If you’re in your 40s or 50s and have trouble getting and staying asleep, that’s not a good sign for brain health as you age, new research suggests. “Our study, which used brain scans to determine participants’ brain age, suggests that poor sleep is linked to nearly three years of additional brain aging as early… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
FDA Appoints New Head of Medical Devices
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it has appointed Dr. Michelle Tarver to head its division that oversees medical devices. The appointment of a new director for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health comes at a time of great innovation and change in the medical device field, with AI playing an… read on > read on >
Abortions Have Increased, Even in States With Bans, Report Finds
A new report shows the number of women getting abortions in the United States has actually increased since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since March 2023, the #WeCount report found a small, consistent increase in abortion rates. In the first six months of 2024, the monthly national abortion count averaged nearly 98,000… read on > read on >
Poll Finds Most Americans Stressed Over Election, Future of Nation
Most Americans say they’re stressed out over the future of the United States and the presidential election, a new poll shows. The Stress in America poll, conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), found that 77% of adults are stressed about the future of the nation, and 69% are worried about the upcoming election. The… read on > read on >
Cutting Back on Carbs Could Help Folks With Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is caused in part by the failure of pancreatic beta cells to respond as they should to blood sugar. Now, new research suggests that switching to a low-carbohydrate diet might correct that beta cell dysfunction, boosting patients’ health. “People with type 2 diabetes on a low-carbohydrate diet can recover their beta cells,… read on > read on >
Common Post-Injury Action by Players Signals Concussion, Study Shows
Maybe you’ve seen a cartoon character shake their head back and forth following a sharp blow — clearing away whatever stars or birds are circling their noggins. Turns out, that same move might help coaches and physical trainers identify a concussion that’s occurred on the field. About 72% of athletes — and 92% of football… read on > read on >
Aerobic Exercise May Ease ‘Brain Fog’ of Breast Cancer Chemo
Women fighting breast cancer can relieve some of their chemotherapy “brain fog” through aerobic exercise, a new clinical trial in Canada suggests. Breast cancer patients on chemo who participated in a regular aerobics class reported that they felt sharper and had better quality of life, researchers found. “Our findings strengthen the case for making exercise… read on > read on >
MRI Might Spare Rectal Cancer Patients Surgery and Colostomy
Some rectal cancer patients might be spared surgery and the lifelong need for a colostomy bag if they undergo MRI screening, a new study finds. The scans might accurately predict which patients have a higher odds for cancer recurrence and require surgery plus chemotherapy, and which can forgo surgery and opt for a “watch-and-wait” strategy… read on > read on >
Seniors Who Split: Rates of ‘Gray Divorce’ Have Tripled Since 1990
Baby Boom seniors are divorcing at rates triple that of a few decades ago, a new study has found. “Gray divorce” among folks 65 and older increased to 15% in 2022 from 5% in 1990, according to research from the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University. Increased life expectancy… read on > read on >
Black Patients 22% More Likely to Die After Bypass Surgeries
Heart bypass operations have gotten safer, but not everyone is benefiting equally: New data shows that Black patients face a 22% higher odds of dying in the hospital after their surgeries. “We found Black patients who have coronary artery bypass surgery experience higher rates of severe postoperative complications, including death and cardiac arrest,” said study… read on > read on >