Recent findings have shown a surprising tie between blood sugar and the health of the aorta, the main blood vessel from the heart. Researchers looked at five blood sugar factors: type 2 diabetes, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and post-meal glucose. Higher levels of these factors were linked to changes in the aorta's structure and a lower risk...
Sleep apnea might seem like just a noisy nighttime nuisance, but it's more than that. It's a serious condition that can affect your brain health. New research shows that moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is linked to tiny bleeds in the brain. These bleeds, called microbleeds, become more common as we age. They can increase the risk of strokes and speed up co...
Alzheimer's disease is a big deal. It's the most common type of dementia, and it's tough to diagnose and treat. One of the main problems is that scientists don't have great tools to see what's happening inside the brain. Specifically, they want to track two things: amyloid-β plaques and hypochlorous acid (HClO/ClO - ). These two things are like the bad guys in the...
A recent study sheds light on a condition that can lead to vision loss in certain individuals. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) happens when the fluid around the brain builds up pressure without a clear cause. This condition can be serious, as it might result in blindness if not treated properly. It's important to note that this disorder mainly affects youn...
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital just got a huge boost. A generous donation of $50 million from entrepreneur Tom Golisano is set to transform the hospital. This is the largest donation the hospital has seen since 1963. The hospital will now be called Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital. The new name and logo are similar to the old ones, but now includ...
Ketone bodies, like beta-hydroxybutyrate, are a hot topic in health circles. Many people think that diet is the only thing that affects ketone levels. But is that really the case? A recent study dug deeper into this question. It looked at how different factors, beyond just food, influence ketone levels in regular people. The study found that being male or female pla...
Stillbirths are a tragic reality for many families in the U. S. , and a recent study sheds light on the alarming fact that nearly 30% of these heartbreaking events happen without any known risk factors. This study, which looked at almost 2. 8 million pregnancies, reveals that despite advances in medical care, there's still a lot we don't know about preventing stillbi...
Early-onset Alzheimer's disease is a harsh reality that many people face before they even reach old age. It's a fast-moving condition that can make life really tough. The good news is that early palliative care can help figure out what patients need and support families in making important decisions for the future. A recent study took a closer look at the care needs...
The shingles vaccine might be doing more than just preventing that painful rash. Recent research suggests it could also lower the chances of serious health issues like heart problems and dementia. Scientists looked at health records of over 174, 000 adults in the U. S. They found that people who got the vaccine had about half the risk of developing vascular dementia....
A sneaky parasite called Toxoplasma gondii is hiding in the brains of millions of people, and most don't even know it's there. This tiny invader is usually harmless, but for those with weakened immune systems, it can be dangerous. Scientists have been studying this parasite to find a way to stop it without causing harm to the human body. The parasite is closely link...