Reading, doing yoga and spending time with family and friends might help lower your risk of dementia, a new study suggests. “Previous studies have shown that leisure activities were associated with various health benefits, such as a lower cancer risk, a reduction of atrial fibrillation, and a person’s perception of their own well-being,” said study…  read on >  read on >

Inflatable bounce houses are big, colorful, cheap to rent and practically scream “childhood fun.” So, what could possibly go wrong? It turns out plenty. For one thing, the air-filled party staples are vulnerable to being blown aloft and even flipped over if left unmoored, a new study warns. But even when staked firmly in place,…  read on >  read on >

Some adults who sign up for Medicaid also bring their unenrolled but eligible kids into the system, a new study reports. For every nine adults who gained access to Medicaid in Oregon due to a special enrollment lottery, one previously eligible child was added to the rolls as well, according to researchers at the Massachusetts…  read on >  read on >

When dogs’ hearing fades, their mental skills follow, new research reveals. For the study, the researchers examined the link between hearing loss in aging dogs and dementia. The findings shed light on ways sensory loss affects canine cognition (thinking skills) and could lead to better treatment of aging dogs. “In humans, we know that age-related…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday it has loosened its COVID-19 social distancing recommendations as the American public learns to live with the virus in its midst. “We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools — like vaccination, boosters, and treatments — to protect ourselves, and our…  read on >  read on >

For people with multiple sclerosis, certain factors early in their disease may determine their quality of life in the years to come, a new study suggests. In medicine, there are ways to objectively measure a disease’s course, such as whether a medication is keeping it under control. And then there’s health-related quality of life —…  read on >  read on >