Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandra Banner was an active octogenarian. She enjoyed going to movies, traveling from her Palm Desert, Calif., home to Los Angeles for Dodgers baseball games and having friends over for happy hours. Early on, she avoided isolation by teaching outdoor tai chi classes and staying engaged online, but once she was…  read on >  read on >

(Healthday News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s controversial approval of the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm should be investigated by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock has said. The FDA approved Aduhelm even though an advisory panel of outside experts said there wasn’t enough proof that the drug actually…  read on >  read on >

Some people severely ill with COVID-19 may struggle to regain lost weight for months afterward, a new study shows. While COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness, it’s become clear that the infection can wreak havoc on the body in many ways. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms — like nausea, diarrhea and even bleeding in the digestive tract…  read on >  read on >

Black churches could prove crucial in improving COVID-19 vaccination rates among Black Americans, a new study suggests. The COVID-19 death rate among Black Americans is three times higher than among white Americans, and health officials had hoped that vaccines would narrow that gap. However, Black communities are disproportionately affected by barriers to vaccination, such as…  read on >  read on >

An elderly woman in Belgium was simultaneously infected with two COVID-19 variants of concern, according to a report describing one of the first documented cases of co-infection. The authors said their findings highlight the need for health care providers to be watchful for double infections and the emergence of new variants. The 90-year-old woman was…  read on >  read on >

While people with ADHD experience the inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity that are hallmarks of the disorder, they also may need to be aware of their higher risk for many physical diseases. New research has identified higher risks in nervous system, respiratory, musculoskeletal and metabolic diseases among individuals who have ADHD. “Identifying co-occurring physical diseases may…  read on >  read on >

Men with low testosterone levels have a much higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, a new study from Italy finds. The study included nearly 300 symptomatic male COVID-19 patients who arrived at the emergency department and were admitted to San Raffaele University Hospital in Milan during the first wave of the pandemic.…  read on >  read on >

A primary care doctor isn’t only for when you’re sick. Even folks who are generally healthy need a doctor who can help them stay that way. “Everybody should have one,” said Dr. Vera Guertler of Penn State Health Medical Group-Eastbrook in Ronks, Pa. “Just like everyone should have a mechanic, you need to have a…  read on >  read on >

When you tackle home and yard projects this summer, be sure to protect your feet and ankles. “Feet may be the last thing people think about while working on home-improvement projects, but we see so many different types of foot and ankle injuries in our office — many of which can be avoided with proper…  read on >  read on >