A new COVID variant with very few known cases but many mutations has been swiftly moved into the World Health Organization’s “variant under monitoring” classification. Four known cases of the variant, dubbed BA.2.86, have been so far identified worldwide, including one case in Michigan. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that…  read on >  read on >

The brain is a complex organ, and a new study — believed to be the largest ever on the brain’s genetics — identifies more than 4,000 genetic variants linked to brain structure. The research, involving some 36,000 brain scans, was led by a team at the University of Cambridge in England. Brains are quite varied…  read on >  read on >

Teens’ desire to start smoking, and later to keep smoking, may be linked to differences in gray matter in their brains, a new study reveals. Researchers found that reduced gray matter in the left frontal lobe was found in kids who started smoking by age 14. This area is involved in decision-making and rule-breaking. Once…  read on >  read on >

It’s fun to playfully toss a toddler into the air, or tote a kid piggyback-style on your shoulders. But those delightful giggles may come with a risk of head injury from a typically overlooked hazard — the room’s ceiling fan. Each year U.S. emergency rooms treat about 2,300 children for head injuries caused by ceiling…  read on >  read on >

THURSDAY, Aug. 17, 2023 (HealthDay News) – The abortion pill mifepristone should remain legal in the United States, but with significant restrictions on access to it, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. The decision, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, effectively sets the stage for a showdown…  read on >  read on >