Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) are tools that help estimate someone's genetic risk for certain diseases. As researchers work to use PRS in real-world healthcare settings, a lot of attention is being paid to how medical professionals, patients, and the public feel about it. A recent study looked at many
Imagine if the way you eat could be tailored just for you. That's the goal of a massive nutrition study going on right now. Scientists are trying to figure out how different people respond to the same food, based on their genes, culture, and environment. They've got volunteers like Sheryn Stover, wh
In Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley, the Health Cooperative is changing the game with its plans for a full-service, locally-governed hospital. They’ve just earned a big stamp of approval from the IRS, gaining a 501c3 designation. tomorrow, they’re inviting everyone to a meeting at the Heyde Center to spi
A recent survey showed that most adults in the US want their primary-care doctors to ask about their mental well-being. But surprisingly, only one in three say this actually happens during checkups. What's going on? Dr. Turner from Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles shared some thoughts. He says that
A recent outbreak of listeria, a serious foodborne illness, has led to the death of a California infant and sickened ten other people. The source of the outbreak has been traced back to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. , based in South Carolina. These products, includi
Did you know that blood fats might be linked to colon cancer? Scientists wanted to find out if there's a real connection. They used a method called Mendelian randomization to see if high blood lipids or certain cholesterol-lowering drugs could raise your risk of getting colon cancer. The results wer
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a common health issue for women who can have babies. But who's more likely to get it in Saudi Arabia? That's what scientists wanted to find out. They looked at things like where people live, how much money they have, if they can go to a doctor easily, how they
Imagine a worker at a petrochemical plant who's been having back pain for weeks. Musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, are quite common, especially in jobs that require physical labor. In the petrochemical industry, these disorders are a significant cause of absenteeism and have a substantial economic
Ever felt like changes in weather bring on headaches or make your arthritis flare up? You’re not alone. Dr. Mike Sevilla, from Salem Family Care in Ohio, confirms that weather can affect our health. As winter arrives and we witness major weather shifts, like the recent “bomb cyclone” on the West Coa
You might not think missing a meal is a good thing, but scientists have found that it could help mice deal with stress better. There's a special pathway in the brain called the locus coeruleus-medial prefrontal cortex (LC-mPFC) that gets more active when mice skip a meal or two. This pathway helps m
