The thickness of a person’s blood can be a matter of life or death if they contract COVID-19, a new study suggests. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have higher blood viscosity are at greater risk of dying from COVID-related complications, the researchers found. “This study demonstrates the importance of checking for blood viscosity in COVID-19…  read on >  read on >

Medical schools are doing a better job of recruiting minority students, but they still struggle to keep those would-be doctors on the roster. That’s the conclusion of a new study that found minorities were more likely to leave medical school than their white peers. And that can mean fewer doctors for under-served communities, the researchers…  read on >  read on >

Medical and recreational marijuana use has surged across the United States as more states legalize the drug, but young female athletes may want to think twice before taking a toke. A new study from the University of Northern Colorado connects regular cannabis use in fit young women to decreased anaerobic power, a component of physical…  read on >  read on >

Adults who tear a key ligament in the knee can fare well with a less extensive type of surgery, preliminary research suggests. The study involved patients treated for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a strong band of tissue that helps stabilize the knee joint. ACL tears commonly happen during sports that involve jumping or…  read on >  read on >

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 >