Music therapy can help lift the spirits and ease depression in people with dementia, a new evidence review has found. Findings suggest that music-based therapy probably improves depressive symptoms and might even improve behavioral issues by the end of treatment, researchers reported. “This review increases our understanding of the effects of music therapy and strengthens… read on > read on >
Teens who sleep fewer than 7.7 hours are more likely to have high blood pressure, a new study suggests. Likewise, those suffering from both insomnia and a lack of sleep are five times more likely to have high blood pressure exceeding 140 systolic, according to research presented Thursday at an American Heart Association (AHA) meeting… read on > read on >
The antiviral drug Paxlovid may not offer much protection against COVID-related hospitalizations or deaths for vaccinated older adults after all. Research published recently in JAMA Network Open looked at data from more than 1.6 million adults ages 65 to 74 in Ontario, Canada, during 2022. Most participants (nearly 88%) had received at least two… read on > read on >
Chronic stress can increase young women’s risk of stroke, a new study says. Moderate stress increases risk of stroke by 78% in women but not in men, researchers reported in the journal Neurology. “More research is needed to understand why women who feel stressed, but not men, may have a higher risk of stroke,” said senior… read on > read on >
Seniors battling insomnia are best off picking up some dumbbells or doing some push-ups, a new evidence review suggests. Resistance exercise, activities that make muscles work against an external force, appears to be the best means of improving sleep in older adults, researchers found. “Exercise that strengthens muscles, rather than aerobic or combination exercises, is… read on > read on >
Bad meetings don’t just waste time — they can leave workers with a “meeting hangover,” new research shows. More than 90% of employees surveyed by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte said they sometimes experience these “hangovers” — lingering frustration and distraction after unproductive meetings. More than half said these “hangovers” hurt their overall… read on > read on >
Many Americans remain unaware of the cancer risk for both men and women posed by human papillomavirus (HPV), a new Ohio State University poll has found. Most people don’t know much about HPV and its long-term cancer risks, and also have key misperceptions about how the virus is spread, the poll found. For example, the… read on > read on >
FRIDAY. Feb. 28, 2025Moving your body helps your brain, a new study suggests. Folks who regularly exercise have better mental and brain health, researchers will report in early April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in San Diego and online. Moderate to vigorous physical activity reduces risk of dementia, stroke, anxiety,… read on > read on >
A federal vaccine advisory panel work session focused on next year’s flu shot has been canceled without explanation. It is the second vaccine advisory meeting that has been canceled or postponed since Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, was confirmed as secretary of health and human services (HHS). The U.S. Food and Drug… read on > read on >
Microplastics could be affecting the brain health of people living in coastal areas, a new study says. Marine microplastics — microscopic plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters — are associated with disabilities of memory, thinking and mobility, according to findings to be presented in April at a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in… read on > read on >
