Hormone therapy for menopause might be able to boost memory, a new study says. What’s more, the specific type of hormone therapy used by a woman during and after menopause can have different effects on her memory, researchers found. Women using estradiol patches or gels had better test scores for episodic memory — long-term remembrance…  read on >  read on >

Breastfeeding offers many benefits, from emotional bonding to better nutrition and immune support. But for parents who need to pump and store breast milk, handling it safely is key. “Parents often feel nervous about food safety when handling and storing their breast milk,” said Dr. Patricia Campbell, a pediatrician and lactation consultant at Children’s Hospital…  read on >  read on >

Pediatricians should screen children annually for mental or developmental issues, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends in a new clinical report. The recommendation comes in response to a mental, emotional and behavioral health crisis that’s been brewing among America’s youth, the AAP says. Up to 1 in 5 children in the U.S., including kids…  read on >  read on >

Families with a child receiving treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) incur almost 10 times more in health care costs than those of other children, including those diagnosed but not receiving any ASD treatment. That’s among the key takeaways from a new report that provides insight into the health care costs and treatment patterns for…  read on >  read on >

Teenagers who get poor sleep are more likely to harm themselves on purpose, a new study says. Shorter sleep, going to sleep later and frequent waking during the night all were significantly associated with a 14-year-old’s risk of self-harm, researchers report in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. This risk remained elevated even as…  read on >  read on >

Exposure to a common pesticide during pregnancy can impair children’s brain development and motor function for years to come, a new study says. The widely used pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) is linked to altered brain function and poorer fine motor control among children exposed to it while in the womb, researchers report in JAMA Neurology. “The…  read on >  read on >