Health authorities are investigating a parvovirus-like illness that has killed more than 30 dogs in northern Michigan, most within three days. The dogs died in Otsego County after showing symptoms such as vomiting and bloody stool, signs of canine parvovirus, but tests were negative for the virus, according to a Facebook posting by the Otsego…  read on >  read on >

Fewer Americans are turning to sleep medications to fight insomnia. After a dramatic rise in prescriptions for drugs like Ambien, the trend has ebbed, according to a new study, and fewer doctors are prescribing sleep medications. Use of these sleep aids dropped 31% between 2013 and 2018, researchers found. “There are several possible reasons for…  read on >  read on >

Pfizer’s modified COVID-19 vaccine for use in children under 5 was 73% effective in shielding them from infection during the Omicron surge this spring, company data released Tuesday shows. The specially formulated doses for America’s youngest children were approved for distribution in June, although the American Academy of Pediatrics says uptake has been low. Just…  read on >  read on >

The health risks of losing sleep are well known, ranging from heart disease to depression, but who knew that too little sleep can also make you selfish? That’s the takeaway of new research from the University of California, Berkeley. “This new work demonstrates that a lack of sleep not only damages the health of an…  read on >  read on >

Older adults who get a lot of “screen time” may have an increased risk of developing dementia — but a lot depends on what type of screen they use, a new study suggests. Researchers found that among older British adults, those who spent a lot of time watching TV were more likely to be diagnosed…  read on >  read on >

A person’s unrelated lookalike, commonly known as a doppelganger, may actually share genes that affect not only how they appear, but also their behavior. In a new study, scientists did DNA analysis on 32 sets of virtual twins — people with strong facial similarities — and found they possessed similar genetic variants. “Our study provides…  read on >  read on >