Teens who are active are doing their bones a lasting favor, Japanese researchers report. “Physical exercise in adolescence affects BMD [bone mineral density] more than 50 years later in older adults,” said lead researcher Dr. Yoshifumi Tamura, a faculty member at Juntendo University in Tokyo. “Our findings can guide the selection of sports played during… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Latest Data Show 22 U.S. Teens Die of Overdoses Each Week
An average of 22 U.S. teens die each week from drug overdoses, a death toll driven by the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, a new study reports. Researchers also have identified 19 “hotspot” counties where fatal ODs are occurring as much as double the national average. The overdose death rate for 14- to 18-year-olds now stands… read on > read on >
Black Teens Gain Mental Health Boost From ‘Connectedness’ at School
“School spirit” appears to provide long-lasting mental health benefits for Black teens, new research finds. School connectedness – the degree to which students feel like part of to their school community – is a protective factor against depression and aggressive behavior later in life among Black students, researchers report in the Journal of Youth and… read on > read on >
Too Much Screen Time Might Harm Kids’ ‘Sensory Processing’
Exposing babies and toddlers to TV and other digital media could be linked to a heightened risk for dysfunction in what’s known as “sensory processing,” a new study warns. Kids with “atypical sensory processing” are often hypersensitive to the touch, sound, taste or look of stimuli in their environment. For example, kids might try to… read on > read on >
Ear Infections Could Delay a Child’s Speech
Ear infections are common for kids, but they can lead to long-term developmental problems, a new study finds. Temporary hearing loss caused by recurring ear infections can lead to delays in language development and sound processing years later, researchers reported recently in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. “Ear infections are so common that we… read on > read on >
Seizures Could Play Role in Sudden Unexplained Deaths Among Toddlers
Most people have heard of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), where babies die during sleep for reasons that aren’t always clear. But every year, about 400 cases of similar “sudden unexplained deaths in children” (SUDC) occur in the United States among a slightly older age group — toddlers. New research, involving video from baby monitors… read on > read on >
Could Mom’s Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy Lead to Language Delays in Kids?
Acetaminophen, best known as Tylenol in the United States, is a go-to pain med for millions. However, a new study is raising doubts about its safe use by women who are pregnant. The researchers found kids born to women who used acetaminophen while pregnant had delays in language development, compared to children born to women… read on > read on >
Brain’s ‘Spaces’ Hold Clues to Origins of Autism
The fluid-filled spaces around the brain’s blood vessels need proper waste “clearance” every few hours. When that fails to happen, a baby’s risk for autism appears to rise, new research shows. It’s too early to say that trouble within these “perivascular” spaces causes autism, but it seems to be an early marker for the condition,… read on > read on >
‘Substantial Demand’ for Abortion Pills Ordered in Advance, Study Finds
A U.S. online provider of the mifepristone/misoprostol abortion pill combo saw a ten-fold jump in orders when the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade was first leaked in 2022, a new study finds. Such orders declined a bit in the months after the decision was officially announced, but have risen once again as women remain… read on > read on >
Small Magnetic Balls Sold at Walmart Recalled Over Swallowing Dangers
Tiny, powerful magnetic balls sold exclusively online at Walmart as building blocks and stress relievers have been recalled for swallowing dangers, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said Thursday. In announcing the recall, the commission pointed to thousands of hospitalizations and at least seven deaths linked to similar products. Swallowing magnets is dangerous because… read on > read on >