Author: healthadmin
Nearly five months after U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touted leucovorin at a White House press conference as an “exciting treatment that could benefit millions of children suffering from autism,” the FDA approved the decades-old drug for a rare genetic disorder with “autistic features” that affects a small percentage of people with autism. The FDA has approved GSK’s leucovorin calcium tablets, Welcovorin, as a treatment for cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), but only in patients with a confirmed mutation in the folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) gene. CFD-FOLR1 is an extremely rare genetic form of…
Most people think climate change primarily affects other people, a new analysis of previously published studies has found.The findings demonstrate a well-known cognitive bias known as “overoptimism,” and specifically a type of cognitive bias called “overplacement,” which refers to the tendency for people to rate their own risks as less likely and less severe than the risks of others.This trend makes people less likely to take actions to reduce their risk, such as quitting smoking or getting vaccinated. Overly optimistic risk perceptions may also make people less likely to support climate action, the researchers say.”Many people may ask themselves: How…
Recent research published in consciousness and cognition This provides evidence that everyday mental quirks such as déjà vu and tip-of-the-tongue states are natural byproducts of a resting mind. The results of this study suggest that when a person’s attention is not fully focused, a variety of spontaneous thoughts and reflective emotions naturally emerge into consciousness. Scientists conducted this study to understand whether it is possible to systematically capture a wide range of sudden mental experiences in a laboratory setting. Previous research has focused primarily on involuntary memories, which are memories of personal events that come to mind without warning. The…
This story appears as part of collaboration A partnership between The Maine Monitor and Maine Focus, the Bangor Daily News’ investigative team, to strengthen investigative journalism in Maine. You can show your support for this initiative by donation on the monitor. Read more about the partnership. Sean Oshima spent two summers at Songbird Farm in Unity and created some of his happiest memories. Five years later, in 2022, this organic farm discovered PFAS contamination in its soil and water. Worried that he might have been infected, Oshima was reluctant to undergo a blood test for “eternal chemicals” linked to diseases…
A review of more than 850 historical newspaper reports reveals that the daring act of licking frozen metal in childhood can sometimes cause serious injuries, providing valuable insight into who is at risk and how these accidents should be responded to. Research: Demographics and outcomes of tongue freezing: a detailed review of Scandinavian tundra tongue cases. Image credit: Anna Pasichnyk/Shutterstock.com For at least 250 years, newspapers have reported stories of children freezing their tongues to cold metal. This is a phenomenon called “tundra tongue.” However, there is little evidence to determine whether this represents a significant health risk. In a…
Researchers have identified 90 million-year-old fossils that help solve a long-standing mystery about a strange group of prehistoric animals. The discovery was led by University of Minnesota Twin Cities scientist Peter Makowiecki and Argentine paleontologist Sebastian Apesteguia. Their findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature, describe an almost complete skeleton. Arunachetri seropolisiensis. This dinosaur belonged to a special group of theropod-like birds called Alvarezsaurus. These animals are known for their small teeth and unusually short arms that end in one giant thumb claw. For decades, scientists struggled to understand this group, as most of the well-preserved fossils were found in…
Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with Morning Rounds, STAT’s free newsletter. Sign up here. good morning. Here are some recent hot opinions for the townspeople around Boston. McDonald’s coffee may be better than Dunk. (Quick follow-up: Much better than Starbucks.) HHS cancels autism conference amid fierce battle The Federal Advisory Committee on Autism (known as the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, not to be confused with a new independent group with a similar name) will not convene later this month as originally scheduled. The news was first reported over the weekend and confirmed by HHS in…
Recent research published in modern drug problem They argue that strict worldwide bans on psychedelic drugs were driven by political ideology and media panic, rather than by scientific evidence of medical harm. Historical analysis reveals that the 1971 United Nations decision to severely restrict these substances relied on cultural anxieties rather than genuine public health risks. These findings suggest that current international drug law may need to be re-evaluated to remove unnecessary barriers to modern medical research. Psychedelics are a diverse class of substances that alter a person’s perception, mood, and cognitive processes. This category includes natural compounds found in…
LAS VEGAS—Samsung Electronics and digital health company b.well Connected Health are teaming up to eliminate traditional patient clipboards and replace them with smartphones. Samsung Galaxy smartphone users will now have digital access to their complete health history through the Samsung Health app and will be able to share their medical records with participating providers via QR code. The companies say this will eliminate the need for patients to fill out medical questionnaires at nearly every medical visit. Despite advances in technology, patients typically have to fill out the same forms at the doctor’s office, repeating relevant medical information from memory,…
Entrepreneur Alexandra Knauer, managing director of laboratory equipment manufacturer KNAUER, has been awarded the Pittcon Heritage Award 2026 in the United States. Alexandra Knauer, Pitcon Heritage Award recipient. Image credit: KNAUER This award recognizes outstanding individuals who have made lasting contributions to the advancement of instrumental analysis and experimental science. The awards ceremony took place on March 8, 2026, during the Pittcon Conference and Expo in San Antonio, Texas, with approximately 700 conference attendees in attendance. Surprisingly, Alexandra Knauer was unable to travel as planned because she did not have a US visa. Dr. Markus Fuchs, who has been with…