In U.S. states that provide financial assistance for low-income families, the difference is evident in children’s brains, researchers report. Their study found disparities in brain structure between children from high-income households compared to low-income households. However, the disparity was more than a third lower in states offering greater cash assistance to low-income families, compared to…  read on >  read on >

Teens who are abused by a romantic partner may suffer long-lasting repercussions, and this is especially true for girls, a new analysis finds. Investigators who reviewed 38 studies concluded that teenage dating violence was linked to a higher risk for additional relationship violence in the teen years and even into adulthood. These unhealthy relationships were…  read on >  read on >

Growing numbers of American kids and teens are cutting or burning themselves, banging their heads against walls, pulling out their hair and even trying to die by suicide. But figuring out who is at highest risk for harming themselves has been a daunting challenge. Until now. Researchers report they have developed risk profiles that can…  read on >  read on >

Suicides among the youngest U.S. teenagers were rising for years before the pandemic — with school stress, social media and guns standing as potential factors, according to a new study. Researchers found that between 2008 and 2018, the suicide rate among 13- and 14-year-olds nationwide more than doubled — from roughly two deaths per 100,000…  read on >  read on >

A new study has uncovered a possible risk factor for breast cancer that could help doctors more accurately weigh a woman’s chances of developing the disease. While it’s known that women with dense breast tissue have a greater risk for developing breast cancer and that breast density declines with age, researchers have now found evidence…  read on >  read on >

Drowning isn’t always accompanied by the stereotypical flailing and cries for help. It can happen wherever there’s water, including streams, lakes, water parks, bathtubs and even toilets. It’s also often preventable, according to an expert from Penn State Health, who offered tips for parents as water recreation season begins. “A child can drown in less…  read on >  read on >

Hair relaxers may slightly affect fertility, a factor most likely to impact women who are Black or Hispanic, according to a new study. Research led by Boston University School of Public Health found that these chemical hair straighteners may affect a person’s ability to become pregnant. This builds on growing evidence about the effects on…  read on >  read on >

America’s teens are still not alright. Instead, many continue to engage in risky behaviors, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. Top among these is an increase in suicidal thoughts and suicide planning and attempts among teen girls, according to a new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, rates among teen boys…  read on >  read on >

Older breast cancer survivors often have other medical issues and a shorter life expectancy than younger breast cancer survivors. What’s more, their cancers are often slow-growing, and surveillance may lead to over-treatment of cancers that won’t kill them, researchers say. Despite these downsides, older breast cancer survivors are still undergoing mammograms even though their risk…  read on >  read on >