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Health News Results - 652

Mind, Body Symptoms Can Precede MS Diagnosis for Years

Patients in the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis might develop certain symptoms that offer an early clue to the degenerative nerve disease, researchers report.

Depression, constipation, urinary tract infections and sexual problems are all more likely in MS patients five years before their official diagnosis, compared with people who never develop MS, researchers found.

Those c...

Newborns' Brains Aren't 'Undeveloped' Compared to Those of Infant Monkeys, Chimps

New research challenges a long-held notion that human newborns enter the world with brains that are significantly less developed than those of other primates.

Babies are born extremely helpless and with poor muscle control, and human brains grow much larger and more complex than other species following birth, investigators said.

Because of those observations, it’s long been b...

Cognitive Decline May Come Earlier for People With Epilepsy

People with epilepsy suffer quicker declines in thinking than people without the brain disorder, particularly if they also have risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes, a new study finds.

The difference was significant: Over the course of the 14-year study, those with epilepsy experienced a 65% to 70% faster decline in memory and thinking skills.

On top of that, having ris...

Head Injury Left Her Memory-Impaired. A New Brain Implant Has Brought Memory Back

Gina Arata had a bright future, wrapping up college and preparing for law school, when a 2001 car wreck left her with lasting brain damage.

After her recovery, Arata wound up taking a job sorting mail, but struggled even in that.

“I couldn’t remember anything,” said Arata, who lives in Modesto with her parents. “My left foot dropped, so I’d trip over things all the time. I...

Couch Potatoes, 'Squatting Breaks' Could Keep Your Mind Sharp

Doing some squats during commercial breaks or between YouTube videos can help couch potatoes keep their minds sharp, a new study suggests.

Young volunteers who did short sets of squat exercises every now and then while relaxing performed better in brain games than when they simply sat around for hours, researchers report.

Short bursts of exercise might help the brains of people who...

Internet Poses No Threat to Mental Health, Major Study Finds

It might seem that surfing the web could cause a person’s mental health to suffer, but a landmark new study has concluded that internet use poses no major threat to people’s psychological well-being.

Researchers compared country-level internet and broadband use to the mental well-being of millions of people in dozens of countries, and came away with no evidence that the internet is ca...

Could a 'Brain Coach' Help Folks at Higher Risk for Alzheimer's?

Personal trainers can help people increase their strength and their fitness.

Could a “brain coach” be just as useful in preventing Alzheimer’s’ disease?

A new study suggests that personalized health and lifestyle changes can delay or even prevent memory loss for older adults at high risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

People who received personal coaching experienced a ...

Black Patients Wait Longer Than Whites for Alzheimer's Diagnosis

TUESDAY, Nov. 28, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Medical imaging for thinking and memory issues happens much later in Black patients than in their white and Hispanic counterparts, new research shows.

A study to be presented Thursday at a meeting of radiologists als...

Whole Grain Foods Could Help Black Seniors Avoid Alzheimer's

Whole grains could be the key to Black people protecting their brains against aging and dementia, a new study reports.

Black folks who ate more foods with whole grains appeared to have a slower rate of memory decline than those who ate fewer whole grains, according to findings published Nov. 23 in the journal Neurology.

Among Black people, those who ate the most whole grain...

Scans Show Brain Changes in People With Long COVID

People with long COVID exhibit brain changes that are different from the brains of fully recovered COVID-19 patients, a new brain scan study reports.

COVID-19 induced a specific pattern of microscopic structural changes in various brain regions of people with long COVID, researchers will report at the upcoming annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

“To...

  • Dennis Thompson and Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporters
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  • November 27, 2023
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Teens With Multiple Concussions Face Higher Risk of Suicidal Thoughts

TUESDAY, Nov. 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) — A year after suffering a concussion, teens, especially boys, are more likely than their peers to think about, plan and even attempt suicide, new research finds.

With more concussions, the risk grows. 

Teen boys who reported two or more concussions in the past year were two times more likely to report a suicide attempt than those who h...

One Part of Your Brain Could Point to the Mind's Decline

Shrinkage of one of the brain's key memory centers appears to herald thinking declines, a new study finds.

