It takes a village to help a smoker quit. And a new study published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that smokers had a nearly doubled success rate quitting when supported by an integrated approach that included medication and personal counseling. “Our study demonstrates that providing access to effective medications and trained tobacco cessation specialists…  read on >  read on >

Seniors’ risk of dementia is more than double what was previously thought. The risk of developing dementia after age 55 is more than 42% among Americans, researchers reported in a study published Jan. 13 in the journal Nature Medicine. That’s more than twice the risk reported by older studies. “Our study results forecast a dramatic…  read on >  read on >

Eating disorders appear to be linked to differences in brain structure among teenagers. Young adults who develop eating disorders appear to have delayed brain maturation as teenagers, MRI scans show in a new study published Jan. 10 in the journal Nature Mental Health. In particular, reduced maturation of the cerebellum — a brain region that…  read on >  read on >

Medical schools have experienced a steep decline in enrollment among Black and Hispanic students since the Supreme Court banned the consideration of race in admissions. The number of Black medical students fell by nearly 12% in 2024 compared to the year before, declining for the third year in a row, according to results published in…  read on >  read on >

A California man’s tragic story highlights the growing risks associated with bird flu infections in domestic animals. Joseph Journell of San Bernadino lost two of his beloved cats, a 14-year-old tabby, Alexander, and Tuxsie, a 4-year-old tuxedo cat, after they drank raw milk from a lot recalled for H5N1 bird flu contamination, a news release…  read on >  read on >

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2025 (HealthDay news) — The sleep aid Ambien could be allowing toxic proteins to pollute the brain, potentially increasing a person’s risk of disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Drugs like the main ingredient in Ambien, zolpidem, suppresses a system designed to clear protein waste from the brain during dreamless sleep, a mouse study…  read on >  read on >

Monday, Jan. 13, 2025A fecal transplant could help people whose type 1 diabetes has fouled up their digestive system. Swallowing a handful of capsules filled with donor feces helped ease gut pain, nausea, bloating and diarrhea stemming from diabetes, researchers reported in a study published recently in the journal EClinicalMedicine. “The patients experienced a significant…  read on >  read on >