Light, physical activity reduces brain aging

(Boston)–Incremental physical activity, even at light intensity, is associated with larger brain volume and healthy brain aging. Considerable evidence suggests that engaging in regular physical activity may prevent cognitive decline and dementia. Active individuals have lower metabolic and vascular risk factors and these risk factors may explain their propensity for healthy brain aging. However, the…

Details

Study examines privacy policies, data sharing of popular apps for depression, smoking cessation

Bottom Line: This study looked at the privacy practices of popular apps for depression and smoking cessation. Researchers assessed the content of privacy policies and compared disclosures regarding data sharing with commercial third parties to actual behavior for 36 apps. Authors: Kit Huckvale, M.B.Ch.B., M.Sc., Ph.D., UNSW (University of New South Wales) Sydney, Australia, and coauthors…

Details

Study finds that quitting smoking during pregnancy lowers risk of preterm births

There is an important association between maternal cigarette smoking cessation during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth, according to a new Dartmouth-led study published in JAMA Network Open. The negative health impacts of cigarette smoking during pregnancy–which include low birth weight, delayed intrauterine development, preterm birth, infant mortality, and long-term developmental delays–are well known. In…

Details

Using Edge AI to listen to the ‘silent voices’ of cattle

IMAGE: This is an overview of cattle observing systems equipped with a ‘Sense and Think Collar’. view more  Credit: Research Center for the Earth Inclusive Sensing Empathizing with Silent Voices A joint project team led by Tokyo Institute of Technology (hereinafter, “Tokyo Tech”), Shinshu University and Information Services International-Dentsu, Ltd. (hereinafter, “ISID”) developed cattle observing systems…

Details

On-chip drug screening for identifying antibiotic interactions in eight hours

IMAGE: This is the back cover image for the Lab on a Chip. view more  Credit: KAIST A KAIST research team developed a microfluidic-based drug screening chip that identifies synergistic interactions between two antibiotics in eight hours. This chip can be a cell-based drug screening platform for exploring critical pharmacological patterns of antibiotic interactions, along with…

Details

Collecting the right quantity of evidence: How the brain makes a difficult decision

IMAGE: The main conclusions of the two studies are illustrated in this cartoon, where the rat must identify the texture as grooved or smooth. The first Current Biology study identified the… view more  Credit: Mathew Diamond, SISSA New research conducted in the Cognitive Neuroscience group of SISSA shows that a perceptual decision – recognizing an object…

Details

Commentary: Modifications to Medicare rules could support care innovation for dialysis

ATLANTA –In a commentary published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, public health researchers suggest adjustments to recently proposed rule changes on how Medicare pays for dialysis services. Medicare spends approximately $35 billion annually on care for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (kidney failure), more than 7 percent of Medicare’s total paid claims. Over…

Details