Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) declined in U.S. adults last year, but syphilis passed from mothers to newborns continued to climb, new federal data shows. Tentative numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal a third straight year of fewer gonorrhea cases and a second consecutive year of declines in adult chlamydia…  read on >  read on >

Air pollution is known to raise the risk of heart disease, strokes and breathing problems, but new research suggests it may also harm something else: kids’ vision. In a study of nearly 30,000 schoolchildren in Tianjin, China, researchers found that kids exposed to higher levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were…  read on >  read on >

Heart disease remains the world’s top killer, causing 1 in every 3 deaths around the globe, a new study says. Worldwide, the number of heart-related deaths has risen sharply, climbing to 19.2 million in 2023 from 13.1 million in 1990, researchers reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Heart disease, brain bleeds,…  read on >  read on >

The march of time may be relentless, but aging is not entirely hopeless if you have the right mindset, according to a Canadian study. Seniors who lose a step health-wise are capable of regaining their well-being, researchers reported Sept. 24 in the journal PLOS One. Nearly a quarter of folks 60 or older who initially…  read on >  read on >

Skin-to-skin contact might help kick-start brain development in preterm babies, a new study says. Preemies born before 32 weeks showed stronger development in brain regions tied to emotion and stress regulation if they received more skin-to-skin contact, researchers reported Sept. 24 in the journal Neurology. “Skin-to-skin contact in preterm infants has been shown to have…  read on >  read on >

It’s back-to-school time, and young athletes are preparing to hit the field once more for their school or college. However, participation in contact sports could be costing these athletes valuable brain power, according to a new study. Repetitive head impact-related brain injuries can cause a cascade of brain cell loss as well as  inflammation and…  read on >  read on >