Author: healthadmin

Kgari, the largest sand island on earth, is famous for its crystal clear freshwater lake. New research from the University of Adelaide suggests these iconic bodies of water may be more vulnerable than previously thought. Scientists have discovered signs of a major dry period during the mid-Holocene, about 7,500 years ago, by analyzing ancient sedimentary layers at Lake Kgari, located off the southeast coast of Queensland. “Our study shows that some of Kgari’s deepest lakes dried up around 7,500 years ago, long after the end of the last ice age and during a period of high rainfall,” said lead researcher…

Teens and young adults who have survived cancer appear to age faster than people of the same age who have never had cancer, according to a new study. Scientists have discovered signs of premature aging not only in cells, but also in brain performance such as memory, attention, and information processing ability. The survey results are nature communications. The study was led by Dr. Annalynn Williams of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester and co-corresponding author Dr. Kevin Krull of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Lifestyle changes may reverse biological aging There may be encouraging news ahead.…

Shortly after President Donald Trump took office last January, USDA officials were reportedly directed to flag and remove web pages that mentioned climate change, including resources farmers use to prepare for extreme weather events. In response, environmental and agricultural nonprofits sued government agencies for the loss of critical information. In May, days before a scheduled public hearing, the USDA announced it would restore its climate webpage. At that point, “we essentially won,” said Peter Lehner, lead attorney at Earthjustice, a nonprofit law firm representing the plaintiffs. However, negotiations over a legal settlement continued. Last week, the agriculture department finally settled…

LONDON — In a crowded chamber last fall, Robert Malone, a physician and prominent adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., spoke for more than 45 minutes about some of the health secretary’s favorite targets, including routine vaccines, ultra-processed foods and antidepressants. There was a standing ovation when he concluded with his signature nod to “Make America Healthy Again.” This was not your typical MAHA gathering in Washington, DC. Malone was speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels and helping launch a new organization, Make Europe Healthy Again (MEHA). Following in the footsteps of its American cousin, the group says it…

What if we could turn plastic waste into something useful? That dream could soon become a reality, as scientists have discovered a way to use sunlight to turn plastic into acetic acid. Plastics and microplastics are found everywhere, from waterways to remote ecosystems to the bodies of humans and animals. Global plastic usage has also continued to increase over the past 60 years. However, this new method could be a unique and environmentally friendly way to tackle plastic pollution.sunny solutionScientists have developed a “sustainable and highly efficient” method to “upcycle plastic, the main ingredient in vinegar, into value-added acetic acid,”…

We tested 49 different formulas, and the U.S. market is almost completely dominated by just a handful of formula manufacturers. About half of the infant formula purchased in the United States is purchased through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and almost all of it is manufactured by just two companies: Abbott and Mead Johnson. Abbott makes Similac and Elecare, and Mead Johnson makes Enfamil and Puramino. A third company, Perrigo, is responsible for manufacturing many familiar store brands, including Kirkland Signature (Costco), Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club), Parents’ Choice (Walmart), and Up & Up (Target).…

A landmark 20-year analysis of the ACTIVE trial suggests that targeted and enhanced speed-based cognitive training may delay the diagnosis of dementia, providing new insights into how structured mental exercises can support long-term brain health in older populations. Study: The impact of cognitive training on claims-based diagnosed dementia over 20 years: Evidence from the ACTIVE study. Image credit: Oksana Tkachova / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: translational research and clinical interventionsa group of researchers used Medicare claims data to determine whether domain-specific cognitive training reduces long-term risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related…

Even at pharmacological doses that flood the colon but barely enter the bloodstream, curcumin’s effects on the gut microbiome were found to be temporary, highlighting the remarkable resilience of the human microbial ecosystem. Study: Effects of curcumin on the intestinal microbiota of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease patients and healthy participants. Image credit: Faizal Ramli / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal scientific reportResearchers assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and 4-year mortality in patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) treated in intensive care units (ICUs). Background and rationale A large cohort of COVID-19 survivors with…

Four years after admission to the ICU, the mortality rate for mechanically ventilated ARDS patients with COVID-19 remains extremely high, and many survivors continue to struggle with fatigue, insomnia, functional decline, and decreased quality of life. Study: Four-year mortality and quality of life after ICU treatment for COVID 19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. Image credit: Design_Cells / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal scientific reportResearchers assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and 4-year mortality in patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) treated in intensive care units (ICUs). Background and rationale A large cohort of COVID-19…

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has told employees they can no longer use Claude, Anthropic’s generative artificial intelligence tool, as President Donald Trump seeks to place the company on a federal blacklist. Although Claude is currently off-limits, similar tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise and Google Gemini “remain available for authorized mission-related use,” HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard confirmed to Fierce Biotech. Claude’s loss could hamper the FDA’s efforts to speed up the drug review process, which was repeatedly delayed during President Trump’s second term. Last summer, regulators rushed to launch an AI tool called Elsa a month…