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Health News Results - 177
Can Cannabis Change Your Brain? Maybe, Maybe Not
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 30, 2024
- Full Page
People who regularly use marijuana experience changes in their brain structure and function, but it’s not clear that cannabis is the cause, a new study finds.
Researchers found specific differences in the brains of people who’d ever used weed, particularly in...
Childhood Attention Issues Show Links to Later Risk for Psychosis, Schizophrenia
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 29, 2024
- Full Page
Most kids with attention issues won't go on to develop serious psychiatric conditions like psychosis or schizophrenia.
However, a new study finds poor attention spans in childhood, plus certain genes, could play a role in raising the risk for these conditions.
Of...
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Newborn Genome Analysis Spots More Health Issues Than Standard Screening
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 24, 2024
- Full Page
DNA analysis of newborns can detect many more preventable or treatable health problems than standard newborn screening does, a new study shows.
Genome sequencing identified 120 babies with serious and treatable health conditions out of 4,000 newborns, researchers reporte...
Love Bread & Pasta? Humans' Hunger for Carbs Has Ancient Roots
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 18, 2024
- Full Page
Folks who struggle to reduce their carb intake might be able to blame ancient DNA still lurking in humans, a new study suggests.
Humans carry multiple copies of the salivary amylase gene (AMY1), which helps begin breaking down starch in the mouth -- the first step in dig...
Could Certain Genes Help You Slim Down?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 11, 2024
- Full Page
The key to weight loss could come down to a combination of 14 “skinny genes,” a recent study says.
People with these genes dropped twice as much weight through regular exercise compared to those without the genes, researchers found.
Those with the most ...
U.S. Scientists Win Nobel Prize in Medicine for Discovery of mRNA
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 7, 2024
- Full Page
A pair of American scientists have won the 2024 Nobel Prize in medicine for their discovery of microRNA, tiny genetic molecules that play a crucial role in how genes shape the body.
The research of Victor Ambros and
Could a Cheek Swab Predict When You Might Die?
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 1, 2024
- Full Page
A new test called CheekAge, based on a quick swab of cells in the mouth, might someday be used to predict how long a person has to live, developers report.
The test tracks what are known as epigenetics: The way in which a person's environment or lifestyle affects how the...
Fussy Eater? It Might Be in Your Kid's Genes
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 20, 2024
- Full Page
Pulling your hair out in frustration with your finicky youngster?
Don’t blame your parenting style -- genetics likely played a huge role in their eating habits, a new twins study FINDs.
Fussy eating is mainly influenced by genes, according to findings publish...
Genetics Suggest Link Between ALS, Parkinson's Disease
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 16, 2024
- Full Page
People with rare genetic variants linked to degenerative brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease are at increased risk of developing ALS, a new study finds.
Further, having these ...
Ovarian Cancer in the Family? Know Your Risks
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- September 15, 2024
- Full Page
Nearly a quarter of all ovarian cancers are fueled by family genetics, so what should you do if your mom or sister are diagnosed?
According to one expert, knowing whether you are at high risk is the first step toward taking measures that can mitigate that increased dange...
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Smoking, Vaping Tied to Similar Unhealthy Changes in DNA
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- August 13, 2024
- Full Page
New research suggests that switching from smoking to vaping won't prevent some dangerous changes to a person's genome.
A new study conducted in young adults shows similar cancer-linked gene changes in both
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Diabetes Run in Your Family? Diet, Exercise Can Still Prevent It
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 9, 2024
- Full Page
Folks can overcome their genetic risk for type 2 diabetes through healthy diet and regular exercise, a new study says.
Fish Oil Might Help High-Risk Older Adults Avoid Alzheimer's
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 2, 2024
- Full Page
Fish oil supplements might help high-risk seniors stave off Alzheimer’s disease, a new study finds.
Predicting Myriad Diseases From a Single Drop of Blood
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 23, 2024
- Full Page
A single drop of blood might be able to predict the onset of dozens of diseases, a new study claims.
Analysis of the protein “signatures†in a droplet of blood can predict 67 diseases, including blood
Scientists May Have Stopped a Form of Inherited Blindness in Dogs
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- July 22, 2024
- Full Page
In her youth, Shola, an English Shepherd Dog, was a member of the Edale Mountain Rescue Team, a corps of U.K. pooches charged with helping hurt and stranded hikers.
