Health

A specific gut microbe could help with long-term weight-loss goals.New research published in the journal Nature Medicine tested whether a pasteurized (not live) gut bacterium, called Akkermansia muciniphila MucT, could help people keep weight off after losing it.The study enrolled 90 overweight and obese adults from the Netherlands in an eight-week, low-energy diet where they were instructed to lose 8% of their body weight, according to a press release.DOCTOR REVEALS […]

Americans born after 1970 are dying faster than their parents did, data shows.New analysis from Tufts University reveals that Gen Xers and millennials are failing to outlive their predecessors, dying at higher rates from common chronic illnesses and external causes than previous generations did when they were the same age.Data shows that U.S. life expectancy has steadily improved for most of the 20th century, meaning each generation generally lived longer […]

The latest beverage trend is far from clean – and it’s raising red flags with doctors.Known as a "dirty soda," it’s a soft drink that also includes a combination of added ingredients, such as flavored syrups, creamers, fruit juices and other garnishes. The result is a sweet beverage that’s a combination of a soda, mocktail and dessert.Dirty sodas can easily deliver 250-400 calories and 55-70 grams of sugar in a […]

A diabetes drug could help lower the risk of heart failure in certain patients.A new study published in Nature Medicine analyzed how SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, could help prevent heart failure in people with rare genetic variants linked to cardiomyopathy (a progressive disease of the heart muscle).Using data from the DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial, researchers from Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham and MIT […]

A woman with advanced Alzheimer’s disease saw significant improvements in brain function after taking psilocybin-containing mushrooms.That’s according to a case report recently published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, which focused on an elderly woman who had been living with Alzheimer's disease for about 10 years. The Japanese American woman, whose name was not shared, had experienced severe functional decline for roughly five years. The Brazilian study authors described her as having advanced […]

Potentially deadly sepsis may be more likely in certain patients due to problems in the gut.Researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology's Infectious Disease Research Center used female mouse models to investigate why sepsis outcomes can vary so dramatically.The study, published in the journal Nature, looked at genetically similar mice with different gut microbiomes. The mice were infected with Acinetobacter baumannii — a highly resilient bacterium that […]

People who incorporate strength training into their weekly routines may be more likely to live longer, according to a new study.Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data from 147,374 adults and found that people who engaged in moderate amounts of resistance training had a lower risk of dying from several major causes, including heart disease and neurological disease.The findings were published in the British Journal […]

The old saying that laughter is the best medicine may be true, according to new research that suggests it is also a vital catalyst for children's development.Laughter and play are fundamental to healthy brain growth, emotional well-being and social bonding, according to Dr. Jacqueline Harding, an early childhood expert at Middlesex University in London.In her book, "The Brain That Loves to Laugh," Harding argues that joy is a complex biological […]

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently updated its medical marijuana guidelines, adding specific instructions to its "What Can I Bring?" directory for both carry-on and checked bags.Patients who use cannabis to manage chronic pain, anxiety, nausea or other qualifying conditions may travel with their medication for use at their destination.When taking medical marijuana on a flight, experts suggest separating the travel process from the treatment and waiting until arriving at […]