A newly developed soft robotic finger with a sophisticated sense of touch could one day help your doctor perform routine office examinations, a new study suggests. The finger can take a person’s pulse and detect abnormal lumps, researchers reported Oct. 10 in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science. Such technology could help detect diseases like… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Six-Week Abortion Bans: More Than a Third of Women Don’t Know They Are Pregnant by 6 Weeks

More than a third of women don’t know they are pregnant in time to meet the six-week abortion ban active in four U.S. states, a new study finds. About 37% of women who got an abortion in 2021 and 2022 discovered they were pregnant at six weeks or later, according to findings from the sexual… read on > read on >
Loneliness Raises Odds for Dementia by 31%

A new study finds persistent loneliness taking a toll on aging brains and significantly raising a person’s odds for dementia. Research funded by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health tracked self-reports of loneliness and the neurological health of more than 600,000 people worldwide. The study found loneliness was linked to a 31% rise in… read on > read on >
Crohn’s, Colitis Care Take Big Financial Toll on Patients

Inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s disease and colitis cause intense financial pressure as well as physical distress, a new study shows. More than 40% of people with inflammatory bowel disease have made significant financial trade-offs to afford the health care they need, according to a new survey by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of… read on > read on >
Boys Treated With Gene Therapy for Rare Brain Disease Doing Well 6 Years Later
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THURSDAY, Oct.10, 2024Most boys treated with breakthrough gene therapy for a rare but deadly brain illness are faring well six years later, two new reports find. The 77 boys were treated for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD), a formerly incurable and progressive genetic brain disease that typically led to a loss of neurological function and early death.… read on > read on >
Florida Hospitals Brace for Hurricane Milton’s Arrival

WEDNESDAY. Oct. 9, 2024As Hurricane Milton barreled toward the west coast of Florida, hospitals in its path were making ready. Milton is projected to make landfall a bit south of the Tampa area late Wednesday night. Long-term care facilities in counties where mandatory evacuations have been issued have taken their patients elsewhere, while some hospitals… read on > read on >
Be Alert to Carbon Monoxide Dangers During, After Hurricane Milton

High winds, torrential rain: All dangerous, but there’s a silent killer lurking in the aftermath of hurricanes like Milton — carbon monoxide. Experts at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are warning of the potentially lethal effects of carbon monoxide (CO), emitted by the gas generators folks may use to power their homes during… read on > read on >
More Screen Time Tied to Mental Health Risks for Tweens

A study tracking almost 10,000 9- and 10-year olds for two years finds a link between time spent watching TV and other screens with a higher odds for ADHD and depression. “Screen use may replace time spent engaging in physical activity, sleep, socializing in-person and other behaviors that reduce depression and anxiety,” reasoned study lead author Dr.… read on > read on >
Severe COVID Case Ups Heart Risks As Much as History of Heart Disease

A severe COVID infection can increase a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke as much as a history of heart disease, a new study says. People hospitalized for COVID had about the same risk of a major cardiac event as people with heart disease who never had COVID, researchers found. Results also showed that… read on > read on >
Here’s Where Viruses Love to Lurk in Your Bathroom

The bad news first: shower heads and toothbrushes in an average bathroom are teeming with an extremely diverse collection of viruses, most of which have never been seen before, a new study finds. Now, the good news. These viruses target bacteria, not people, and could provide a new means of confronting the rise in antibiotic-resistant… read on > read on >