But Shola was retired as part of the Rescue Team after a rare genetic disease affecting dogs, called prog...
Too Many Breast Cancer Survivors Miss Out on Genetic Screening
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 19, 2024
- Full Page
Many breast cancer patients aren’t getting genetic counseling and testing that could help them get the most effective treatment, a new study finds.
Only three-quarters of patients eligible for genetic testing after their
Current Gene Screens Miss Many at High Cancer Risk: Study
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- July 19, 2024
- Full Page
As good as many genetic tests might be, a deeper look at the DNA of over 44,000 people identified many who carried genes that hike their risks for cancer, researchers said.
"This study is a wake-up call, showing us that current national guidelines for genetic screenings ...
Thinking of a Switch Away from Meat? Your Genes May Be Key
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 15, 2024
- Full Page
Pondering a move to a vegetarian or vegan diet? Your heart might be in it, but your genes might not, a new study says.
Genetics are an important part of whether a person responds well or poorly to a
Some Genes Might Send Girls Into Puberty Earlier
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 2, 2024
- Full Page
A girl's genetics can indirectly influence the age when she has her first period, by accelerating her weight gain in childhood, a new study finds.
A number of other genes also can directly affect the age of puberty, some with profound effects, researchers added.
Mo...
Colombian Family's Genes Could Hold Key to Delaying Alzheimer's
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 20, 2024
- Full Page
A Colombian family's genetics are shining a spotlight on a gene that might help protect people from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease.
About 1,200 out of 6,000 family members carry a genetic variant called the "Paisa mutation,"which dooms them to early Alzheimer's, rese...
Inherited Alzheimer's: Whether It's From Mom or Dad Could Matter
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- June 17, 2024
- Full Page
Genetics can play a role in a person's odds for Alzheimer's disease, and new research suggests differences in that risk are based on which...
Gene-Targeted Immunotherapy Boosts Survival for Some Colon Cancer Patients
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- June 3, 2024
- Full Page
There's potential good news for a sizable minority of people battling advanced colon cancer.
Doctors in Britain say that an immunotherapy drug, given before surgery, can help many more patients with a specific genetic profile stay cancer-free long term.
The finding...
Scientists Spot Gene Behind Form of Intellectual Disability Affecting Thousands Worldwide
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 3, 2024
- Full Page
MONDAY, June 3, 2024 -- Mutations in a single newly identified gene are responsible for developmental disorders affecting tens of thousands of people worldwide, a new study claims.
The gene"RNU4-2"can cause a collection of developmental symptoms that had not previously b...
Gene Discovery Points to a New Form of Alzheimer's
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 7, 2024
- Full Page
People who carry two copies of the gene mutation most strongly implicated in Alzheimer's disease are almost certain to develop brain changes related to the degenerative disorder, a new study says.
A single mutated APOE4 gene has been found to pose the strongest genetics-...
Living Healthy Counters Effects of 'Life-Shortening' Genes
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 30, 2024
- Full Page
Doctors argue that genetics aren't destiny when it comes to a person's health, and a study appears to support that notion.
A healthy lifestyle can offset the effects of life-shortening genes by more than 60%, researchers found.
People at high genetic risk of a curt...
Scientists Discover Cause of Rare Movement Disorder
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 29, 2024
- Full Page
Researchers have conclusively identified the genetic cause of a rare, progressive movement disorder.
A rare extra-long version of a gene appears to cause nerve cells to become poisoned by toxic proteins in people with spinocerebellar ataxia 4 (SCA4), researchers report.<...
Patient Gets First-Ever Pig Kidney Transplant Plus Heart Pump
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 24, 2024
- Full Page
New Jersey native Lisa Pisano was staring down the end of her days.
The 54-year-old had heart failure and end-stage kidney disease, but several chronic medical conditi...
Rare Genes Can Raise Odds for Obesity 6-Fold
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 4, 2024
- Full Page
Two newly discovered genetic variations can have a powerful effect on a person's risk for obesity, a new report says.
