A twice-daily pill can dramatically reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women who are genetically prone to the disease, researchers report. The pill — olaparib (Lynparza) — works by blocking a natural enzyme called PARP that normally fixes DNA damage in healthy cells, but in these women actually promotes the growth of cancerous… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Your Puppy Is Born Ready to Interact With You: Study
If it seems like your dog knows exactly what you’re saying, that’s because dogs are born ready to communicate with people, according to a new study. The research, published June 3 in the journal Current Biology, suggests that even puppies have a capacity to interact with people without any prior experience or training. However, some… read on > read on >
‘Early Birds’ May Have Extra Buffer Against Depression
Could getting out of bed just one hour earlier every day lower your risk for depression? Yes, claims new research that found an earlier start to the day was tied to a 23% lower risk of developing the mood disorder. The study of more than 840,000 people found a link “between earlier sleep patterns and… read on > read on >
Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy May Help Parkinson’s Patients Long Term
Parkinson’s disease patients can get symptom relief with deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy that lasts over the long term, a new study shows. Over 15 years, patients who received DBS, which requires surgical implantation, had significant improvement in motor symptoms and less need for medication, researchers found. “Our study, for the first time, supports the… read on > read on >
Will Pandemic Produce a Summer Baby Boom?
America, get ready for a baby boom. That’s the likelihood anyway, according to a new forecast that suggests a drop in pregnancy and birth rates seen during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic is about to be reversed. “We expect a dramatic rebound soon,” said study lead author Dr. Molly Stout. She is maternal… read on > read on >
Average COVID Hospital Bill for U.S. Seniors Nearly $22,000
The cost of COVID-19 hospitalizations averaged nearly $22,000 for older Americans in 2020 — and much more for those who became critically ill, a new government study finds. Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the cost of COVID-19 care to the Medicare program, which covers Americans aged 65 and… read on > read on >
Strokes Hitting COVID Patients Are More Severe: Study
COVID-19 patients are at increased risk for severe strokes, according to a new study that also found that the overall risk of stroke is higher in younger patients. Researchers analyzed data from 432 COVID-19 patients in 17 countries who suffered strokes and found they were more likely to have large vessel occlusion (LVO) than stroke… read on > read on >
Biden Announces New Vaccination Incentives
In an effort to convince hesitant Americans to get their COVID-19 shots, President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a host of new vaccination perks from a private-sector initiative. “For all the progress we’re making as a country, if you are unvaccinated, you are still at risk of getting seriously ill or dying or spreading disease… read on > read on >
Pandemic Silver Lining: Global Decline in Urban Crime
COVID-19 lockdowns had at least one welcome upside: a significant drop in crime in cities worldwide, according to an international study. Researchers analyzed crime data from 27 metro areas (including Chicago; London; Sao Paulo; Barcelona, Spain; Tel Aviv, Israel; and Brisbane, Australia) and found big declines in most types of crimes, with the notable exception… read on > read on >
Tennis Star Naomi Osaka’s ‘Time Out’ Highlights Common, Crippling Mental Health Issue
On Tuesday, tennis star Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the French Open. The reason: An ongoing battle with depression and anxiety. As the world’s No. 2 woman’s tennis player and a four-time Grand Slam tournament winner at the age of just 23, many fans may have been taken aback that someone so young and… read on > read on >