A new brain scanning technique is shaking up what researchers thought they knew about Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers now say they can predict with reasonable accuracy which brain regions will wither and atrophy in Alzheimer’s by identifying the places where tau protein “tangles” have built up. “You could really predict which brain regions were going to…  read on >

If you have atrial fibrillation (a-fib) — a potentially dangerous irregular heart rhythm — giving up alcohol could ease your symptoms. That’s what happened when researchers asked people with a-fib who normally have roughly two drinks a day to stop drinking. When they compared the teetotalers to a similar group of people with a-fib who…  read on >

“Space medicine” took another small step forward after an astronaut who developed a blood clot in a neck vein was diagnosed and treated while onboard the International Space Station (ISS), physicians at NASA and elsewhere report. The research team didn’t reveal the astronaut’s name, age or gender, but said the ISS crew member developed an…  read on >

More than 5 million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults, says the American Association of Endodontists. But knocked out teeth don’t have to be lost for good. Proper emergency action can save the tooth, so it can be replanted. If your tooth gets knocked out, the association urges you to: Pick up…  read on >

Millions of Americans have filled movie theaters over the holidays to watch the latest in the Star Wars saga, but a new study suggests that enjoyment of the film may be governed by prior expectations. To see how expectations affect viewing pleasure, researchers surveyed 441 people before and after they saw “Star Wars: Episode VIII…  read on >

Lose weight. Eat healthier. Quit smoking. These are all popular New Year’s resolutions that are often only kept for a short time, if at all. About 40% of Americans make a New Year’s resolution, most of which are abandoned by February, according to researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. But Bernadette Melnyk, vice…  read on >

Screenings are medical tests used to check for diseases and health conditions, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer and mental health issues, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Your age, gender and medical history help determine which screenings are best for you. When problems are found early, they may be easier to…  read on >

Ringing in the new year shouldn’t be a deafening experience, so protect your hearing, experts advise. Loud music, fireworks, party horns, kazoos and other noisemakers can all help usher in 2020 with a blast, but can also cause ringing in your ears or even permanent hearing damage, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Here are…  read on >

A new artificial pancreas system, drugs that help control blood sugar and protect the heart and the kidneys, a new medication that delays type 1 diabetes, and a new way to track blood sugar throughout the day — 2019 was a pretty big year in diabetes care. “This has been a good year for patients…  read on >

The scourge of addiction among Americans young and old made big headlines in 2019, as did one big change in heart health guidelines. Here are the top health stories of the past year, as compiled by editors at HealthDay. Vaping takes hold, and new dangers emerge Perhaps no health issue dominated headlines this past year…  read on >