-
Thanksgiving Turkey is Good for Body and Mind
If you're planning a turkey feast for Thanksgiving, enjoy the bird and the many health benefits it provides. Turkey is packed with muscle-building protein, essential vitamins and minerals that boost immunity, mood and energy as well as being extremely versatile. And no,...
-
Dr. Small: Be Mindful of Mental Health This Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving just days away, many Americans are already anticipating their favorite holiday comforts - turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. While the meal and the gathering often bring joy, experts say the holiday can also have real effects on...
-
Head CT Scan Use in US ERs Has Doubled
Use of head CT scans in U.S. emergency departments has more than doubled over the past 15 years, a new study says. Nearly 16 million head CT scans were ordered by ERs in 2022, up from under 8 million in 2007, researchers reported Nov. 17 in the journal Neurology."Head CT...
-
Novo Studies to Show if GLP-1 Drugs Slow Alzheimer's
Studies from Novo Nordisk due early next month will give the strongest indication yet of whether blockbuster GLP-1 drugs - a class being used by millions for diabetes and weight loss - can slow progress of Alzheimer's disease. Two trials, described by Novo as a "lottery...
-
Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Depression Symptoms
Brain implants that deliver electric pulses can ease depression in people who aren't responding to psychiatric drugs, a new study says. Half of a small group of people who received brain implants experienced significant improvement in their depression symptoms, researchers...
-
Survey: 72% of Adults Experience Sleepiness Daily
Tired? Well, a new national survey shows that you're not alone. Researchers found that most adults feel sleepy during the day, and that tiredness affects many parts of everyday life. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) surveyed U.S. adults and found that 72% say...
-
Traces of Bacteria Found in Brain Tumors
The brain is thought to be a sterile environment, free from germs. But unexpected deposits of bacteria have been found inside brain tumors, apparently affecting how the cancers grow and behave, a new study says. "This work opens a new dimension in our understanding of brain...
-
Lilly Weight-Loss Drug Suppresses Binge-Eating Signal
Researchers monitoring the brain activity of a patient with a severe binge-eating problem reported that Eli Lilly's GLP-1 weight-loss drug appeared to temporarily suppress food-craving signals in the "reward center" of the brain. These are the first direct measurements of...
-
Diabetes Drug Stops Kids' Weight Gain on Bipolar Meds
A diabetes drug can help manage weight gain among children prescribed medications to treat bipolar disorder, a new study shows. Second-generation antipsychotics like aripiprazole, risperidone and quetiapine are often effective in treating mood disorder, but they also can...
-
Daily Self-Hypnosis Decreases Hot Flashes
Self-hypnosis might help some women in menopause find relief from hot flashes. Hot flash frequency and intensity decreased by more than 50% among women who listened to a daily audio hypnosis session, researchers reported Nov. 11 in JAMA Network Open. "All sessions were...
-
Trump Admin Expands Visa Denials to Common Illnesses
The Trump administration has directed U.S. visa officers to consider chronic health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and mental health disorders when deciding whether to approve a foreigner's entry into the country. The directive was shared with...
-
Regularly Listening to Music Lowers Dementia Risk
Listening to your favorite singers may do more than lift your mood - it could also protect your brain. A new study from Australian researchers found that older adults who regularly listened to music had a 39% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who didn't...
-
Neurologist Finds No Evidence of Dementia in Wendy Williams
A neurologist has concluded Wendy Williams might not have frontotemporal dementia, the condition cited in court documents that placed her under legal guardianship more than two years ago, according to a new report.
-
AI Chatbots More Empathetic Than Real Doctors
A surprising new analysis suggests that patients may find artificial intelligence more compassionate than real doctors. Researchers from the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester reviewed 15 studies comparing patient interactions with AI chatbots like ChatGPT to those...
-
Why the Shingles Vaccine May Reduce Dementia Risk
A large new study has revealed a possible explanation for why the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of developing dementia. Researchers found that the vaccine helps prevent reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus - the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles -...
-
Recall Alert: ADHD Drug May Not Dissolve Correctly
Millions of Americans who rely on medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be affected by a new drug recall. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has issued a voluntary, nationwide recall for several lots of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules, a generic...
-
Blood Tests May Assess Concussion Severity
Blood tests might be able to tell how badly a concussion has rung a person's bell, a new study says. Certain brain-related biomarkers in the blood are associated with how bad a teenager's symptoms will be as they recover from a concussion, researchers reported in the...
-
Dr. Crandall: Long-Term Melatonin May Harm Heart
New research is raising concerns about long-term melatonin use. According to the American Heart Association, a study found that people who took melatonin for more than a year had a higher risk of developing heart failure within five years compared to nonusers. They were also...
-
Dark Chocolate May Give Memory a Quick Boost
Japanese researchers have discovered how the astringent "bite" of cocoa flavanols can stimulate the brain - even though very little of the compound actually enters the bloodstream. In mouse studies, the sensation of astringency triggered sensory nerves that activated...
-
Dr. Small: More Americans Seeking Talk Therapy
About 1 in 10 Americans now receives counseling from a mental health professional, reflecting a growing openness to addressing emotional and psychological health.
-
Healthy Habits Slash Dementia Risk With Diabetes
New research suggests that those with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and a genetic risk for dementia can significantly lower their odds for cognitive problems by adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle. The preliminary findings - to be presented Saturday at an American Heart Association...
-
Study Explains Why Children Get Easily Distracted
Kids are known for jumping from one thing to the next, even when they're supposed to stay focused, but a new study suggests that behavior doesn't owe to curiosity alone. Scientists say children's working memory just isn't developed enough to help them stay locked in on a...
-
Intermittent Fasting Doesn't Hinder Thinking Ability
Intermittent fasting shouldn't dull an adult's ability to think, remember and problem-solve, a new evidence review says. Mental abilities like memory recall, decision making and responsiveness aren't hampered by skipping a meal or fasting for a half-day, according to an...
-
How a Full Moon Affects Sleep
For centuries, people have wondered if the moon has the power to influence our behavior and health. Many believe that when the full moon's radiant glow lights up the night sky, it can stir something deep within us-affecting our sleep, emotions, and even our sanity. In fact,...
-
Just 3,000 Steps Daily Slows Alzheimer's Decline
A new study found that taking as few as 3,000 to 5,000 steps daily can slow the decline of Alzheimer's disease in people at increased risk by as much as three years. The study, published in Nature Medicine, involved older patients who had biological signs of the illness,...