Out of a host of possible risk factors for dementia, three really stood out in a new analysis: Diabetes, air pollution and alcohol. British and American researchers used brain scans to focus on a neurological network they labeled a “weak spot” in the brain. This network is known to be vulnerable to the effects of… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
High Rate of Suicidal Thoughts Among Black Men in Rural America: Study
Suicidal thoughts and contemplation of death haunt the minds of many rural Black men in the United States, a new study reports. One in three rural Black men said they had such dark thoughts within the past two weeks, University of Georgia researchers found. These thoughts are driven by childhood trauma, poverty and exposure to… read on > read on >
Just 30 Minutes Less Sitting Time Per Day Cuts Seniors’ High Blood Pressure
Seniors wound up with lower blood pressure after they were coached to get up and move more often, a new study says. Health coaching successfully reduced sitting time for a group of older adults by just over 30 minutes a day, according to a report published March 27 in the journal JAMA Network Open. Sitting… read on > read on >
Living in Poor Neighborhoods Nearly Doubles Risk of Heart Attacks, Stroke
Living in a poor and unhealthy neighborhood could nearly double a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study says. The findings indicate that all the factors that make for a crummy neighborhood — air and water pollution, toxic sites, few parks, tons of traffic — play a significant role in heart health.… read on > read on >
SCOTUS Appears Skeptical of Arguments to Curb Abortion Pill Access
Following oral arguments presented on Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court looked poised to rebuff a legal challenge to women’s access to the abortion pill. Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen now used for the majority of abortions nationwide. In the case now before the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs claim the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did… read on > read on >
Sleep Troubles Can Raise Your Blood Pressure: Study
A major review of data confirms that getting less than the recommended amount of sleep each night is a risk factor for high blood pressure. Data collected in 16 studies conducted from 2000 through 2023, involving over 1 million people in six countries, revealed a 7% rise in the risk for hypertension among folks who… read on > read on >
ADHD Meds Tied to Heart Damage in Young Adult Users
ADHD stimulant medications like Ritalin or Adderall appear linked to a heightened risk for cardiomyopathy (a weakening of the heart muscle), and the risk grows with time, new research shows. However, researchers were quick to note that cardiomyopathies are rare in the young, and even with ADHD medication use the absolute risk to any one… read on > read on >
Could Deep Frying Foods Harm the Brain? Rat Study Suggests It Might
Fried foods not only wreck the waistline, but they could also be harming the brain, a new study of lab rats suggests. Fed chow that was fried in sesame or sunflower oil, the rodents developed liver and colon problems that wound up affecting their brain health, researchers found. These brain health effects not only were… read on > read on >
Human Brains Are Getting Larger With Each Generation
Youngsters might have good cause to think they’re brainier than their parents or grandparents, a new study finds. It turns out that human brains are getting larger with each generation, potentially adding more brain reserve and reducing the overall risk of dementia, researchers report March 25 in the journal JAMA Neurology. People born in the… read on > read on >
Young Adults With Migraine May Face Higher Stroke Risk
Migraines in young adults appear to increase their risk of stroke more than traditional risk factors like high blood pressure, a new study reports. Results show that migraine is the most important non-traditional risk factor for stroke among adults ages 18 to 34, accounting for 20% of strokes in men and nearly 35% in women.… read on > read on >