Even moderate alcohol usage during pregnancy linked to birth abnormalities
University of New Mexico researchers have found that even low to moderate alcohol use by pregnant patients may contribute to subtle changes in their babies’ prenatal development, including lower birth length and a shorter duration of gestation. In a new paper published in the journal Alcohol Clinical & Experimental Research, a team led by Ludmila […]
Alcohol consumption may have positive and negative effects on cardiovascular disease risk
While past research has indicated that moderate alcohol consumption can lower one’s risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), more recent studiessuggest that moderate levels of drinking may be hazardous to heart health. A new analysis led by Boston University School of Public Health and Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University (Friedman School) […]
Long COVID Cognitive, Depressive Symptoms Tied to Brain Inflammation Marker
An index of gliosis was linked with persistent neurocognitive symptoms after mild or moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection, a small case-control study showed. Compared with healthy controls, PET measures of translocator protein total distribution volume (TSPO VT), a marker of gliosis, was elevated in people with ongoing cognitive and depressive symptoms after COVID-19 (mean percentage difference 17%), […]
FDA OKs Hormone-Free Pill for Hot Flashes
The FDA approved the first-in-class drug fezolinetant (Veozah) for the treatment of moderate to severe hot flashes caused by menopause, the agency announced Friday. The oral neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist is a non-hormonal treatment that works to block the activities of the NK3 receptor, which plays a role in the brain’s regulation of body […]
Midlife Cognition Linked With Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity
Moderate and vigorous physical activity was linked with midlife cognition, a U.K. study showed. Among nearly 4,500 people born in 1970, time spent performing moderate and vigorous physical activity was associated with higher verbal memory and executive function scores relative to time spent sleeping, being sedentary, or engaging in light activity, according to John Mitchell, […]
Drinking during pregnancy changes baby’s brain structure
A new MRI study revealed that consumption of alcohol even in low to moderate amounts during pregnancy can change the baby’s brain structure and delay brain development. Results of the study will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). “Fetal MRI is a highly specialized and […]
Higher Risk of Severe Breakthrough COVID for Certain HIV Patients
People with HIV and moderate or severe immune suppression contended with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 after breakthrough infections, researchers reported. When compared to people without HIV, the risk of severe breakthrough illness on multivariable analysis was 59% higher in HIV patients with CD4 counts below 350 cells/μL (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.59, 95% […]
Only 1 in 5 people in the U.S. has optimal heart health: Circulation Journal Report: New Life’s Essential 8™ score reveals concerning data
About 80% of people in the U.S. have low to moderate cardiovascular health based on the American Heart Association’s new Life’s Essential 8™ checklist according to a new study published today in Circulation, the Association’s flagship, peer-reviewed journal. Life’s Essential 8™, also published today in Circulation, details the Association’s updated guidance to measure cardiovascular health, […]
Study shows people ‘right size’ portions of high-calorie foods
New research has revealed that humans moderate the size of energy-rich meals they eat, suggesting people are smarter eaters than previously thought. The findings, led by the University of Bristol, revisit the long-held belief that humans are insensitive to the energy content of the foods they consume and are therefore prone to eating the same […]
Binge drinking raises risk of developing alcohol problems, even for moderate drinkers
Moderate drinkers who binge alcohol are at a significantly higher risk of developing alcohol problems than those who drink the same amount overall but don’t binge, according to a new study from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier. After analyzing a national […]