In an about-face from an original report on what might have caused the COVID-19 pandemic, experts enlisted by the World Health Organization said Thursday that they could not discount the “China lab leak” theory. In contrast, the WHO’s initial assessment in 2021 firmly stated it was “extremely unlikely” that a lab accident may have led… read on > read on >
Like fixing a flat on the roadside, a new injectable hydrogel is showing promise as a remedy for worn-down spinal discs — pumping them back up and relieving chronic back pain. The gel, with the brand name Hydrafil, is injected directly into worn discs using X-rays to guide the needle, said lead researcher Dr. Douglas… read on > read on >
THURSDAY, June 9, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Elizabeth Gilberg recently picked up a few new skills. At 50, she’s learned to knit and is relearning how to quilt. She took lessons in cross-country skiing and tried her hand at beekeeping. Bike riding didn’t go so well, but she’s game to keep trying. Like… read on > read on >
If you sleep with Fido or Fluffy, you’re in good company, a new survey shows. Nearly half of respondents to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) poll said they share their bed with a pet, and 46% of those people said they sleep better with their pet in the same bed. Only 19% said… read on > read on >
If you’ve survived a painful bout of shingles, at least you won’t have to worry that it might raise your future risk of dementia, new research indicates. Shingles, caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, results in a blistering rash from nerve inflammation, and there has been speculation that the inflammation may boost the… read on > read on >
One year of testosterone therapy for men with low levels of the hormone does not appear to increase their risk for heart problems, British researchers found. “We were unable to find evidence … that testosterone increases risks of mortality or cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular [heart and/or stroke] events in the short- to medium-term in men with… read on > read on >
Staying connected to others may help protect your brain as you age, new research reveals. The study showed that social isolation — but not loneliness — can cause changes to certain brain structures and increase the risk of dementia. The findings suggest that social isolation could be used as predictor of dementia risk, the British… read on > read on >
A small area of your brain triggers the familiar symptoms of fever, chills, fatigue and loss of appetite when you have a viral or bacterial infection, new animal research suggests. The findings could eventually lead to ways to reverse this process when symptoms pose a risk to patients, such as when a fever gets too… read on > read on >
Even after vaccination, living with HIV ups the odds for COVID infection, new research shows. The study found that vaccinated people living with HIV have a 28% higher risk of developing a “breakthrough” COVID infection compared to those who don’t have the AIDS-causing virus. That’s the bad news. But there’s good news, too: The overall… read on > read on >
The mental health equivalent of 911 is about to launch across the United States, but a new study finds that many communities may not be prepared for it. Beginning July 16, a new 988 number will be available 24/7 for Americans dealing with a mental health crisis. It’s akin to 911, long used to get… read on > read on >
