Children at risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) might find some protection from the disease by spending more time in the sun, a small study suggests. Although MS is rare in children and young adults, those with relatives who have the condition have increased odds of developing the disease early. Exposure to sunlight may cut their…  read on >  read on >

A condition called “diabetic retinopathy” often threatens the vision of adults with diabetes, but new research suggests that kids with type 2 diabetes may be particularly vulnerable to the vision-robbing complication. In fact, these kids were nearly twice as likely to develop the condition as children with type 1 diabetes were, the researchers found. “The…  read on >  read on >

The United States reached a vaccine milestone Wednesday as health officials reported that 200 million Americans are now fully vaccinated. However, that news came as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are spiking again in some parts of the country. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 200 million people who’ve gotten their…  read on >  read on >

The coronavirus appears to target both fat cells and certain immune cells within body fat, which may explain why overweight and obese people are more likely to develop severe COVID-19, researchers report. When the virus gets into those cells, it triggers a damaging inflammatory response that “could well be contributing to severe disease,” study co-senior…  read on >  read on >

The smoke from wildfires is dangerous for your lungs, but tiny particles from the smoke can also enter your brain and cause lifelong neurological issues, a new animal study suggests. Once that happens, the particles may put people at risk for everything from premature aging and various forms of dementia to depression and even psychosis,…  read on >  read on >

Public health experts have long recommended getting a seasonal flu shot, but a new study suggests there’s hesitancy about that vaccine, too. Physicians and pharmacists can play a key role in flu shot uptake, the research shows. Only about 44% of people who had a health care provider got their flu shots, the study found,…  read on >  read on >

Dirty air could cancel out some of the brain benefits of exercise, a new study suggests. “Physical activity is associated with improved markers of brain health in areas with lower air pollution,” said study author Melissa Furlong. “However, some beneficial effects essentially disappeared for vigorous physical activity in areas with the highest levels of air…  read on >  read on >

Booster doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine set recipients up to effectively withstand the ravages of both the Delta and Omicron variants, a group of new studies suggest. Boosted folks are 90% less likely to die from a Delta infection than people relying solely on the initial two-dose vaccination, Israeli data show. That protection will be…  read on >  read on >