Early menopause could be a warning sign for future age-related brain decline, a new study says. Women who entered menopause before 40 had a greater cognitive decline than women who entered menopause after 50, according to a study published recently in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Early menopause also was associated with worse depression, researchers… read on > read on >
The prevalence of depression decreased with older age and with increasing family income read on >
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will provide private health data to researchers for U.S. health chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new autism study. NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya told advisers the aim is to help researchers study autism by giving them access to “comprehensive” health records. These records will cover a wide range of… read on > read on >
Women are OK with having an AI program help doctors review mammograms performed for breast cancer screening, a new study says. About 7 out of 10 women (71%) said they’re fine with an AI program providing backup for a radiologist’s review of their breast X-ray, researchers report in the journal Radiology: Imaging Cancer. But women… read on > read on >
Babies and toddlers could be exposed to harmful chemicals while they sleep, due to compounds found in their mattresses, two new studies say. Air samples taken from 25 children’s bedrooms revealed elevated levels of more than two dozen phthalates, flame retardants and other potentially hazardous chemicals, one of the studies says. The highest levels of… read on > read on >
Fussiness, sleeplessness and unresponsiveness could be some of the earliest signs of autism in a baby, a new study says. Using these signs, parents might be able to help detect potential autism within a child’s first year of life, researchers reported in the journal Pediatric Research. That would be a major advance over current diagnostic… read on > read on >
Complications during pregnancy can mean a woman’s future heart health is at risk, particularly if she is overweight or obese, a new study says. Women who are carrying excess weight prior to pregnancy are more likely to develop complications like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure while expecting, researchers said. These complications act as a… read on > read on >
Fewer Americans traveled out of state for an abortion in 2024, according to a new report from the Guttmacher Institute, a group that supports abortion rights. The report found that about 155,000 people crossed state lines for abortion care last year, down 9% from 2023. The total number of abortions stayed steady, however, with 1,038,100… read on > read on >
Children who spend more time playing outdoors or participating in different sports tend to develop better motor skills as they advance through elementary school, a new study says. Even a half-hour of independent outdoor play after a day at childcare makes a difference in kids’ motor skill development, researchers reported in the Journal of Sports… read on > read on >
Autism diagnoses are on the rise again, with about 1 in 31 U.S. children affected, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The latest data, from 2022, shows a jump from the 2020 estimate of 1 in 36. The report looked at health and school records for… read on > read on >
