Kelly Baxter was 36 years old and had just moved to Illinois with her 41-year-old husband, Ted, when he suffered a disabling stroke that derailed his high-powered career in international finance. It derailed her life as well. “It was a terrible shock, especially in such a young, healthy, athletic man,” she told me. “Initially I…
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If you try to use Medicare Advantage, figuring out which doctors are available (and where) can be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. Medicare Advantage is the government-subsidized, private plan alternative to the traditional public Medicare program. It has had strong enrollment growth for years. That growth has received a boost from the Trump administration, which…
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I wrote last week about finding ways to make sure that sports participation stays fun for kids, so they can enjoy the benefits of physical activity and fitness. Keeping the body healthy and active has psychological benefits as well, and a new study suggests that organized sports participation may be helpful for kids who are…
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IMAGE: This is Safi Khan, Assistant Professor, WVU School of Medicine view more Credit: WVU MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—Do the nutritional supplements people take or the diets they adhere to actually protect them against cardiovascular problems and death? Maybe not, suggests a new umbrella review of meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials by Safi Khan, an assistant professor in…
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Grandparents have long been associated with letting their grandchildren do things their parents would never permit. Candy. Extended bedtime. Too much television. Carefree fun. They like to spoil their grandchildren. A new study by Rutgers and other researchers finds that today’s grandparents are still true to their traditional fun-loving image — allowing their grandchildren, while…
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For the first time, scientists grappling with how to improve the efficiency of CRISPR technology — a gene-editing platform that uses an enzyme called Cas9 to precisely cut and edit specific sequences of DNA within a live cell — have captured atomic-level, three-dimensional images of the enzyme before and after cutting the DNA. The images…
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Rates of severe coal workers’ pneumoconiosis — also known as black lung disease — among coal miners have been on the rise recently despite regulations on exposure to dusts associated with mining. Researchers believe the higher rates of more severe lung disease may be due to greater exposure to silica, likely as a byproduct of…
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IMAGE: An interactive map of Portland showing temperature differences under two scenarios: a largely paved environment, which makes for hotter temperatures, and one in which cooling solutions, such as planting more… view more Credit: Portland State University Portland State study demonstrates how plants, trees and reflective materials can reduce extreme heat in city neighborhoods Planting more…
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Hip fractures in older adults can be extremely serious, and often result in chronic illness, death, and increased health care costs. Experts estimate that some 18 to 33 percent of all older adults who have suffered hip fractures will die within a year, with even higher rates of death among people who have dementia or…
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For the last quarter century, researchers have been asking whether genetic information might have negative psychosocial effects. Anxiety, depression, disrupted relationships, and heightened stigmatization have all been posited as possible outcomes—but not consistently found. What accounts for the discrepancy? A new special report published by The Hastings Center explores this question. It considers the ways…
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