Engaging in mentally stimulating activities across your lifetime, including reading, writing, and learning new languages, may be linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and slower cognitive decline. That is the conclusion of a study published recently in Neurology, the medical journal of…
Category: 5. Health
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95% of people carry this virus and scientists may have just found how to stop it
Fred Hutch Cancer Center researchers have made a significant advance in the effort to block Epstein Barr virus (EBV), a widespread infection that affects about 95% of people worldwide and is linked to several cancers, neurodegenerative conditions, and other long-term illnesses.
By working with…
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This common gout drug may slash heart attack and stroke risk
A new large-scale study led by researchers at the University of Nottingham has found that medications commonly used to treat gout may also lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with the condition.
The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggest that bringing blood urate…
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New mutations help the H5N1 bird flu virus infect cows but not people
H5N1 bird flu viruses have acquired a molecular trick that makes them more easily infect mammary glands in cattle, but this adaptation does not appear to affect humans.
To infect cells, influenza viruses latch on to certain sugars decorating cell surfaces. Some H5N1 viruses have…
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Scientists discover why bread can cause weight gain without extra calories
Bread has long been a dietary cornerstone, sustaining societies for generations. It is deeply woven into everyday life. But with obesity rates continuing to climb, researchers are beginning to question whether this reliance on staple carbohydrates still makes sense in modern diets.
Obesity…
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Blocking a single protein supercharges the immune system against cancer
Researchers have found a way to make the immune system’s T cells far more effective at attacking cancer. By blocking a protein known as Ant2, they were able to change how these cells produce and use energy, essentially rewiring their internal power supply. This transformation makes T cells more…
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Fluoride in U.S. drinking water does not reduce IQ, a new study finds
Two U.S. states and more than a dozen cities and counties have moved in the past year to stop adding fluoride to community drinking water, citing research suggesting the mineral could harm children’s brain development.
But a new analysis of cognitive outcomes tracked over decades…
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‘Bouncing back’ is a myth – resilience means integrating hard experiences into your life story, not ignoring them
When Maria looked at herself in the mirror for the first time after her mastectomy, she stood very still.
One hand rested on the bathroom counter. The other hovered near the flat space where her breast had been. The scar was raw and angry. The loss was quiet but enormous. Her body felt…
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25 million people lost Medicaid after the COVID-19 pandemic — and state policies shaped who stayed covered
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people covered by Medicaid rose month after month – an unusual pattern for the government’s
insurance program for people with low incomes and disabilities.Why? A policy of continuous coverage during the pandemic essentially halted…
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Doctors can refuse to treat LGBTQ+ patients in several states – these religious exemption laws lead to drops in HIV testing
An increasing number of U.S. states have passed laws that allow health care providers – including doctors, nurses and pharmacists – to refuse to treat patients based on their personal or religious beliefs. While these conscientious objection laws have long existed for issues such as…
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