Author: healthadmin

Since the U.S. launched a new abbreviated 988 national suicide and crisis hotline, suicide deaths among adolescents and young adults have declined by 11% compared to predicted rates, according to a JAMA study released Wednesday. Suicide rates have increased in the United States in recent decades, especially among young people. Overall, U.S. suicide deaths declined slightly in 2024 from their peak in 2022, the year 988 was released. A new study found an even bigger improvement when comparing quarterly suicide mortality rates for 15- to 34-year-olds with predictions. And states that saw the biggest increases in calls to Lifeline saw…

New research published in natural ecology and evolution They examined the bodies of 132 people buried in large megalithic tombs near Berry, about 50 kilometers north of Paris. The site was used during two different periods, during which a significant population decline occurred around 3,000 BC. Genetic analysis shows that the people buried before and after this decline are unrelated, suggesting large-scale population turnover. “There is a clear genetic disconnect between these two periods,” said Frederik Valeur-Sielsholm, assistant professor at the Grove Institute at the University of Copenhagen and one of the study’s lead authors. “Earlier groups resemble the Stone…

How healthy you are in midlife may help determine not just how long you live, but how many of those years you spend in good health, according to a new study published in the journal Today. Jack, The flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study found that adults with high levels of cardiovascular fitness in midlife lived longer, developed fewer chronic diseases, and spent more years free of serious illness than those who did not.Cardiorespiratory fitness, or how well your heart and lungs can deliver oxygen during physical activity, is known to reduce your risk of heart…

research in health economics The availability of HIV treatment in the late 1990s dramatically improved survival rates, but also contributed to the resurgence of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis. Through a statistical analysis of information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and pharmaceutical industry sales data, researchers found that U.S. states with high AIDS prevalence saw significant increases in syphilis since highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) became widely available. These increases have been concentrated among men, while the proportion of women continues to decline. This suggests that changes in sexual behavior associated with lower perceived risk of HIV have…

As Big Pharma cuts its workforce and routinely enters into multibillion-dollar M&A deals, another trend is steadily taking hold at many of them. This is the introduction of AI on a corporate scale. Mark Merk is a participant in this movement. The company on Wednesday unveiled a partnership with Google Cloud as it works to “Agent AI Enterprise Transformation.” As part of an investment in Google Cloud worth up to $1 billion, Merck will have access to the tech giant’s agent AI platform across its research and development operations, manufacturing, sales teams, and enterprise divisions. Notably, the deal includes Google…

Stroke in childhood is a rare but serious medical event, and recent evidence suggests that everyday illnesses may increase the risk of stroke occurrence. Recent research published in Neurology The study shows that children who have had an infection are more likely to have a stroke soon afterwards, but recent vaccinations have shown no such association. These findings highlight the importance of infection prevention to protect vascular health in young people. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is cut off or when a blood vessel ruptures. Stroke in adults is often associated with conditions such as high…

Astronomers have discovered something surprising on a distant gas giant: clouds of water ice. The discovery, made by a team led by Elizabeth Matthews at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), calls into question many existing models of how exoplanet atmospheres behave. The planet, known as Epsilon Indi Abu, resembles Jupiter, but its atmosphere appears to be more complex than expected. The observational methods used in this study are also an important step toward the long-term goal of discovering and studying Earth-like planets. The search for planets outside our solar system has evolved over several decades. Scientists eventually hope…

Prescribing medicine to patients is just one step in improving their health. Ensuring patients begin and continue treatment is an important part of the process. From prescribing to long-term medication adherence, wide gaps continue to exist in patient experiences. Many life sciences companies find that efforts to engage and support patients after a drug is prescribed remain inadequate due to siled data, disparate systems, and poor collaboration. Courier Health launched a biopharmaceutical-specific artificial intelligence-powered platform in 2022 that manages the end-to-end patient journey from education to patient enrollment, benefits, prior authorization, treatment initiation and adherence. The company says Courier Health’s…

Neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that circulate in the bloodstream, serve as part of the body’s first responders to infection and inflammation. When the immune system is activated, its number increases rapidly and the balance between neutrophils and other immune cells changes. Doctors can measure this balance using a standard test called the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). This number is routinely calculated from a complete blood count, a common test used to detect infections and assess immune health. A new study from NYU Langone Health suggests this simple measurement may do more than reflect current illness. It could also…

Novartis is partnering with dancer, choreographer and television personality Carrie Ann Inaba to launch a new disease awareness campaign for Sjögren’s syndrome. Sjögren’s disease is a disease in which the patient’s glands, which normally produce body fluids such as tears and saliva, stop working properly. Sjögren’s syndrome can have a variety of symptoms, but common ones include dry eyes and mouth, muscle and joint pain, and extreme fatigue. Inaba, 58, is familiar with the disease since she was diagnosed in 2013. She is currently lending her voice to Novartis’ “Sjöut for Sjögren’s” campaign and will be featured in a new…