Mammograms can be used to screen for more than just breast cancer, researchers say. The X-ray breast scans also can be used to assess calcium deposits in arteries, which is an indicator of heart health, researchers are scheduled to report Monday at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Chicago. Using artificial intelligence…  read on >  read on >

Newborns with a heart defect may have two strikes against their future health, rather than one. Babies with heart birth defects appear to have a higher risk of developing childhood cancer, compared to those without a heart abnormality, researchers report in the journal Circulation. Childhood cancers are 66% higher in newborns with a congenital heart…  read on >  read on >

Nearly 1 in 3 children live with a chronic condition that could significantly affect their health for the rest of their lives, a new study says. Chronic illnesses affected more than 30% of children ages 5 to 17 by 2018, up from around 23% in 1999, researchers report in the journal Academic Pediatrics. This adds…  read on >  read on >

Most low-birth-weight toddlers are not on track to be ready to attend school, a new study says. Only one-third of babies born weighing less than 5.5 pounds are ready to attend school by ages 3 to 5, researchers reported in the journal Academic Pediatrics. They tend to lag in early learning skills, self-regulation and social/emotional…  read on >  read on >

The COVID-19 pandemic set kindergarteners’ development back in several ways, a new study says. Post-pandemic kindergarten students on average scored significantly lower in language and thinking skills, social competence, and communication and general knowledge, when compared to pre-pandemic kids, researchers reported March 10 in JAMA Pediatrics. “The domains of language and cognitive development and communication…  read on >  read on >