The region in question is the hippocampus, a two-sided structure located roughly above each ear and embedded deep within the brain's temporal lobe. It's long been known to play a crucial role in the storage and transference of short- and long-term memory.

The new research was ...

Scientists Create Device That Can Isolate Blood Flow to Brain

An experimental device that isolates blood flow to the brain has the potential to revolutionize brain research.

The device redirects the brain’s blood supply through a pump that maintains or adjusts a range of variables necessary to maintain the organ, including blood pressure, temperature, oxygenation and nutrients, researchers report.

When tested on a pig brain, the device maint...

Could You Recognize the More Subtle Signs of a Seizure?

A seizure doesn’t always look like what you see in the movies, but a new survey finds most Americans don't know what the more subtle signs of seizures are.

“Anything that interrupts your brain’s circuit can cause seizures, from tumors, infections and strokes to high or low blood sugar, or glucose levels, to inherited genetic features. And different types of seizures can present with...

Tai Chi Might Help Seniors Counter Mild Cognitive Decline

The ancient art of tai chi, plus a modern twist, may help older adults reverse mild declines in brain power, a new clinical trial reveals. 

Researchers found that tai chi classes helped older adults improve their subtle problems with cognition (memory and thinking skills). It also helped them with a fundamental multitasking skill: walking while your attention is elsewhere.

But ...

This is Your Brain on Zoom

You might be talking to a real person while on Zoom, but it's just not the same to your brain as a face-to-face conversation.

New research using sophisticated imaging tools found that the brain activity of people engaged in conversation looks dif...

7 Million Americans Have Mild Cognitive Impairment and Don't Know It

Millions of older Americans may be unaware they have memory and thinking impairments -- mostly because their doctors aren't diagnosing them, new research suggests.

After analyzing Medicare data covering 40 million older Americans, researchers found that only a small percentage of expected cases of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were actually diagnosed. The upshot was that more t...

Neighborhood Parks Could Help Your Aging Brain

A variety of risks can make it more likely that someone develops Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.

Now you can add neighborhood environment to that list. A new study finds low income levels and a lack of green spaces are among the factors that can harm brain health.

“Social determinants of health have a major impact on cognition, as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular...

Eating Well in Middle Age Could Help Your Brain Decades Later

Mid-life isn't too late to make a dietary change to preserve brain health.

Women who started following the diet known as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) to lower their blood pressure were about 17% less likely to report memory loss and other signs of mental decline decades later, a new study re...

Ketamine's Antidepressant Benefit: Is It All in Your Head?

The party drug ketamine has gotten a lot of notice for its potential to help people with severe and persistent depression who haven't responded to other treatments.

But a new study has discovered the drug's effect may be in the heads of patients who take it.

Researchers from Stanford Medicine administered either ketamine or a placebo to 40 patients with depression who were already g...

Medical Groups Issue Consensus Definition of Brain Death

A new guideline from four leading medical organizations should help doctors determine if someone is brain dead.

“Until now, there have been two separate guidelines for determining brain death, one for adults and one for children,” said author Dr. Matthew Kirschen, a critical care physician at the Childr...

Targeted Treatment Shrinks Rare Brain Tumors in Small Study

A targeted treatment has had unprecedented success in shrinking a rare brain tumor, according to clinical trial results.

These tumors are papillary craniopharyngiomas (PCPs), and the drug combo is called vemurafenib/cobimetinib.

Each of 15 patients who received one or more cycles of targeted therapy responded to treatment, with an average 91% reduction in tumor size, Mass Gene...

Preventing Alzheimer's: Here's 6 Ways You May Reduce Your Risk

Alzheimer's robs its victims of their memories and there is no cure, but there are things you can do to prevent Alzheimer's disease.

With Alzheimer's, two types of brain proteins, called tau tangles and beta-amyloid plaques, grow out of control. According to Harvard Health, these proteins destroy brain cells and cause

  • Kirstie Ganobsik HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 19, 2023
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  • Long Space Flights Could Take Toll on Astronauts' Brains

    Astronauts spending six months or longer in space should stretch their time between trips to three years, warns new research on the impact of space travel on the brain.

