Adults with autism report a broad range of sexuality — being much more likely to identify as asexual, bisexual or homosexual than people without autism, a new study finds. In a survey of nearly 2,400 adults, researchers found that those with autism were three to nine times more likely to identify as homosexual, asexual or…  read on >  read on >

Nearly one in four American teens has suffered at least one concussion, according to new research. And though more teens are self-reporting sports-related concussions, visits to the emergency room for these traumatic head injuries fell between 2012 and 2018. “One reason that could explain why adolescents who participate in sports saw an increase in self-reported…  read on >  read on >

The baby “boom” that some expected during last year’s pandemic lockdowns has turned into a baby “bust.” The U.S. birth rate continued to drop in 2020, marking the sixth consecutive year with fewer babies born in America and raising concerns about the economic effects of declining population levels. There were about 3.6 million babies born…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to expand emergency use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine by next week so that children as young as 12 can be immunized. After Pfizer’s trial in adolescents showed its vaccine worked as well in teens as it does in adults, the FDA started preparing to add an amendment covering…  read on >  read on >

Two widely used COVID-19 vaccines — Pfizer and Moderna — will likely remain powerfully protective against developing serious illness even if coronavirus variants somehow manage to infect vaccinated patients, new research suggests. Both vaccines are based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. And investigators say that, at least in theory, such technology can deploy multiple levels…  read on >  read on >

Giving birth during the coronavirus pandemic presents its own challenges, but the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) wants to reassure pregnant women that they need not panic. Instead, they “should be comforted to know that the hospital is a very safe place to have a baby now,” said Dr. Beverly Philip, president of the ASA.…  read on >  read on >