Health

Living at high altitudes may lower the risk of diabetes, and scientists believe they have finally figured out why.A new study from the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco examined how red blood cells behave in low-oxygen environments. The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, reveal that at high elevations, red blood cells begin absorbing large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream, acting as a "sponge" for sugar.When oxygen levels […]

Living at high altitudes may lower the risk of diabetes, and scientists believe they have finally figured out why.A new study from the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco examined how red blood cells behave in low-oxygen environments. The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, reveal that at high elevations, red blood cells begin absorbing large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream, acting as a "sponge" for sugar.When oxygen levels […]

As people age, vision naturally declines and the risk of eye conditions increases. That includes age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that typically occurs in patients older than 50.AMD is one of the leading causes of vision loss among adults over 60 and impacts millions of Americans, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.The condition degrades the ability to read, drive and recognize faces. AMD has no cure, so experts […]

In addition to travel and logistical challenges, heavy snowfall  can be detrimental to people's health.As the northeast faces historic snow accumulation this week, experts are warning of the physical risks of shoveling heavy snow, particularly for those who do not exercise regularly or have pre-existing health conditions."The combination of the wet, heavy snow and the heavy winds make it more of a health risk because it’s much harder to get […]

Scientists have discovered that a bacterium trapped in an ice cave for 5,000 years is resistant to several modern antibiotics.The bacterium was found in Scarisoara Ice Cave in Romania, where researchers drilled a 25-meter ice core representing about 13,000 years of frozen history.The research was published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.ANCIENT PLAGUE MYSTERY CRACKED AFTER DNA FOUND IN 4,000-YEAR-OLD ANIMAL REMAINSTo prevent contamination, the ice samples were carefully stored […]

A simple blood test could predict not only a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but also the year symptoms will begin.Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis set out to determine if levels of a specific protein in the blood could be used as a "biological clock" to predict when signs of the disease will emerge.The specific protein, known as p-tau217, forms "tangles" in the […]

A simple blood test could predict not only a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but also the year symptoms will begin.Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis set out to determine if levels of a specific protein in the blood could be used as a "biological clock" to predict when signs of the disease will emerge.The specific protein, known as p-tau217, forms "tangles" in the […]

A newly discovered virus hiding inside common gut bacteria may be linked to colorectal cancer, according to new research.Scientists in Denmark found that colorectal cancer patients were about twice as likely to carry a previously unidentified virus within Bacteroides fragilis, a bacterium that normally lives in the human gut, according to the study published in Communications Medicine earlier this month.Researchers say the discovery could help scientists better understand the role […]

Brushing your teeth could do more than brighten your smile — it may also help you live longer.Growing research suggests that good oral hygiene is linked to a reduced risk of serious conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.At the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference, which took place in Arizona last week, a group of researchers explored this evidence, calling the mouth a "gateway to […]