Every town wants low crime rates. But a new finding may offer a whole new reason to advocate for the change: Falling crime rates may lower heart disease fatalities. An analysis of 2000-2014 data from Chicago illustrated a significant decline in violent crime. Across the city, the drop in total crime was 16%, while simultaneously… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Special Brain Scans May Diagnose Early Parkinson’s
It may not be long before highly sensitive scans might spot Parkinson’s disease in its early stages, researchers report. A disease of the brain that is characterized by shaking hands, Parkinson’s is a condition that worsens over time, compromising a person’s ability to walk, hold items or even talk. Unfortunately, it can take a year… read on > read on >
AHA News: People From ‘Socially Vulnerable’ Counties Hospitalized For COVID-19 Had More Heart Problems, Higher Death Rates
MONDAY, July 18, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Adults from the most socially vulnerable counties in the U.S. were more likely to die or experience serious heart problems when hospitalized for COVID-19 than those from less vulnerable areas – even after accounting for differences in underlying conditions or the severity of their COVID-19 infection,… read on > read on >
Even a Drink a Day Might Raise Brain Risks
Even moderate drinking may be related to higher iron levels in the brain — a potentially risky situation for memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests. Researchers found that among nearly 21,000 middle-aged and older adults, those who drank as little as a few beers a week showed more iron accumulation in their brains… read on > read on >
Mindfulness Can Help Ease Pain, and Scientists Think They Know How
For thousands of years, people have used meditation to help diminish their pain – but how the process works has always seemed rather mysterious. Today, advanced brain scan technology has revealed how this ancient practice alters brain function and provides pain relief to its practitioners. A first-of-its-kind study used MRI scans to discover that mindfulness… read on > read on >
Thyroid Trouble May Raise Dementia Risks
Millions of older adults try to manage an underactive thyroid gland with daily medication, but a new study suggests they may still be vulnerable to developing dementia as they age. Researchers found that among over 15,000 older Taiwanese adults, those who’d been treated for hypothyroidism were substantially more likely to be diagnosed with dementia. Hypothyroidism… read on > read on >
U.S. Extends COVID Public Health Emergency Another 3 Months
(HealthDay News) – As the latest Omicron subvariant fuels climbing case counts in the United States, the Biden administration has extended the country’s public health emergency status through mid-October. Known as BA.5, the subvariant is considered the most contagious to date, and officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say they expect… read on > read on >
Cats Injured in Wildfires at High Risk for Blood Clots
While California works to restore its landscape after years of historic wildfires, new research could transform the way in which veterinarians treat animals recovered from damaged forests. The study found that cats who inhaled smoke or suffered burns are at risk for forming deadly clots. Not only that, the scientists were able to pinpoint microscopic… read on > read on >
Half of Parents Don’t Realize Impact of Screens on Kids’ Vision
Most parents are overlooking simple steps to protect their kids’ eyes from overexposure to electronic screens, a new nationwide poll shows. One in 7 respondents said their 3- to 18-year-olds haven’t had a vision test in two years. Yet half of respondents acknowledged that screen time has a big impact on their child’s eye health.… read on > read on >
Could an Experimental Cancer Drug Help Treat Spinal Injury?
A drug in development as a cancer therapy may also help the body regenerate damaged nerves after spinal injuries, new research suggests. Scientists at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom report that they used cell and animal models to show that the drug, dubbed AZD1390, can block the body’s response to DNA damage… read on > read on >