A new study finds persistent loneliness taking a toll on aging brains and significantly raising a person’s odds for dementia. Research funded by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health tracked self-reports of loneliness and the neurological health of more than 600,000 people worldwide. The study found loneliness was linked to a 31% rise in…  read on >  read on >

Inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s disease and colitis cause intense financial pressure as well as physical distress, a new study shows. More than 40% of people with inflammatory bowel disease have made significant financial trade-offs to afford the health care they need, according to a new survey by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of…  read on >  read on >

THURSDAY, Oct.10, 2024Most boys treated with breakthrough gene therapy for a rare but deadly brain illness are faring well six years later, two new reports find. The 77 boys were treated for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD), a formerly incurable and progressive genetic brain disease that typically led to a loss of neurological function and early death.…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY. Oct. 9, 2024As Hurricane Milton barreled toward the west coast of Florida, hospitals in its path were making ready. Milton is projected to make landfall a bit south of the Tampa area late Wednesday night. Long-term care facilities in counties where mandatory evacuations have been issued have taken their patients elsewhere, while some hospitals…  read on >  read on >

A study tracking almost 10,000 9- and 10-year olds for two years finds a link between time spent watching TV and other screens with a higher odds for ADHD and depression. “Screen use may replace time spent engaging in physical activity, sleep, socializing in-person and other behaviors that reduce depression and anxiety,” reasoned study lead author Dr.…  read on >  read on >

The bad news first: shower heads and toothbrushes in an average bathroom are teeming with an extremely diverse collection of viruses, most of which have never been seen before, a new study finds. Now, the good news. These viruses target bacteria, not people, and could provide a new means of confronting the rise in antibiotic-resistant…  read on >  read on >

Widely-used acne creams can become contaminated with a known carcinogen even if kept at room temperature, a new study warns. Creams containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) can wind up containing high levels of benzene while sitting on a store shelf or in a medicine cabinet, researchers found after testing 111 products from major U.S. retailers. Brands…  read on >  read on >

The brain has a waste-disposal system that clears away junk proteins that contribute to the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a new study finds. Advanced imaging scans have revealed a network of fluid-filled structures along arteries and veins within the brain, researchers reported Oct. 7 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.…  read on >  read on >