Racial disparities in health outcomes persist in the United States, with Black and Hispanic Americans more likely to die within a month after a bleeding stroke than white Americans, a new study shows. “We’ve known that there are disparities in death from stroke among racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. due to higher stroke…  read on >  read on >

Breastfeeding may literally help your baby breathe more easily, according to new research that found the longer an infant is fed mother’s milk exclusively, the lower the baby’s chances of developing asthma. “Breastfeeding for at least six months was the most protective but, importantly, it is likely that shorter amounts also provide some protection against…  read on >  read on >

The percussive skill needed to bang out rhythms on a drum may help improve socializing, inhibition control and focus among teens with autism, new research suggests. The finding follows work with 36 teens with an autism spectrum disorder. Half were randomly chosen to receive two months’ worth of drum training, based on a standard electronic…  read on >  read on >

No matter how old you are, your liver is always roughly less than three years old, according to a new study. That’s because the liver is constantly renewing itself and replaces its cells equally well in young and old people, the German study explained. The liver clears toxins from our bodies, putting it at risk…  read on >  read on >

New research reveals why popular treatments for asthma attacks are often ineffective. Corticosteroids are used as an emergency treatment during asthma attacks to decrease airway swelling and irritation. While effective in people with moderate asthma, they often fail to help those with severe asthma. “Our study has uncovered a potential mechanism to explain why patients…  read on >  read on >

Reading to little ones builds bonds with their caregivers and boosts their language and literacy skills, but story time also benefits older kids, a new study reports. Reading to 6- to 12-year-olds for an hour a day in school can boost their intelligence, Italian researchers report. “Does it work? Yes, we found some compelling evidence…  read on >  read on >

Type 2 diabetes is linked to memory and thinking problems, and a new study suggests it’s because the disease makes the brain age faster. Looking at data from 20,000 middle-aged and older adults, researchers found that — consistent with past studies — people with type 2 diabetes generally did worse on tests of memory and…  read on >  read on >