Category Archives: Health News

A team of researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified a hitherto unknown cellular defect in patients suffering from idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. They also discovered a string of pathological events that can either trigger premature death of certain cerebral neurons, or even accelerate the process. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder ...click here to read more

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Saint Louis University, reveals that while opioids help elevate moods in the short term, prolonged usage could lead to new-onset depression. The study is published online in the Jan 11 edition of Annals of Family Medicine, under the heading “Prescription Opioid Duration, Dose, and Increased Risk of ...click here to read more

Research from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab has found that weight loss is easily done with the use of smaller plates. Over the years there have been over 50 studies which study the effects of smaller plates and weight loss and yet there seems to be little consensus if they are an effective means ...click here to read more

A new blood test may help detect the spread of melanoma – skin cancer – much earlier according to latest findings. The blood test monitors DNA fragments from dead cancer cells in the blood and has been found to be more effective than current testing methods. Senior investigator Dr. David Polsky said, “Our study results ...click here to read more

A new study has found that pre-pregnancy potato consumption is linked with a higher risk of gestational diabetes. Researchers found the risk of gestational diabetes increased 27 percent if a woman consumed two to four cups of potatoes weekly prior to pregnancy. Consuming five or more cups of potatoes weekly seemed to increase the risk ...click here to read more

  The ReDO (Repurposing Drugs in Oncology) project is an international collaboration between the Anticancer Fund based in Belgium, and the US based GlobalCures. Their mission is to find untapped sources of novel treatments for cancer in existing and widely used non-cancer drugs. Their latest target is Diclofenac, a common painkiller. The ReDO researchers confirm ...click here to read more

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found an eye-opening disconnect between the priorities of patients and clinicians when it comes to the information needed to make decisions about treatment options. This as huge cause for concern because over 15 million American adults seek treatment for depression annually. On a positive note, both patients and clinicians who treat ...click here to read more

A recent paper published in Developmental Psychology titled – Up, Not Down: The Age Curve in Happiness from Early Adulthood to Midlife – throws new light on the concept of “mid-life crisis.” The researchers who published this paper, Nancy Galambos, Harvey Krahn, Matt Johnson, based their findings on data drawn from two longitudinal studies by University ...click here to read more

Although cases of the flu tend to surge in the winter months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported that this year cases of the flu still remain quite low in the U.S. The reasoning for minimal flu cases is due to the abnormally warmer temperatures which much of the U.S. has ...click here to read more

A new study suggests that exercise may lower the risk of heart disease in people who suffer from depression. It has been found that in inactive depressed people their aortas are inflamed and stiff which are two signs of heart disease. On the other hand in depressed people who exercise aortas remain flexible and do ...click here to read more

A recent survey shows that many people with thyroid disease are unaware they have a thyroid problem. This is quite disconcerting as a hyperactive or a hypoactive (underactive) thyroid can cause a many health problems, including mood changes, infertility, weight gain or loss, and even skin conditions. In fact, in infants and children, an underactive ...click here to read more

In a recent national survey conducted by Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, researchers found that many younger patients (under the age of 45) underestimate the urgency of stroke symptoms. This is a disturbing trend as doctors see the first three hours after developing a stroke as the “golden window” and these three hours are crucial ...click here to read more

In a current clinical study, scientists are exploring the possibility of Simvastatin (a cholesterol lowering drug) being an effective method of treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease. They hope this cholesterol-lowering drug could join the growing list of effective treatments available for treating Parkinson’s disease. The study, which will take place in 21 centres in ...click here to read more

We all have a tendency to put on a few extra pounds during the wintertime but are the holidays to blame or is it the season responsible for us to overeat? New research suggests that evolution is to blame when it comes to overeating in the wintertime. The findings suggest that humans are “programmed” to ...click here to read more