Japanese researchers have successfully used a transplant of human stem cells to close a hole in a key part of a monkey’s retina. They say the achievement could pave the way for better treatment of small gaps that form in the macula, the central part of the eye’s retina. These macular holes can cause distorted… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Sitting Less Helps Prevent Back Pain From Getting Worse
Avoiding couches and chairs might be a good way of keeping your back pain from getting worse, new research suggests. Finnish researchers found that when people with back pain sat even a little less each day, their pain was less like to progress over the next six months. “If you have a tendency for back… read on > read on >
Could Lithium Supplements Ease the Brain Fog of Long COVID?
THURSDAY, Oct. 3, 22024A small dose of the nutritional supplement lithium asparate may not ease the fatigue and brain fog of Long COVID, a small, new trial involving 52 patients has found. Still, it’s possible that a larger dose of the mood-enhancing supplement might work, researchers said. Importantly, the supplement contains much lower amounts of… read on > read on >
Good Friendships Crucial to Young Adults’ Happiness, Study Finds
If you’re a 20-something who is unattached, having good friends is a key to happiness, new research shows. “The quality of your friendships is a key factor for your well-being, especially if you’re single,” a team led by Lisa Walsh, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of California, Los Angeles, reported Oct. 2 in… read on > read on >
Reading to Your 1- and 2-Year Old Boosts Their Vocabulary, Study Finds
Sharing a book with your baby will build her vocabulary fast, but time with screens likely won’t, Norwegian researchers report. Their new study on shared reading and vocabulary size dovetails with a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics that urges parents to read books to their little ones. A team at the… read on > read on >
Air Pollution Could Be Changing Children’s Brains
Even air pollution levels considered safe by U.S. standards appear to cause differences in the brains of growing children, a new review suggests. “We’re seeing differences in brain outcomes between children with higher levels of pollution exposure versus lower levels of pollution exposure,” said corresponding author Camelia Hostinar, an associate professor of psychology at the… read on > read on >
Science Finds Link Between Excessive Sweating, Sensitive Skin
If you sweat excessively, you’re likely to have sensitive skin as well, with new research confirming the two go hand-in-hand. A team led by Adam Friedman of George Washington University and Linqing Zhang of Virginia Tech used machine learning models to examine survey data from more than 600 people who sweat excessively. It uncovered a… read on > read on >
So Fly: Scientists Complete Map of Adult Fruit Fly Brain
The head of a Princeton team that mapped the brain of an adult fruit fly — a watershed step in understanding the human brain — explains the feat in a way that belies its complexity. “Just like you wouldn’t want to drive to a new place without Google Maps, you don’t want to explore the… read on > read on >
Deadly Legacy of Storms Like Helene Can Linger for Over a Decade
As the southeastern United States begins to recover from Helene’s devastation, a new study suggests the health impact of major storms can linger for over a decade. So far, more than 120 people across six states have already been confirmed dead in Helene’s aftermath, although that number could rise much higher as rescue efforts continue.… read on > read on >
Scientists Get Closer to Stopping Macular Degeneration
Scientists say they’ve discovered a protein that seems crucial to the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of blindness in older people. The research is in its very early stages, but it might help lead to the first effective therapy against the vision-robbing illness, which affects up to 15 million Americans. “Current… read on > read on >