Widowers have a higher risk for advanced prostate cancer than men who are part of a couple, Canadian researchers say. The new findings are from an analysis of 12 studies comparing 14,000 men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer and 12,000 healthy men. The study — recently published in the European Journal of Epidemiology — suggests…  read on >  read on >

Older adults who take certain diabetes drugs may see a slower decline in their memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests. Researchers in South Korea found that among older people who’d been having memory issues, those using diabetes drugs called DDP-4 inhibitors typically showed a slower progression in those symptoms over the next few…  read on >  read on >

People fully vaccinated with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine appear to have a lower risk of a “breakthrough” infection caused by the Delta variant than those who received the Pfizer vaccine, a new, preliminary report suggests. The researchers emphasized that both vaccines still “strongly protect” against severe illness, but the difference appears to be in the…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans on Thursday to authorize a third “booster” shot of coronavirus vaccine for people with weakened immune systems, as the highly contagious Delta variant surges across the country. Expanding the emergency use of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should help protect those patients who are considered most vulnerable to…  read on >  read on >

New research offers insight into a rare but dangerous inflammatory disease that can occur in children after COVID-19 infection, researchers report. More than 2,600 cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have been reported in the United States since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s characterized by fever, pain and inflammation of multiple…  read on >  read on >

A third dose of a two-shot COVID vaccine significantly boosts transplant patients’ protection against SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study. “We knew from previous studies that two doses were not enough to produce a good immune response against COVID-19 in transplant patients,” said study co-senior author Dr. Deepali Kumar. She is director of transplant infectious…  read on >  read on >

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disease that can make navigating daily life a massive challenge, but a new blood test could flag it in its early stages, researchers say. Their analysis of blood samples identified epigenetic markers — part of your DNA — that differ between people with schizophrenia and those without the mental health disorder.…  read on >  read on >

Death, injuries, abuse and mental health disorders are among the many harms faced by children whose parents are heavy drinkers, Danish researchers say. “Within the last 10 years, there has been an expansion of research on consequences that extend beyond the drinker,” wrote lead author Julie Brummer, a doctoral student in psychology and behavioral sciences…  read on >  read on >