    To study this, researchers examined the brain scans of 30 astronauts, looking at scans that depicted their brains both before and after their missions.

    The research team included missions that were two weeks long, si...

    5-HTP Supplement: What Is It, and Can It Help You?

    The supplement known as 5-HTP is available in both natural and synthetic versions and is used by some people to treat a variety of wellness issues.

    Here's a look at what this supplement is, its safety profile, side effects and drug interactions, and the potential health benefits that 5-HTP has to offer you for a balanced lifestyle.

    What is 5-HTP?

    In your body, 5-hydroxytryptop...

    FDA Approves Drug for Rare Form of ALS

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a new drug for people who have a rare, inherited type of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

    The medication, toferson (Qalsody), targ...

    In Mouse Study, New Gel Therapy Stops Dangerous Brain Tumors

    A gel applied directly into the brain could offer new hope for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in adults.

    The gel cured 100% of lab mice with glioblastoma when it was applied to the tumor cavity following surgery to remove the cancer, said senior researcher Honggang Cui,...

    New Treatment Could Be Safer Way to Fight Brain Tumors in Kids

    Each year, about 140 kids in the United States are diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma, a typically non-cancerous brain tumor that develops near the pituitary gland at the base of the brain.

    Doctors treat craniopharyngiomas with surgery to remove the entire tumor or a less aggressive surgery followed by radiation to kill any remaining cells.

    Now, a

  • Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
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  • April 25, 2023
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  • This Is Your Brain on Books: Science Reveals Secrets of Reading

    Reading is fundamental, but it's also a complex skill. Now, a new study sheds more light on how the brain makes sense of the written word.

    Researchers found that two key brain "networks" work in tandem to help people read sentences -- so folks not only grasp the meanings of individual words but also process the bigger picture of what's being said.

    Because reading is such an essentia...

    Florida Man Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection

    A brain-eating amoeba has killed a Florida man, state health officials reported.

    The man may have acquired this very rare infection after rinsing his sinuses with tap water, the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County said in a news release.

    While ...

    Exercise Just Once a Month Could Help Your Brain Decades Later

    Regular exercise at some point in life is a key to better cognitive health in old age, researchers say. Starting sooner is better and sustaining it longer are, too.

    A new British study has found that exercising at least once a month at any time in adulthood is linked to better ...

    Scientists Pinpoint Why People With Autism Struggle to Understand a Speaker's 'Tone'

    Children with autism often have difficulty grasping the emotional cues in other people's voices, and now researchers may have zeroed in on the reason why.

    In a study of 43 kids with and without autism, researchers were able to trace such difficulties to a particular brain area -- one involved in social communication.

    Experts said the findings suggest that children with autism are pr...

    Light Therapy Might Ease MS-Related Fatigue

    Extreme fatigue often tops the list of the most distressing symptoms for millions of people who live with multiple sclerosis (MS).

    And now, a new study suggests that light therapy may help these folks get their lives back.

    MS is an autoimmune disease that occurs when th...

    Patients' Genes Raise Odds for Rare Brain Infection When Using Certain Meds

    For some people, dozens of U.S.-approved drugs can lead to a rare but often fatal brain infection.

    Researchers have now confirmed a strong link between four genetic mutations and this illness, called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

    A new study found that in people ta...

    Black Patients With Brain Tumors Less Likely to Get Surgery Than Whites

    Black patients with brain tumors may be less likely to have surgery recommended to them than white patients are, according to a large U.S. study.

    The research, which looked at two national databases, found that on average, Black patients were less likely to have surgery recommended for any of four types of brain tumor. That included three considered benign (non-cancerous) and one that is ...

    Vitamin D Might Help Shield the Aging Brain

    Older adults who harbor more vitamin D in their brains may stay mentally sharper, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that when older adults had higher levels of vitamin D in their brain tissue, they tended to perform better on standard tests of memory and thinking. They were also less likely to have dementia or milder cognitive impairments.

