Just over 300 people have been sickened in norovirus outbreaks on three different cruise ships in December, new government data shows. This is the only month this year in which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported three confirmed norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. In all, 301 passengers and crew members fell…  read on >  read on >

Sexism is incredibly toxic to women’s lives, resulting in lower pay, fewer career opportunities, worse health care and a greater risk of violence. It also can be toxic to their brain health, a new study says. U.S. women born in the most sexist states experience a faster memory decline in later years than women born…  read on >  read on >

In a pivotal move, the United States Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it will review South Carolina’s controversial decision to cut off state funding for Planned Parenthood clinics, which provide critical health services to low-income residents. A media report published by The Washington Post shows said that this move was made after the state terminated…  read on >  read on >

Seniors with an infection can take antibiotics without fear of harming their brain health. Antibiotics don’t appear to increase the risk of cognitive decline or dementia in older adults, researchers report in the journal Neurology. “Given that older adults are more frequently prescribed antibiotics and are also at higher risk for cognitive decline, these findings…  read on >  read on >

Abortion pills are safe and effective, but some pain will be part of the process for most women. However, many women are surprised by exactly how much pain is involved in a medication abortion, a new study says. They’re frequently told that the pain is akin to period cramps, but for many that simply isn’t…  read on >  read on >

Millions of American adults are struggling with Long COVID, and a fifth have symptoms so debilitating they interfere with daily activities, a new report finds. “Frequently reported symptoms include fatigue that interferes with daily life, difficulty thinking or concentrating, cough and heart palpitations,” explained a team of researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control…  read on >  read on >

It’s a perhaps unexpected consequence of climate change that periods of deep cold now occur more frequently during American winters, despite an overall trend to warmer temperatures year round. That uptick in cold snaps, along with other possible factors, has been linked to a doubling of U.S. deaths from freezing temperatures since 1999, according to…  read on >  read on >

Sleep apnea is known to wreak havoc with the body, contributing to heart problems, diabetes and liver disease. The sleep disorder also appears to have direct effects on brain health, a new study shows. People with sleep apnea appear to experience accelerated aging of the brain’s white matter, which serves to connect the various regions…  read on >  read on >