Author: healthadmin
Exercise can help reduce symptoms of depression, and new evidence points to a specific protein released by muscles as the main reason. Recent research published in molecular psychiatry It has been suggested that a protein called apelin travels from muscles during exercise to the brain to promote neuron growth and improve mood. This discovery improves our understanding of how the body and mind interact during physical activity. Major depressive disorder is a severe mental health condition characterized by persistent low mood and loss of interest in rewarding activities. Medical professionals often recommend exercise as a natural way to reduce these…
Comprehensive review published in BMJ Our findings suggest that taking calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or both has little or no clinically meaningful benefit in preventing fractures and falls for most older adults. Falls are a major health concern for older adults. Nearly one in three people over the age of 65 experience a fall each year, many of which result in a broken bone. These injuries can cause pain, decreased independence, decreased quality of life, and possibly the need for long-term residential care. As populations continue to age, preventing falls and fractures remains an important public health goal globally.…
GALENA — Tammy Allen’s front porch overlooks the trash-strewn hills of the Galena Landfill, built in an area once known as Hell’s Half Acre. Over the past three years, Allen’s home has become filled with random odors that seem to be causing headaches, nausea, and vomiting. “The smell comes and goes, so you never know when it’s going to happen,” Allen said. “Some smell like a dirty garage, others like stale cigarette smoke.” Allen, who has lived near the site for decades, said problems with smoldering fires and odors at the landfill have increased in the past few years. Allen…
A study of retired martial arts and collision sports athletes found that athletes with extensive disruption of the blood-brain barrier tended to experience more severe cognitive decline. Those with more severe cognitive decline also tended to have a greater systemic inflammatory burden, including an increased proportion of circulating monocytes. The paper is scientific translational medicine. Combat and collision sports such as boxing, martial arts, American football, rugby, ice hockey, wrestling, and lacrosse often involve strong impacts between players and with the ground and equipment. Contact sports such as soccer, basketball, and handball also involve physical contact, but violent collisions are…
Cedar, a patient finance platform for healthcare providers, announced Monday that its artificial intelligence voice agent has handled approximately 400,000 patient calls at healthcare providers nationwide since its launch last year. The platform debuted an AI voice agent (called Kora) in April 2025. The tool is available 24/7 to autonomously resolve common claims inquiries on the first interaction and is trained on Cedar’s proprietary medical claims data. Voice AI agents handle tasks such as patient authentication, bill collection, balance inquiries, bill clarification, and outbound collection campaigns. Since its launch, more than a dozen providers have implemented the solution, including Hartford…
From the frozen wastes of Antarctica to the heights of Mount Everest, microplastics have been found in some of the most remote places on Earth. And their range continues to expand. Recent research published in iscience Researchers have found that one of Nepal’s highest snow-filled lakes, located at an altitude of 4,917 meters (16,132 feet) in the Himalayas, contains high amounts of microplastic pollution. Researchers detected an average of 42 microplastic particles per liter of water, highlighting the reach of microscopic plastic pollution in some of the world’s most remote environments. “This is yet another evidence that the high consumption…
InStride Health, which provides specialized mental health care to children, teens, and young adults, has secured $30 million in Series C funding to fuel growth as it expands into new markets and expands its network of payment partners. Echo Health Ventures and FMZ Ventures led the Series C round as new strategic investors. Existing investors including .406 Ventures, General Catalyst, and Mass General Brigham Ventures also supported the round. News of this funding was shared exclusively with Fierce Healthcare. The company raised $30 million in Series B funding in March 2024 and $26 million in 2022. InStride has raised a…
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used for more than 30 years to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. More than 200,000 patients worldwide have now been implanted with these systems, which deliver continuous electrical stimulation to specific deep areas of the brain to reduce stiffness and tremors. However, despite clinical success, traditional deep brain stimulation (DBS) remains limited in its ability to address one of the disease’s most disabling symptoms: gait disturbance. Researchers in Lausanne develop a new approach, natural medicineadapting DBS in real time to patient movements in everyday situations. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the system continuously…
Climate change and pollution drive widespread health threats through rising temperatures, extreme weather, and degraded air quality, intersecting environmental health and climate change to accelerate respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
State laws banning the use of PFA in clothing and textiles have significantly reduced the amount of toxic “permanent chemicals” used in products. Public health advocates say this is a major public health victory and underscores the value of protective policies.However, some companies appear to be ignoring the law as their products still contain high levels of Pfas.Approximately 80% of the approximately 115 products tested showed levels of PFAS that complied with state law. Products were purchased from Internet and brick-and-mortar retailers in New York and California that have implemented bans on the intentional addition of Pfas.The tests looked at…