HEALTH

New research over a 28-year follow-up period finds significant evidence that frequent social contact at the age of 60 can lower the risk of developing dementia later on. Spending time with friends could stave off dementia for those 60 and older. The link between having a rich social life and brain health has received much

Most people have occasional lapses in memory, such as forgetting a new acquaintance’s name or misplacing the car keys. Most of the time, this is simply a sign that a person is a bit too busy or is preoccupied. On the other hand, having a consistently poor memory can be problematic for someone. Many factors

Kurbo app Scott Mlyn | CNBC Do your homework! Clean your room! Count your Weight Watchers points? Weight Watchers, which now calls itself WW, this week introduced a new app called Kurbo by WW to “help kids and teens ages 8-17 reach a healthier weight.” WW last year acquired Kurbo, a digital health start-up whose

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first spinal tether device intended to be used in children and adolescents to correct the most common form of scoliosis, called idiopathic scoliosis, that has not responded to conservative treatment options, such as external bracing. The device, called The Tether – Vertebral Body Tethering System, is

Californians voted in 2004 to shell out billions of dollars in taxpayer money to fund cutting-edge stem cell treatments. Proposition 71 could lead to cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s and other devastating diseases, voters were told. Actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson’s disease, said in one campaign ad that the measure “could save the life

Assessment of patient blood eosinophil count and smoking status may help optimize treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), a post-hoc analysis of the pivotal IMPACT trial found. Prospective modeling of blood eosinophil count as a continuous measure, rather than a single cut-off eosinophil threshold, showed greater response to ICS in terms of exacerbation reduction with increasingly

FDA warning: Severe sedation and loss of consciousness This drug has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Zulresso can cause severe sedation, with symptoms such as sleepiness, trouble thinking clearly, and

There is growing evidence that exercise can help to treat symptoms of depression and lift mood, although the reasons have been unclear. Now, a new study finds that the body’s endocannabinoid system may play a role. New research helps explain why exercise improves mood. The researchers propose that a better appreciation of the relationship between

New research — using mouse models and fecal samples collected from humans — looks into the mechanisms that promote insulin resistance via the gut environment. The type of diet a person eats may be key, the researchers suggest. New research looks in more detail at the mechanisms linking diet to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs

A recent pilot study finds that consuming local foods with fewer additives might reduce abdominal fat, blood pressure, and diabetes risk. The study is small-scale, but the findings are intriguing. Buying local produce may benefit health, according to a recent study. The food that we eat has a huge effect on our overall health —

Aug 16 2019 Continuing its mission to advance biological research worldwide, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) has launched oPools™ Oligo Pools – ready-to-use pools of high quality DNA oligonucleotides (oligos) up to 350 nucleotides in length. Thanks to its industry-leading proprietary oligo manufacturing processes and 30 years of dedication to exceptional quality products, IDT is able

A new drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease has successfully passed the first phase of testing in humans. Preclinical studies had already shown that the drug could improve memory and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in older mice. A potential treatment for Alzheimer’s moves a step closer. Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf,

Chickenpox, or varicella, is a common and highly contagious virus. Chickenpox is most common during childhood, but it is also possible for adults to get chickenpox. The chickenpox infection generally clears up within a couple weeks, and the body will then create an immunity to the virus. However, the symptoms of chickenpox can be extremely

A neck spasm occurs when the muscles in a person’s neck contract involuntarily. Neck spasms can be very painful and may cause headaches or dizziness. Fortunately, a person can usually treat a neck spasm with exercise and home remedies. A neck spasm caused by the sudden tightening of the neck muscles may cause: severe, sharp

HPV and HIV are both viruses that cause sexually transmitted infections. The viruses cause different conditions, though people with HIV are more susceptible to HPV than others. People with untreated HIV are more likely to have active HPV infections and may experience worse symptoms of HPV. HPV prevention is especially important for people with HIV.

Chemotherapy is a powerful treatment that involves taking medications to damage cancerous cells. The goal is to prevent these cells from dividing and multiplying. This article outlines the use of chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of different cancers. We describe how many people with different types of cancer undergo chemotherapy as part of their treatment.

New research in mice suggests that keeping blood sugar under control using either the ketogenic diet or a diabetes drug could help treat certain cancers by boosting the efficacy of standard chemotherapy. The ketogenic diet restricts carbs to a minimum. The ketogenic diet consists of high fat foods, foods that contain an adequate amount of

Viagra is a drug that helps treat erectile dysfunction. It improves blood flow to the penis, and its effects can last for up to 4 hours. Erectile dysfunction is a common condition that can affect males of any age. Males with this condition are unable to reach or maintain an erection to engage in sexual

Winter is a difficult time for our skin, and many people get eczema flare-ups during winter because of the changing temperatures and dry air. Often, people find that their eczema or dermatitis gets particularly bad on parts of the skin that they expose to the elements in winter, for example, their hands and face. A

New research has linked the use of prescription drugs for stomach acid to a higher likelihood of developing allergies afterward. New research finds a link between PPIs and the risk of allergies. Due to the study’s design, the results do not prove that gastric acid reducers — such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) — actually