Health
Social media before bedtime wreaks havoc on our sleep − a sleep researcher explains why screens alone aren’t the main culprit
Social media before bedtime wreaks havoc on our sleep − a sleep researcher explains why screens alone aren’t the main culprit Using social media before bed can disrupt sleep patterns, even if screen time alone isn’t the main culprit. The way people emotionally engage with social media may have a greater impact on sleep quality […]
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How does electrical brain stimulation ease post-stroke symptoms?
How does electrical brain stimulation ease post-stroke symptoms? A pilot study investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on post-stroke patients, particularly those with aphasia, a language disorder resulting from a stroke injury. The study found that participants who received real tDCS showed significantly larger pupil dilation, which could indicate improved attention, but […]
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New neurons may repair damage from Huntington’s disease
New neurons may repair damage from Huntington’s disease New research suggests that the adult brain can generate new neurons that integrate into key motor circuits, offering a potential new way to restore brain function and slow the progression of Huntington’s disease. The study found that stimulating natural brain processes can help repair damaged neural networks […]
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1 in 5 people with dementia get no care
1 in 5 people with dementia get no care 1 in 5 people living with dementia globally receive no care or assistance with daily living tasks, regardless of their country’s wealth or development status. The lack of care has persisted for years, and its consequences are severe, including increased risk of emergency room visits, nursing […]
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Housing instability complicates end-of-life care for aging unhoused populations
Housing instability complicates end-of-life care for aging unhoused populations Housing instability complicates end-of-life care for aging unhoused populations, with research estimating that one-third or more of the unhoused population in the U.S. is age 50 or older. Unhoused people face high rates of chronic and serious illness, die at younger ages compared to housed individuals, […]
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Animal tranquilizers found in illegal opioids may suppress the lifesaving medication naloxone − and cause more overdose deaths
Animal tranquilizers found in illegal opioids may suppress the lifesaving medication naloxone − and cause more overdose deaths Animal tranquilizers like xylazine and medetomidine are being found in increasing amounts in illicit opioids, which can suppress the lifesaving medication naloxone and lead to more overdose deaths. The addition of animal tranquilizers to opioids can block […]
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Alcohol causes cancer, and less than 1 drink can increase your risk − a cancer biologist explains how
Alcohol causes cancer, and less than 1 drink can increase your risk − a cancer biologist explains how Alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of cancer, with over 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the US. Even low amounts of alcohol (less than one drink a day) can increase […]
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Hormone therapy may cut cardiovascular risk in younger menopausal women
Hormone therapy may cut cardiovascular risk in younger menopausal women Hormone therapy relieves many symptoms of menopause. Ariel Skelley/DigitalVision via Getty Images Menopause can have profound effects on heart health, yet many people are unaware of this important connection. The hormonal shifts occurring during menopause mark the end of a woman’s reproductive years and contribute […]
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Being alone has its benefits − a psychologist flips the script on the ‘loneliness epidemic’
Being alone has its benefits − a psychologist flips the script on the ‘loneliness epidemic’ Studies show that choosing ‘me time’ is not a recipe for loneliness but can boost your creativity and emotional well-being. FotoDuets/iStock via Getty Images Plus Over the past few years, experts have been sounding the alarm over how much time […]
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Americans live shorter lives than Europeans, no matter their wealth
Americans live shorter lives than Europeans, no matter their wealth Comparing wealth and survival rates in the US with those in Europe, researchers found that over a 10-year period, Americans across all wealth levels were more likely to die than their European counterparts. The findings are detailed in a new study in the New England […]
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Listen: What are the hidden dangers of grief?
Listen: What are the hidden dangers of grief? In a new podcast episode, a psychologist examines the stress that loss has on the body—and how society can help. When we lose someone close to us, we often say we have a broken heart: But what if that’s not just a metaphor? In her new book, […]
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Vitamin D builds your bones and keeps your gut sealed, among many other essential functions − but many children are deficient
Vitamin D builds your bones and keeps your gut sealed, among many other essential functions − but many children are deficient Most people in the U.S. get their vitamin D from Sun exposure. Stockbyte/DigitalVision via Getty Images You’ve likely heard about vitamin D’s important role in maintaining strong bones and teeth. But it also plays […]
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Medicare Advantage is covering more and more Americans − some because they don’t get to choose
Medicare Advantage is covering more and more Americans − some because they don’t get to choose Since the mid-2000s, the Medicare system has dramatically transformed. Enrollment in Medicare Advantage – the private alternative to the traditional Medicare program administered by the government – has more than quadrupled. It now accounts for the majority of Medicare […]
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Lowering the cost of insurance in Colorado – a new analysis of the Peak Health Alliance
Lowering the cost of insurance in Colorado – a new analysis of the Peak Health Alliance Health insurance premiums have continued to rise in the U.S. MoMo Productions/GettyImages A community-led partnership in Colorado designed to negotiate health care prices lowered health care premiums in 2020 and 2021, we find in our new paper in the […]
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What can scientists learn from people who’ve never had COVID?
