A common antiseizure drug used to treat epilepsy, migraines and bipolar disorder does not appear to increase the risk of autism for kids exposed to it in the womb, a new study says. Topiramate does not contribute to any risk of kids developing autism if their moms took it during pregnancy, researchers report in the… read on > read on >
The flu is more likely to lead to a neurological disorder than COVID, according to a new study that surprised its authors. “While the results were not what we expected to find, they are reassuring in that we found being hospitalized with COVID did not lead to more care for common neurological conditions when compared… read on > read on >
Stressed out, anxious or desperately needing to recharge? Grab some knitting needles and a pretty ball of yarn — Swedish research shows yarncraft improves mental health without medication. “Knitters have a creative leisure interest that can also help them cope with life and so improve their mental health,” said first author Joanna Nordstrand, an occupational… read on > read on >
People with heart disease can stay healthier if they address their emotional problems as well as their physical ailments, a new study says. Treating anxiety and depression reduced ER visits and hospitalizations among patients with heart disease, researchers report in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Psychotherapy, mood-controlling medication or a combination of the… read on > read on >
Folks can learn their risk for Parkinson’s disease and other related brain disorders through a simple skin biopsy, a new study says. Skin tests can detect an abnormal form of alpha-synuclein, a protein that is the hallmark of Parkinson’s disease and similar degenerative brain illnesses, researchers say. This simple test could be a reliable and… read on > read on >
Younger Black Americans face particularly high risks of developing high blood pressure. However, new research finds that when your peers are coaching you to get healthy, it’s more likely you’ll see your numbers improve. The study of nearly 1,600 Black patients living in the southeastern United States found that having a peer coach help manage… read on > read on >
Nearly 7 million American seniors are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, placing a huge strain on both personal caregivers and the U.S. health care system, according to a new Alzheimer’s Association report. The cost of caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s is projected to reach $360 billion this year, up $15 billion from just a year ago,… read on > read on >
For the first time, the United States has fallen out of the top 20 spots on the annual world’s happiest nations list. Americans are now No. 23, far behind the top five countries — Finland (No. 1), Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Israel. “The United States of America (23rd) has fallen out of the top 20… read on > read on >
About 1 in every 10 U.S. children ages 5 to 17 has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to the latest government statistics. The data from the National Health Interview Survey covers the years 2020 through 2022 and came from in-person or phone interviews involving a representative sample of American homes. It… read on > read on >
More than two-thirds of Chicago kids younger than 6 live in homes with tap water tainted by lead, a new analysis says. There are detectable levels of lead in the drinking water supplied to 68% of young children in the Windy City, say researchers with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “The extent… read on > read on >
