Category: 4. Health

But a new study by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that pleasure in eating, even eating junk food, is key for maintaining a healthy weight in a society that abounds with cheap, high-fat food.

Paradoxically, anecdotal evidence suggests that…

Stroke survivors who have attended some level of higher education may face even steeper mental declines, according to a study led by Michigan Medicine.

In an analysis of cognitive outcomes for more than 2,000 patients seen for stroke between 1971 and 2019, college graduates performed better on initial post-stroke examinations of global cognition, a measure of overall cognitive ability that…

Lariocidin, a peptide made by bacteria living in soil, was effective against several different microbes responsible for deadly infections. UIC researchers working with collaborators at McMaster University in Canada determined how the new antibiotic works and why the drug evades bacterial…

If the stress is manageable, cells resume normal activity; if not, they self-destruct.

Scientists have believed for decades this response happens as a linear chain of events: sensors in the cell “sound an alarm” and modify a key protein, which then changes a second protein that slows or shuts…

News that The Doctors Company is spending $1.3 billion to buy ProAssurance and take the specialty medical insurer private could be a sign of more consolidation among companies in the business of selling medical malpractice coverage.

The Doctors…

In this week’s edition of InnovationRx, we look at the trend in fatal drug overdoses, 23andMe’s bankruptcy, the new CDC nominee, and more. To get it in your inbox, subscribe here.

Fatal drug overdoses, including from fentanyl, are falling.

The latest preliminary estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a 25% decline in overdose deaths for the 12 months ended in October 2024…

A silent crisis is unfolding in medicine—one that disproportionately affects women and has gone largely unchecked for decades. The overprescription of benzodiazepines, commonly known as tranquilizers, is not just a case of individual misuse; it is a systemic failure in healthcare.

Despite well-documented risks of dependence, withdrawal complications and cognitive impairment, women continue to be…

A genetic data giant is falling, and it’s unclear what will happen to millions of people’s most intimate personal information in the aftermath.

On March 23, DNA testing company 23andMe announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a move intended to facilitate its sale — along with the genetic data of over 15 million customers worldwide. A bankruptcy court hearing is set to begin March 26.

The San Francisco–based company has been reeling since a 2023 data breach…