A study tracking almost 10,000 9- and 10-year olds for two years finds a link between time spent watching TV and other screens with a higher odds for ADHD and depression. “Screen use may replace time spent engaging in physical activity, sleep, socializing in-person and other behaviors that reduce depression and anxiety,” reasoned study lead author Dr.… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Severe COVID Case Ups Heart Risks As Much as History of Heart Disease
A severe COVID infection can increase a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke as much as a history of heart disease, a new study says. People hospitalized for COVID had about the same risk of a major cardiac event as people with heart disease who never had COVID, researchers found. Results also showed that… read on > read on >
Here’s Where Viruses Love to Lurk in Your Bathroom
The bad news first: shower heads and toothbrushes in an average bathroom are teeming with an extremely diverse collection of viruses, most of which have never been seen before, a new study finds. Now, the good news. These viruses target bacteria, not people, and could provide a new means of confronting the rise in antibiotic-resistant… read on > read on >
Common Acne Drug Might Become Carcinogenic at Room Temperature
Widely-used acne creams can become contaminated with a known carcinogen even if kept at room temperature, a new study warns. Creams containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) can wind up containing high levels of benzene while sitting on a store shelf or in a medicine cabinet, researchers found after testing 111 products from major U.S. retailers. Brands… read on > read on >
Scientists Discover the Brain’s Waste-Disposal System, With Clues to Alzheimer’s Disease
The brain has a waste-disposal system that clears away junk proteins that contribute to the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a new study finds. Advanced imaging scans have revealed a network of fluid-filled structures along arteries and veins within the brain, researchers reported Oct. 7 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.… read on > read on >
Were FDA’s ‘Black Box’ Warnings on Antidepressants a Mistake? Youth Suicides Rose Afterwards
“Black Box” warnings added to antidepressants might have contributed to an increase in suicide attempts and deaths among young people, a new evidence review claims. The warnings say that antidepressants might be associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and teens, and were intended to prompt doctors to more closely monitor young people prescribed… read on > read on >
Damage to Brainstem Could Be Driving Long COVID
Damage to the brainstem could be behind the physical and psychological effects of Long COVID, a new study suggests. Brain scans of 30 Long COVID patients found they had damage to the region of the brainstem associated with breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety, researchers reported Oct. 7 in the journal Brain. “The brainstem is the critical… read on > read on >
Could Music Lessons Help Clear the ‘Brain Fog’ of Chemotherapy?
In a small, preliminary study, piano lessons provided to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy appeared to help them maintain brain health. “There were a lot of outside stressors contributing to my mood, but piano practice and going to lessons were always something good and positive that I would look forward to, no matter what else was… read on > read on >
AI May Not Be Ready to Run Emergency Rooms
AI isn’t ready to run a hospital’s emergency room just yet, a new study concludes. ChatGPT likely would ask for unnecessary x-rays and antibiotics for some patients, and admit others who don’t really need hospital treatment, researchers reported Oct. 8 in the journal Nature Communications. “This is a valuable message to clinicians not to blindly… read on > read on >
Epinephrine: Tips to the ‘EpiPen’ Ingredient and How It Treats Anaphylaxis
The recent approval of a new epinephrine nasal spray gives patients a powerful new way to keep life-threatening allergic reactions at bay. But that doesn’t mean folks no longer have to worry about anaphylaxis. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, anaphylaxis can occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen. Common… read on > read on >