Older adults are more easily distracted than younger folks, especially if they’re also physically exerting themselves, according to new research. “Our results suggest that older adults might have heightened distractibility,” said study co-author Lilian Azer, a graduate student from the University of California, Riverside. For the study, the researchers assessed the interaction between physical exertion…  read on >  read on >

Becoming a mother is an experience like no other — a time of joy, anticipation and love. But, for some women, new motherhood can come with challenging emotions. Many women struggle with feelings of sadness, anxiety and overwhelming exhaustion. These emotional struggles, coupled with the physical demands of caring for a newborn, can be signs…  read on >  read on >

An estimated 5% of adults worldwide suffer from depression, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This mental health disorder permeates all areas of life from personal relationships to academic and professional ones and goes well beyond typical mood fluctuations and everyday concerns. Depression can affect anyone, but individuals who have experienced trauma, significant losses…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. National Institutes of Health could get a new leader in Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, the Boston cancer surgeon who’s led the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) since last fall. On Monday President Joe Biden formally nominated Bertagnolli to the post, which has been filled by an interim director since December 2021, the Washington Post…  read on >  read on >

MONDAY, May 15, 2023 — Researchers have discovered a genetic mutation that should actively protect people from Alzheimer’s, thanks to a man belonging to a Colombian family known to be susceptible to the degenerative brain disease. Based on his family’s genetics, this unnamed patient should have started showing signs of Alzheimer’s in his 40s. “They…  read on >  read on >

Lightbulb inventor Thomas Edison believed a little shuteye could boost his creativity. Contemporary scientists think the iconic innovator was on to something. But timing is key, they say. “We found a strong effect of ‘sleep onset’ on creativity,” said study author Kathleen Esfahany, an undergraduate student focusing on computer science and neuroscience at MIT. Sleep…  read on >  read on >

While the official COVID-19 public health emergency has ended, the virus hasn’t disappeared. Some of the special programs put in place during the pandemic have ended, however, and the University of Michigan offers a guide to help Americans understand what’s changed and what hasn’t. Get vaccinated What hasn’t changed is that the virus continues to…  read on >  read on >