Delivering meals to the infirm. Tutoring a student. Patrolling a city park. Helping out at a local library. All these activities not only serve the community, but also can help seniors avoid depression related to social isolation. Volunteering reduces the risk of depression by 43% among seniors, researchers reported in a study published Jan. 8… read on > read on >
Movement is medicine, or so they tell people with knee osteoarthritis — but are they right? A recent evidence review calls into question just how helpful exercise can be for easing the pain of knee arthritis. “Exercise probably results in an improvement in pain, physical function, and quality of life in the short‐term,” concluded the… read on > read on >
Basking in a sauna can be a nice way to relieve stress or relax muscles following a workout. But soaking too long can increase a person’s risk of heat stroke, particularly if they aren’t well-hydrated, doctors warn. Most cases of heat stroke occur on hot days, due to overexertion, researchers say. However, “sauna use is… read on > read on >
AI might be able to boost the success rates of in vitro fertilization among hopeful families. An AI program can help doctors analyze ultrasound scans to determine the best timing for a hormone injection associated with egg collection, researchers write in a new study published Jan. 8 in the journal Nature Communications. Getting the timing… read on > read on >
Some of the most effective public policies for suicide prevention aren’t crafted with suicide or mental health in mind, a new study says. Efforts to increase the minimum wage, prohibit gender discrimination, or reduce alcohol consumption “have spillover benefits in that they also prevent suicides,” lead researcher Jonathan Purtle, an associate professor of public health… read on > read on >
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8,Sugar-sweetened drink consumption accounts for more than 2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes, and 1.2 million new cases of heart disease worldwide annually. According to new research published Jan. 6 in the journal Nature Medicine, people all over the world are impacted by this growing problem. Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa… read on > read on >
The Mediterranean diet is renown for its ability to improve heart health and help folks lose weight. Now a new rat study says this eating pattern also might provide folks a boost in brain power. Lab rats fed a Mediterranean diet developed changes in gut bacteria that researchers linked to better memory and improved cognitive… read on > read on >
Preventing diabetes can be as good for a person’s wallet as it is for their health, a new study says. People participating in a diabetes prevention program saved more than $5,000 in direct medical costs over two years, researchers reported recently in the journal Diabetes Care. These prediabetic folks saved money by not needing to… read on > read on >
That cold sore on your lip might be painful and unsightly, but it could also be a harbinger of debilitating brain aging. The oral herpes virus appears to be linked with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that the common infection might play a role in the disease, a new study published in the journal Cell Reports says.… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) released the first-ever guidelines for levels of lead in processed baby foods this week. However, many health and safety advocates say they are not satisfied with the guidance. Under the FDA’s new guidelines, baby food manufacturers should have no more than 10 parts per billion of lead in… read on > read on >
