President Joe Biden underwent a routine colonoscopy on Friday, and briefly transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he was sedated for the procedure, the White House said. The colonoscopy was part of Biden’s first routine physical exam as president, and took place at Walter Reed National Military Center. “As was the case when…  read on >  read on >

A new study is highlighting yet another consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic: It has likely made it even harder for kids with obesity to manage their weight. The findings, researchers said, are no surprise. Many adults, faced with normal life being upended during the pandemic, have seen changes on the bathroom scale. It’s also clear…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted emergency use of both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 booster shots for all adults, clearing the way to additional vaccine protection for tens of millions of Americans. The announcement came hours before the start of a meeting of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s…  read on >  read on >

It’s probably fair to say that most people know of the so-called “Freshman 15” — the weight that college students are often said to gain when they’re away from home for the first time. But in recent decades, matters have gotten much worse in the United States. A new study using national data for people…  read on >  read on >

A COVID-19 vaccine booster shot gives cancer patients — especially those with blood cancer — much-needed protection, new research reports. “Our study demonstrates in clear terms how the booster shot can make all the difference for some people with compromised immune systems, such as people with cancer,” study co-author Dr. Balazs Halmos said in a…  read on >  read on >

Neurologists must make sure Alzheimer’s patients and their families understand that the controversial drug aducanumab does not restore mental function, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) said in new position statement that includes ethical guidelines. “Aducanumab is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, yet since it has been approved by the [U.S. Food and Drug…  read on >  read on >

Race-based gaps in health care and health outcomes persist in every region of the United States, a new state-by-state report card shows. Racial and ethnic disparities woven throughout America and its system of health care mean that people of color are more likely to die younger from preventable illnesses than white people, according to a…  read on >  read on >

Despite stereotypes about seniors and technology, a small study suggests that older adults in the early stages of dementia can use smartphone apps as memory aids. The researchers found that older people with mild impairments in memory and thinking were not only able to learn how to use the apps, they said the digital aids…  read on >  read on >

Moderna asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday to allow emergency use of the company’s coronavirus vaccine booster for all adults aged 18 and older. Currently, the booster is approved for people 65 and older, along with adults in long-term care homes, those with underlying medical conditions and those with jobs that put…  read on >  read on >