you need another reason to brush and floss, here it is: Research suggests keeping your mouth healthy might also protect your brain and heart. Two new studies published Oct. 22 in Neurology Open Access linked gum disease and cavities to a higher risk of stroke and brain damage. In the first study, adults with… read on > read on >
Imagine popping by your eye doctor’s office for a quick cataract surgery. That appears to be the future for this vision-enhancing procedure, researchers reported Saturday at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Hundreds of patients successfully received cataract surgery in a doctor’s office after taking sedative pills, as opposed to IV… read on > read on >
Any boozing can cause your blood pressure to go up, a new study shows. Even slight increases in alcohol consumption are associated with higher blood pressure, researchers reported Oct. 22 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Stopping drinking, or even cutting back, might lead to reductions in blood pressure that would lower… read on > read on >
You may have seen recent news stories reporting that a national data investigation found that routine childhood vaccination is slipping across much of the United States, leaving classrooms and daycares with growing gaps in protection against highly contagious diseases like measles and whooping cough. That’s a warning sign for every family with children — and… read on > read on >
A powerful new drug combo has yielded a major breakthrough for men battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Adding the drug enzalutamide to standard hormone therapy reduced the risk of premature death by more than 40% in patients whose prostate cancer had returned, a large international clinical trial has found. The findings were simultaneously… read on > read on >
For the estimated one-third of people with focal epilepsy who don’t respond well to initial medications, new research offers significant reason for optimism. A study suggests that even those considered “treatment-resistant” may eventually see a substantial reduction in their seizures over time. Focal epilepsy, the most common form of the neurological disorder, occurs when nerve… read on > read on >
Scientists have restored partial vision to people with a common form of blindness using a prosthetic retinal implant, a first that could one day improve life for more than a million Americans with severe vision loss. The new technology — developed by Califonia-based Science Corporation — helped 27 of 32 patients regain enough sight to… read on > read on >
Two widely available diabetes medications appear to safely improve brain health among people with early brain decline. The diabetes drug empagliflozin (Jardiance) and an insulin nasal spray both showed promising effects on memory, brain health and blood flow to the brain, researchers recently reported in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. “Our study suggests that targeting… read on > read on >