    Experts stressed that

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 8, 2022
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  • Implant Delivers Chemo Directly to Brain in Patients Battling Brain Tumors

    Researchers have found a way to safely deliver a steady supply of chemotherapy directly to brain tumors -- in what they hope will be an important advance for patients with currently incurable cancers.

    The treatment involves an implantable pump system that supplies a steady drip of chemo straight to the brain tumor. Researchers have tested it in five patients who had recurrent glioblastoma...

    Aerobic Exercise Reinvigorates the Aging Brain

    Regular aerobic exercise improves blood flow to the brain, which should help keep seniors sharper as they age, a new trial has revealed.

    At least a half-hour of power walking or jogging four to five times a week promoted better blood flow in and out of the brain among a small group of older adults, said study co-author

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 16, 2022
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  • Even a Pasted-On Smile Can Lighten Your Mood

    If you're feeling a little low, smile anyway. That alone could shift your mood.

    This idea is known as the facial feedback hypothesis, and researchers set out to either prove or disprove the theory in a new global study, finding strong evidence that posed smiles ...

    Cellular 'Fix' Treatment Shows Promise Against ALS in Small Study

    Researchers have made early progress toward a new approach to treating the deadly brain disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): using patients' own immune system T cells.

    ALS is a rare condition that kills nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord...

    Group of Brain Cells in Dish Can Play Computer Game Pong

    Scientists have taught a brain cell culture living in a laboratory dish to play the vintage table-tennis video game Pong.

    It's the first demonstration that a collection of lab-grown brain cells can be taught to perform goal-directed tasks, the Australian researchers report.

    They call the culture...

    Mouse Study Points to Why Alzheimer's Affects Women More Than Men

    Women are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease twice as often as men. Now researchers think they know why.

    A new study found evidence in mice and human brain tissue that may explain the differences, according to researchers from Case Western University in Cleveland.

    Female brains showed a higher ...

    Babies Might Trigger Brain Changes in New Dads

    When men become parents, a lot changes in their lives -- less sleep and more time devoted to taking care of their children come to mind -- but new research now suggests that distinct changes also unfold in a new father's brain.

    Researchers scanned the brains of new fathers to discover and study those changes after suspecting this would be the case and seeing evidence from animal studies t...

    FDA Approves New ALS Drug Despite Uncertain Data

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday gave its approval to a new drug for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

    But appro...

    New Alzheimer's Drug Shows Promise in Phase 3 Clinical Trial

    WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28, 2022 (HealthDay) -- Japanese drugmaker Eisai on Wednesday said its experimental drug lecanemab helped slow thinking declines among people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

    The findings from a phase 3 clinical trial have yet to be peer-reviewed in any medical journal. But accor...

    In Boxers and MMA Fighters, Brain May Make Some Recovery After Retirement

    Professional fighters take a lot of knocks to the head, but a new study suggests they may find themselves thinking more clearly again after they retire.

    Many studies have pointed to the perils of repeated blows to the head in sports like boxing and football.

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 15, 2022
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  • In Rare Cases, Monkeypox Can Trigger Dangerous Brain Inflammation

    Though the risk appears small, a new review suggests that, in rare instances, monkeypox may trigger serious neurological complications, including seizures and brain inflammation.

    The finding is based on a look at 19 studies conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom and across Africa.

    A...

    Research Reveals Cause of 'Freezing' Gait in Parkinson's

    Researchers think they've figured out why Parkinson's disease causes a person's limbs to become so stiff that at times they can feel frozen in place.

    Using a robotic chair equipped with sensors, a research team has linked the activation of leg muscles in Parkinson's patients with a region of the brain called the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 12, 2022
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  • In Rare Move, FDA Panel Gives Support to Controversial ALS Drug in 2nd Review

    In a rare second review, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel on Wednesday recommended approval for an experimental drug for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

    The FDA is not obligated t...

    Blood Test Shows Promise for Quick Diagnosis of ALS

    Patients suspected of having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may soon be able to get a diagnosis much more quickly, not wasting the precious time many have left, new research suggests.

    In 20...

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