Doctors for the first time have used a form of gene therapy to restore partial vision in a blind person, according to findings announced Monday. The research team genetically altered retinal ganglion cells to become light-sensitive in a man whose vision was destroyed by retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that breaks down cells that absorb…  read on >  read on >

Americans with drinking problems are rarely referred for treatment, even though most say a doctor has asked about their alcohol use, a new study finds. The study is not the first to uncover low rates of treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) — the medical term for drinking that interferes with a person’s life and…  read on >  read on >

People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) had milder symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown, possibly due to reduced stress levels and more control over their diet, Argentine researchers report. “We think the results have something to do with people staying at home,” said study author Dr. Juan Pablo Stefanolo. “They were not exposed to outside stress,…  read on >  read on >

New insight into why you don’t remember your earliest years of life is provided in a new study. “A fundamental mystery about human nature is that we remember almost nothing from birth through early childhood, yet we learn so much critical information during that time — our first language, how to walk, objects and foods,…  read on >  read on >

So-called yo-yo dieting may increase a woman’s risk of insomnia, sleep apnea and other sleep problems, a new study suggests. Yo-yo dieting — formally called weight cycling — is defined as losing and regaining 10 pounds or more when not pregnant. The study included more than 500 women in every stage of adult life, including…  read on >  read on >

Hoarseness is common and there are many causes, an expert says. “About one-third of us will develop some sort of voice problem in our lifetime,” said speech language pathologist Carrie Ruggiero, who sees patients at Penn State Health Lime Spring Outpatient Center in Lancaster. Those at most risk for hoarseness include folks who use their…  read on >  read on >

A rash of gasoline-related poisoning calls has led U.S. poison experts to warn against gas siphoning. Gasoline hoarding and siphoning in some East Coast states has led to a significant increase in gasoline-related emergencies, the Association of Poison Control Centers said. Recent concerns about limited gasoline supplies due to the shutdown of a major pipeline…  read on >  read on >

A U.S. presidential election can be hard on your heart. That’s the takeaway from two new studies that look back on the 2016 race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. For one, researchers investigated heart rhythm disorders in more than 2,400 adults in North Carolina (average age: 70.8 years) who had implanted defibrillators…  read on >  read on >