(HealthDay News) – As researchers work to learn more about COVID-19 and so-called long-haulers, a new study suggests “brain fog” can persist and even worsen for those who were infected months before. Long-haulers continue to have symptoms long after their COVID diagnosis, and these symptoms can be mental as well as physical. “People have trouble…  read on >  read on >

There was a sharp drop in mammography breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the decline was especially severe among American women of color and those living in rural areas, new research shows. Those trends could cost lives in years to come, because “detecting breast cancer at an early stage dramatically increases the chances…  read on >  read on >

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 >