What can scientists learn from people who’ve never had COVID? Infectious diseases doctor and researcher Sabrina Assoumou says so-called “super-dodgers” could teach scientists a lot about the virus that causes COVID. Five years after the world shut down in response to the rapid spread of a mysterious disease, the total number of reported cases of […]
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Is napping good for you?
Is napping good for you? A doctor and expert in sleep surgery explains why napping can interfere with your sleep cycle. In Spain and in many Latin American countries, residents take a respite after lunch to sleep. “Siesta” time is an almost sacred tradition. In some businesses in Japan, employees are encouraged to take a […]
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Expert: Your humidifier could do more harm than good
Expert: Your humidifier could do more harm than good An environmental engineering expert warns that improper use of humidifiers could do more harm than good. With allergy season here and this year’s flu season being the worst in more than a decade, those experiencing symptoms are looking for relief. Many turn to humidifiers to manage […]
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Stomach tumor ‘atlas’ could lead to better treatments
Stomach tumor ‘atlas’ could lead to better treatments A team of researchers has made a significant discovery in understanding stomach cancer, a disease that remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. By using advanced mapping technologies, they created a detailed “atlas” of stomach tumors, revealing hidden patterns in how cancer cells behave, evolve, and interact […]
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Drug may boost motivation for people with depression
Drug may boost motivation for people with depression A study suggests that levodopa, a medication that increases dopamine levels in the brain, may help treat individuals with depression who experience motivational impairments due to high inflammation. Researchers found that a common blood test measuring C-reactive protein (CRP), a blood biomarker of inflammation produced by the […]
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How do psychedelics affect sexuality and intimacy?
How do psychedelics affect sexuality and intimacy? Researchers have just published the first paper of its kind reporting on the impact of psychedelics on sexuality and intimacy. The paper in the Journal of Sex Research found that psychedelic experiences enhanced participants’ perceptions of their relationship quality, attraction to their current partner, and sexual activities. “I […]
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Why do dogs love to play with trash?
Why do dogs love to play with trash? Dogs will be dogs. Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Why do dogs love to play with trash? – Sarah G٫ age 11٫ […]
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Measles can ravage the immune system and brain, causing long-term damage – a virologist explains
Measles can ravage the immune system and brain, causing long-term damage – a virologist explains Measles infections send 1 in 5 people to the hospital. wildpixel/ iStock via Getty Images Plus The measles outbreak that began in west Texas in late January 2025 continues to grow, with 400 confirmed cases in Texas and more than […]
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Doctor shortages have hobbled health care for decades − and the trend could be worsening
Doctor shortages have hobbled health care for decades − and the trend could be worsening Specialists across numerous fields of medicine are in short supply. sudok1/iStock via Getty Images Americans are increasingly waiting weeks or even months to get an appointment to see a health care specialist. This delay comes at a time when the […]
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Bird flu could be on the cusp of transmitting between humans − but there are ways to slow down viral evolution
Bird flu could be on the cusp of transmitting between humans − but there are ways to slow down viral evolution Workers who are in frequent contact with potentially sick animals are at high risk of bird flu infection. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Disease forecasts are like weather forecasts: We cannot predict the finer details […]
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‘Everyday discrimination’ linked to increased anxiety and depression across all groups of Americans
‘Everyday discrimination’ linked to increased anxiety and depression across all groups of Americans Everyday discrimination happens to all races and genders. FG Trade Latin/E+ via Getty Images People who most frequently encounter everyday discrimination – those subtle snubs and slights of everyday life – are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. What’s more, […]
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Want to stay healthier and fulfilled later in life? Try volunteering
Want to stay healthier and fulfilled later in life? Try volunteering New volunteers get trained in Lexington, Ky., to help out at CASA of Lexington in April 2023. AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel As gerontologists – social scientists who study aging populations – we envision a future in which older people leave a doctor’s visit with […]
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Poor neighborhoods, health care barriers are factors for heart disease risk in Black mothers
Poor neighborhoods, health care barriers are factors for heart disease risk in Black mothers The study examined more than 7 million births that occurred over 22 years. supersizer/E+ via Getty Images Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood contributes to a rare form of heart failure known as peripartum cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly disease that disproportionately affects […]
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Medetomidine is replacing xylazine in Philly street fentanyl − creating new hurdles for health care providers and drug users
Medetomidine is replacing xylazine in Philly street fentanyl − creating new hurdles for health care providers and drug users Medetomidine is now a key ingredient in street fentanyl sold in Philly. AP Photo/Matt Rourke Philadelphia’s street opioid supply – or “dope” market – is constantly changing. As health care workers and researchers who care for […]
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Losing your job is bad for your health, but there are things you can do to minimize the harm
Losing your job is bad for your health, but there are things you can do to minimize the harm Losing your job can hurt you in many ways. Maskot/Getty Images The Trump administration’s firing and furloughing of tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors have obviously caused economic hardship for Americans employed in national […]
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Genomic sequencing reveals previously unknown genes that make microbes resistant to drugs and hard to kill
Genomic sequencing reveals previously unknown genes that make microbes resistant to drugs and hard to kill In the 20th century, when a routine infection was treated with a standard antibiotic, recovery was expected. But over time, the microbes responsible for these infections have evolved to evade the very drugs designed to eliminate them. Each year, […]
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