Getting good sleep may have long-term benefits — even extending your life span, a new study suggests. Researchers found that young people with better sleep habits were incrementally less likely to die early. About 8% of deaths from any cause could be attributed to poor sleep patterns. Study co-author Dr. Frank Qian, a resident at…  read on >  read on >

Taking laxatives regularly to ease constipation may up your chances of developing dementia down the road, a new study suggests. This risk is even higher among folks who use multiple types of laxatives or osmotic laxatives, which work by drawing water into stool. Previous research has linked other over-the-counter drugs, including non-prescription sleep aids and…  read on >  read on >

Having the lingering symptoms known as long COVID after a COVID-19 infection more than doubles the risk of developing new heart symptoms, according to new research. “COVID-19 is more than a simple respiratory disease — it is a syndrome that can affect the heart,” said lead study author Joanna Lee, a medical student at David…  read on >  read on >

The United States saw a significant decline in the overall rate of heart attack-related deaths over the past 20 years, and the gap in the rate of heart attack deaths between white people and Black people narrowed by nearly half. “It’s good news,” said study lead author Dr. Muchi Ditah Chobufo, a cardiology fellow at…  read on >  read on >

Living closer to outdoor spaces and natural water may be better for your mental health, researchers say. A new study finds that close proximity to nature may reduce an older person’s risk for serious psychological distress. That distress can lead to mild impairment of thinking and memory, as well as dementia. The study is scheduled…  read on >  read on >

A gene variant found almost exclusively among people of African descent appears to substantially raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study finds. The variant is in a gene called ApoE3, and it’s apparently only harmful when it exists in combination with the ApoE4 gene — a well-known risk factor for Alzheimer’s. That gene…  read on >  read on >