It is well known that detecting autism as early as possible is critical for successful intervention. However, in the USA, children are not typically diagnosed and treated for autistic spectrum disorders until they are four years of age. Now, researchers have concluded that the disorder can be stably diagnosed from 14 months (1 year and
Analysts say Amazon is poised to disrupt the $934.8 billion dollar global pharmaceutical industry. PillPack Nimble Pharmacy was among a crop of emerging companies, backed by venture capitalists, aiming to deliver prescription drugs from their own pharmacies to consumers’ homes or offices. Then Amazon bought online pharmacy PillPack in 2018, and Nimble needed to find
A new project to improve asthma in African children has been officially launched at an event in Durban, South Africa. The ‘Achieving Control of Asthma in Children In Africa’ (ACACIA) study, led by Queen Mary University of London, is a £2 million study funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It will involve
People with obesity are often likely to develop depression as well, but the mechanisms at play are still unclear. New research in mice may now explain what happens in the brains of individuals who have a high-fat diet. How might a high-fat diet impact mental health? Many studies — including one that Medical News Today
Researchers know that whole grains are good for health, but the mechanisms at play remain unclear. However, a recent study in humans and mouse models now shows just how certain whole grains help regulate gut health. Those who eat whole-grain rye bread have lower blood serotonin levels. What does this mean? Studies from the past
Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy when the body stops producing or responding to insulin adequately. If the body is unable to respond to insulin appropriately, high levels of sugar build up in the bloodstream and cause the symptoms of diabetes. Gestational diabetes can potentially cause some health risks
“Fly heading two three zero, runway two seven left, cleared for takeoff.” Air traffic controllers are among the 25 to 45 percent of the workforce in the United States who use their voices professionally. It is imperative for their listeners to understand what they are communicating. Air traffic controllers, teachers and university professors have a
Melatonin is a natural hormone that the brain releases in response to changes in light. It helps regulate the body’s internal clock, signaling that it is time to go to sleep. Melatonin supplements may help with a wide range of sleep issues, including insomnia, shift work sleep disorder, and sleep problems in children. In this
A new drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease has successfully passed the first phase of testing in humans. Preclinical studies had already shown that the drug could improve memory and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in older mice. A potential treatment for Alzheimer’s moves a step closer. Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf,
Babies exposed to opioids while their mothers were pregnant with them may need special care even before they start to experience withdrawal symptoms, according to Penn State research. Researchers from Penn State College of Medicine found that as soon as 24 and 48 hours after birth, babies who were exposed to opioids prenatally reacted more
An illustration shows a man exhaling smoke from an electronic cigarette in Washington, DC. Eva Hambach | AFP | Getty Images North Carolina sued e-cigarette maker Juul Wednesday, accusing the vaping company of targeting young consumers and misrepresenting the potency and danger of nicotine in its products. This is the latest suit against the company
People define personality disorders in many different ways. According to one definition, a personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects how a person thinks and feels and how they relate to other people. Cluster A disorders usually involve awkwardness in social situations, distorted thinking, and distance from society and relationships. There are 10
Researchers have noticed that a drug that doctors commonly use to treat insulin resistance can also address the pain of fibromyalgia, which has provided them with a new clue about this chronic condition. Researchers have managed to diminish fibromyalgia-related pain using a drug for insulin resistance. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes abnormal pain
Scientists are using a lot of genomic data to identify medical issues sooner in patients, but they’re also using it to assist their scientific counterparts in researching diseases better. In a new study, Michigan State University researchers are analyzing large volumes of data, often referred to as big data, to determine better research models to
Although researchers know that cancer risk increases as a person ages and gains weight, whales, the world’s largest mammals, do not experience this correlation. In fact, they are some of the animals least likely to get cancer. New research aims to find out why that is. The humpback whale (pictured) and other cetaceans have an
Sticking to a plant-rich diet that can reduce high blood pressure may also lower the risk of heart failure in people under the age of 75. The DASH diet is rich in fruit, vegetables, and fish, as well as poultry and nuts. This was the conclusion of a study that a team at Wake Forest
A sweetened beverage tax sign is posted by sweetened beverages at a supermarket in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, Wednesday, July 18, 2018. Matt Slocum | AP Sugary drink sales dropped 38% in Philadelphia after the city started taxing soda and other sweet beverages in 2017, according to a study published Tuesday in the
Two new studies assess how working memory — the memory we use on a day-to-day basis in decision-making processes — is affected by age, mood, and sleep quality and whether these factors impact memory together or on their own. Two new studies investigate how sleep quality, mood, and age affect a person’s working memory. Working
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy. It is not always possible to prevent it, but a pregnant woman can take steps to reduce her risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gestational diabetes develops in approximately 2–10% of pregnancies in the United States each year.
Regular coffee drinkers can sniff out even tiny amounts of coffee and are faster at recognizing the aroma, compared to non-coffee drinkers, new research has found. Habitual coffee drinkers are not just more sensitive to the odor of coffee and faster to identify it, but the more they craved coffee, the better their ability to