A ribbon of brain tissue called cortical gray matter grows thinner in people who go on to develop dementia, and this appears to be an accurate biomarker of the disease five to 10 years before symptoms appear, researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (also called UT Health San Antonio)…

According to a study conducted on animal models and published in the journal Metabolism, aerobic exercise could help fight the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the most common liver disease worldwide: it affects nearly 24% of the global population and it usually causes a certain stigma among the affected people. The study opens ways for identifying…

Boosting exercise is often on the agenda in the new year, but if you’re struggling to stick to a new fitness regime, University of South Australia research shows that virtual reality (VR) will not only make exercise feel easier but also ease chronic pain. Using a novel bike system, researchers found that when people combine…

Montana lawmakers are in a standoff with the state's health department over a package of sweeping changes to child care licensing rules that includes a disputed provision to allow religious exemptions to routine vaccinations for children and workers. Both Republican and Democratic legislators on the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee voted Jan.…

In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers assessed associations between mercury levels in urine and allergic diseases in children. Study:  Association between environmental mercury exposure and allergic disorders in Korean children: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycles 3–4 (2015–2020) . Image Credit: Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock.com Background Environmental changes like air pollution…

In a recent perspective published in Prostate Cancer and Prostate Diseases, researchers presented the potential benefits of yoga in improving prostate health. ​​​​​​​Study:  Yoga, benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms: a new path for clinical trials . Image Credit:  tommaso lizzul /Shutterstock.com Background Yoga is a therapeutic strategy that promotes…

The medical treatment of schizophrenia or depression is effective to various degrees; however, it is associated with potentially serious side effects, especially weight gain. Mitigation strategies have been tested, including the use of probiotics to prevent or reduce undesirable weight gain in these patients. A recent study published in Translational Psychiatry discusses the effectiveness of…

In a recent study published in Nature Medicine, a group of researchers evaluated the effectiveness of home-based cognitive and exergame step training interventions compared with a control group in preventing falls among community-dwelling older adults. Background  Falls in older adults, leading to disability and high mortality, are a growing public health concern due to the…

Approximately one in three deaths in the U.S. is caused by cardiovascular disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A robust body of evidence shows aerobic exercise can reduce risks, especially for people who are overweight or obese. But few studies have compared results with resistance exercise -; also known as…

Coming off antidepressants is known to trigger physical symptoms, such as restlessness, fatigue and excessive sweating, but new research suggests people can also experience emotional and social difficulties, and changes in their thinking patterns when they stop taking antidepressants like Prozac. This is especially true when people don't 'taper' their medication but instead stop taking…