Author: healthadmin
If you’re an older adult, getting the shingles vaccine may lower your risk of developing dementia. A new study found that residents of elderly care facilities who received at least one dose of the shingles vaccine, known as Shingrix, the only shingles vaccine available in the United States, were 24 percent less likely to develop dementia over a four-year period than those who did not receive the vaccine, according to results published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Internal Medicine. This study adds to growing evidence of a link between viral infections and cognitive decline. STAT+ exclusive story…
For many people, the plague brings to mind rats, crowded medieval towns, and the devastating epidemic that spread throughout Europe during and after the Middle Ages. New research suggests the disease’s deadly history goes back even further. Research published in nature Researchers found that plague was already killing people in small hunter-gatherer groups 5,500 years ago, thousands of years before agricultural communities and cities emerged. An international team of scientists examined ancient DNA from human remains recovered from four hunter-gatherer cemeteries near Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia. By sequencing genetic material stored inside ancient teeth, researchers reconstructed the bacterial genome…
The National Science Foundation on Thursday reversed its decision to dismantle its sprawling ocean monitoring network. fierce opposition Hearing from Democratic lawmakers and scientists who rely on this data to track everything from ocean circulation to extreme weather events.NSF issued a statement “We appreciate the concerns raised by a wide range of stakeholders,” he said, adding that efforts to remove or neutralize the equipment will be halted. It also said it would redeploy equipment already removed from the sea and convene a committee of experts to decide on the future of the network. Ocean Observatory Initiative is a network of…
Recent research published in journals nature We reveal how certain stress hormones help solidify the brain’s neural connections during early development. This study provides evidence that star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes sense this hormone and turn off periods of high brain plasticity. These findings suggest new ways to understand how the brain matures and how early-life stress disrupts this natural developmental timeline. When animals and humans are young, their brains are highly susceptible to mold growth. This flexibility, known as plasticity, allows the brain to learn from sensory experiences and adapt to its surrounding environment. Scientists refer to this period…
As the federal government continues to water down PFAS protections, states have an opportunity to help their residents, but only if they avoid certain pitfalls and loopholes. PFAS are one of the greatest public health threats of our time. These “forever chemicals” have invaded every aspect of our lives, from water and soil to kitchen utensils, safety equipment, and even baby toys. As a country, we need real urgency to address this risk quickly and in the right way.Despite the rollbacks and suspensions of PFAS regulations by the federal government, we are seeing tremendous bipartisan support to permanently address the…
A new study from Northern Arizona University (NAU) suggests that the world’s major greenhouse gas emissions databases may be significantly underestimating carbon dioxide emissions from urban vehicles. Researchers say the Climate TRACE database, developed by the Climate TRACE consortium co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, underestimates urban vehicle CO2 emissions by an average of 70%. The survey results are announced today. environmental research letters By Kevin Gurney, professor in the NAU School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS). The study focused on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars and trucks as reported in the recently released Climate TRACE…
A new study released today by the West Health Gallup Center found that less than half (49%) of Americans consider themselves “cost-secure,” meaning they can consistently afford health care and prescription drugs when and where they need it, the lowest level since West Health and Gallup released their 2021 Healthcare Affordability Index. Last year alone, 2.8 million Americans dropped out of the Cost Secure category due to their inability to keep up with rising healthcare costs. The new data largely extends last year’s downward trend, with continued declines in affordability evident among traditionally vulnerable populations, such as Black and Hispanic…
WASHINGTON — Twanetta Weaver felt she was making a responsible choice when she enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan through her employer. This allows them to avoid high premiums and save for retirement. Then, in 2025, she slipped a disc in her back, requiring medication and physical therapy. Weaver, who had been working on a leadership degree in addition to her adult studies, had to delay her graduation by a year due to sudden medical bills. “I had to start doing the math. Am I going to be able to pay my tuition, my books, my living expenses and…
Teens’ mental health, body mass index (BMI), and screen time are significantly associated with sleep quality, according to a new paper published June 10, 2026 in an open access journal. Pro Swan By Jianying Li et al. of Shanxi University, China. The study also found that girls and adolescents living in rural areas tended to have poorer sleep quality. Sleep quality is increasingly recognized as an important lifestyle determinant of physical and mental health during adolescence, and poor sleep quality in adolescents is a growing public health concern. Factors such as screen use, sedentary behavior and mental health problems have…
Youth who have contact with the U.S. legal system may be at increased risk for mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, hostility, and psychosis, according to a study published June 17, 2026 in an open access journal. Pro Swan By Raquel V. Oliveira and Elizabeth Clutter of Augusta University, USA. Previous research shows that both adults and young people with mental health problems are overrepresented in the criminal legal system. For example, it is estimated that 15 to 22 percent of all youth in the United States have a diagnosable mental health condition, while 40 to 80 percent of…