A more nuanced understanding of hormone therapy now suggests that its benefits for heart health depend on how soon after menopause onset it is prescribed. Menopause can have profound effects on heart health, yet many people are unaware of this important connection. The hormonal shifts occurring during menopause mark theContinue Reading
Females have one active X chromosome and one dormant X chromosome in each cell. But a study suggests that genes on the dormant X get “reawakened” later in life, potentially giving the brain a boost. Dormant genes on the X chromosome may reawaken in old age, potentially giving the agingContinue Reading
Here’s a breakdown of the most rare and common blood types in the U.S. Different people have different types of blood running through their veins. Humans have four main blood groups: A, B, AB and O. These are defined by which antigens are present on the surface of red bloodContinue Reading
New COVID vaccines have been approved to guard against coronavirus variants that are currently circulating. Like the annual flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines have been getting a yearly update each fall — and we’re due for a new batch. So who should get one this time around? What shots are approvedContinue Reading
Immune cells in the skull may sense and influence brain inflammation Cells hidden in the skull may point to a way to detect, diagnose and treat inflamed brains. A detailed look at the skull reveals that bone marrow cells there change and are recruited to the brain after injury, possiblyContinue Reading
Researchers see promise in semaglutide drugs, which may tap into the brain’s reward circuits A class of powerful drugs can dramatically change people’s body weight. But one of the drugs’ most alluring jobs may happen in a spot that’s harder to see: the brain. Some people taking drugs such asContinue Reading
Public health measures were ramped up during the pandemic, but a new study in health care workers suggests one disease-spreading habit may have been overlooked Face mask — check. Goggles — check. Gloves — check. Protective measures like these were all too familiar to health care workers caring for patientsContinue Reading
Hormone mimics offer advantages even beyond those of the potent weight-loss shots on the market now Two new drugs for treating obesity are on course to become available in the next few years — and they offer advantages beyond those of the highly effective blockbuster drugs already on the market.Continue Reading
Here’s why older adults naturally lose muscle mass over time and how regular physical activity and resistance training can help Almost everyone shrinks with old age. Many older adults have more difficulty gaining muscle than they did in their childhood and teenage years. And when it comes to maintaining thatContinue Reading
A Western lifestyle seems to diminish the diversity of gut microbes The human gut is teeming with trillions of microbes, but most studies of this vast community have focused on people living in urban regions. Now, a team of researchers has sequenced gut microbiomes from Hadza people — members ofContinue Reading