Death rates from Alzheimer’s disease are particularly high in the rural United States, a preliminary study finds, highlighting a need for health care resources in traditionally under-served areas. Researchers discovered that over the past two decades, rural areas in the Southeast have seen the highest death rates from Alzheimer’s, at 274 per 100,000 people. That’s…  read on >  read on >

COVID-19 can kill you. It can rob you of your breath, cause strange blood clots, and prompt side effects that last for months after you’re over the initial infection. It’s also possible that COVID-19 might impact the human brain in ways that could promote the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study reports. Severely ill…  read on >  read on >

Extremely premature babies have a much higher risk of cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions than full-term infants, a large Israeli study affirms. Cerebral palsy — the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and coordination — is the most common cause of severe childhood physical disability and motor impairment. It can…  read on >  read on >

As many Americans know, today’s health insurance plans often come with high deductibles. Those out-of-pocket costs could cause harm: New research shows that 20% of people who have diabetes and high-deductible health plans regularly skip their medications. Not keeping up with your diabetes medications comes with the potential risk of an emergency room visit or…  read on >  read on >

Opioid overdose-related visits to U.S. emergency departments rose by nearly one-third during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. That’s the key finding in a new analysis of data from 25 emergency departments in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “COVID-19, and the disruptions in every part of our social and work lives, made…  read on >  read on >

Plenty of seniors may struggle with problem drinking, but a new study shows that less than half of them discuss their alcohol use with their health care providers. “Older adults are at high risk for the harms of alcohol use, especially for those with existing chronic disease and who take prescribed medications,” said lead study…  read on >  read on >