Results from more than 26,000 respiratory tests in late 2022 found simultaneous infections with COVID-19, influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in more than 1% of positive tests. Co-infections were especially widespread in children and teens. In people under age 21, researchers saw a 6% co-infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A. “With changing behaviors…  read on >  read on >

People who have psoriasis may want to get their vitamin D levels checked. New research suggests that blood levels of the so-called “sunshine vitamin” may affect the severity of their condition. In psoriasis, skin cells build up and form dry, itchy, sometimes painful patches. While synthetic vitamin D creams are an emerging therapy, the study…  read on >  read on >

The extreme heat and choking wildfire smoke blanketing wide swaths of the United States this summer are actively dangerous to heart health, a new study reports. Days where soaring heat combines with fine particulate air pollution can double a person’s risk of a fatal heart attack, researchers have found. “Heat wave exposure interacts synergistically with…  read on >  read on >

A technique that uses imaging technology as a guide can make radiation therapy safer for patients undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, a new research review finds. The technology enables clinicians to accurately aim the radiation beams at the prostate, while avoiding bladder, urethra and rectal tissue. This, in turn, reduces short-term side effects for patients,…  read on >  read on >

Many people turn to probiotics for their digestive woes, but a preliminary study suggests that what’s good for gut may also be good for the aging brain. The study involved older adults with mild cognitive impairment, where memory and other thinking skills are starting to slide but people can still carry out their daily tasks.…  read on >  read on >

Breakthrough new drugs that clear amyloid beta plaques from the brain are shaking up the field of Alzheimer’s disease research. The fact that patients’ mental deterioration slows when they’re on anti-amyloid drugs is solid proof that abnormal amyloid proteins are one of the culprits behind Alzheimer’s, essentially ending decades of debate over the so-called “amyloid…  read on >  read on >

People looking to stay mentally sharp as they age might want to swap out margarine for olive oil, a preliminary study suggests. The study, of more than 90,000 U.S. health professionals, found that olive oil lovers were less likely to die of dementia over the next three decades. Compared with their counterparts who rarely used…  read on >  read on >