Drug May Help with Common Form of Vision Loss
An experimental drug reduces eye damage in people with a common form of vision loss for which there is currently no available treatment, a new study finds. The new research sought to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in industrialized countries, according to the World Health Organization. The disease damages […]
10 Amazing Things Scientists Just Did with CRISPR
It’s like someone has pressed fast-forward on the gene-editing field: A simple tool that scientists can wield to snip and edit DNA is speeding the pace of advancements that could lead to treating and preventing diseases. Findings are now coming quickly, as researchers can publish the results of their work that’s made use of the […]
Crystal Healing: Stone-Cold Facts About Gemstone Treatments
Crystal healing is an alternative medical technique in which crystals and other stones are used to cure ailments and protect against disease. Proponents of this technique believe that crystals act as conduits for healing — allowing positive, healing energy to flow into the body as negative, disease-causing energy flows out. But despite the fact that […]
Lactose Intolerance: Symptoms, Treatment & Coping Strategies
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the main sugar found in milk and other dairy products. This is caused by a deficiency of lactase, the enzyme responsible for metabolizing lactose in the small intestines, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The prevalence of lactose intolerance in adults varies from less than 5 […]
Canada Issues Guidelines for Safer Use of Marijuana
As many countries move toward legalizing pot, officials in Canada are releasing guidelines for how people can lower the health risks that may be associated with the drug if they choose to use it. The guidelines, which were released today (June 23) by the Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse, are meant to educate marijuana […]
Weight Bias May Show Up in School Kids As Young As 9
School-age kids may be biased against their peers who are overweight or obese and not even know it, a new study finds. To measure levels of bias in schoolchildren, researchers showed them a series of photos of children who were slim and children who were overweight. They found that the kids showed more bias toward […]
What Is Raspberry Ketone?
A raspberry contains 200 molecules that contribute to its distinct raspberry flavor. One of those, raspberry ketone, was singled out by food manufacturers decades ago for its potent smell. Berry-flavored candy, soaps and candles made today likely use raspberry ketone. More recently, the raspberry ketone garnered public attention again, but this time as a purported […]
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Facts & Symptoms of Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease, is a progressive neurological disease that causes the neurons that control voluntary muscles (motor neurons) to degenerate, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The term “Lou Gehrig’s disease” is named for the famed American baseball player who developed ALS […]
Many Women (and Docs) Are in the Dark on No. 1 Killer ― Heart Disease
Can you name the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S.? Nearly half of women can’t, a new study finds — and that’s a problem, researchers say. The answer is heart disease. But 45 percent of women in the new study were unaware that this condition is the leading cause of death for women […]
Night Owl or Early Riser? Sleep Patterns Can Vary by 10 Hours
When your spouse falls asleep early while you’re still looking to extend the evening, don’t get too annoyed: Your partner may just be yielding to his or her body’s innate clock. Everyone has his or her own sleep chronotype, the personal biological clock that controls the body’s rhythms and dictates whether people feel their best […]