Variants in the gene BSN, also known as Bassoon, can increase risk of obesity as much as sixfold, researchers report April 4 in the journal
Mutation Helps Even Carriers of 'Alzheimer's Gene' Avoid Alzheimer's
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 29, 2024
- Full Page
A genetic mutation that boosts cell function could protect people against Alzheimer's disease, even if they carry another gene mutation known to boost
Stressed? Some Genes Could Raise Your Heart Attack Risk
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 28, 2024
- Full Page
Folks with genetically-driven stress are more likely to suffer heart attacks after nerve-wracking events or times of unrest, a new study shows.
People with...
Surgeons Implant Pig Kidney Into First Living Human Patient
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 21, 2024
- Full Page
THURSDAY, March 21, 2024 (HealthDay news) -- For the first time ever, doctors have transplanted a genetically edited pig kidney into a human suffering from advanced kidney failure.
Such pig kidneys, altered to lower the risk of rejection and disease, have been successful...
Researchers Find Gene That May Shield Men From Severe COVID-19
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- March 14, 2024
- Full Page
It only appears to work until age 74, but a new study has identified a gene variant that protects men from from severe illness and death when COVID lands them in the hospital.
The protective gene appears to help tamp down inflammation, researchers say. It is an interleuk...
Look to Your Parents for Your Odds of Obesity: Study
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 8, 2024
- Full Page
Folks worried about becoming flabby in middle age should check out what their parents looked like when they were that age, a new study says.
People are six times more likely to become obese in middle age if both their parents were chubby during that time of their lives, ...
Many Labradors Become Obese and Research Shows Why
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 7, 2024
- Full Page
Nearly a quarter of Labrador retrievers are more likely to be obese due to a genetic "double-whammy,"a new study finds.
This gene mutation causes Labradors to both feel hungry all the time and also burn fewer calories, British researchers report.
The mutation invol...
Remains Show Prehistoric Peoples Cared for Those With Down Syndrome
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 21, 2024
- Full Page
Rare gene-driven defects such as Down syndrome have occurred among human beings for many thousands of years, a new analysis of ancient DNA has revealed.
Not only did the birth defects exist, but these infants were often buried with care by their community. That suggests ...
Preventive Mastectomies May Save Lives of Women With Breast Cancer Genes
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- February 20, 2024
- Full Page
Women who carry certain mutations in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes know they are at heightened odds for breast cancer.
Now, Canadian research suggests that for some patients a "risk-reducing" preventive mastectomy may cut the odds of dying from breast cancer later.
"T...
Gene-Based Tests Could Predict Your Odds for Common Illnesses
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 20, 2024
- Full Page
Accurate genetic tests for 10 common diseases are nearly ready for everyday use in doctor's offices, a new study says.
Gene scans for 10 common illnesses have been honed to the point that they now are being road-tested in clinical research, according to a team at the Bro...
Why Some Folks Get COVID and Others Never Do
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- February 2, 2024
- Full Page
Everyone knows someone who gets COVID-19 repeatedly, and they probably also have that annoying friend who's never had the illness. What gives?
According to new research, over the long-term it's probably genetics that drives an individual's level of susceptibility to SARS...
Black People Far More Likely to Get Glaucoma, and Genes May Explain Why
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 23, 2024
- Full Page
Black people are five times as likely as others to develop glaucoma and up to 15 times more likely to be blinded by the degenerative eye disease.
Now, a new study reports that genetics appears to be at least one factor contributing to this increased risk.
Researche...
'Ancient Gene Bank' Gives Clues to Diseases Common to Europeans
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- January 11, 2024
- Full Page
DNA locked in the bones and teeth of more than 5,000 humans who lived in Asia and Europe up to 34,000 years ago are providing vital clues to a myriad of present-day medical conditions.
The descendants of these ancient peoples are living now in Europe and throughout the w...
Gene Mutation Protects Against Parkinson's Disease
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- January 5, 2024
- Full Page
A rare genetic mutation found in 1% of people of European descent appears to cut their odds for Parkinson's disease in half, a new study finds.
A better understanding of how this bit of DNA works might lead to better prevention and treatment of Parkinson's generally, res...
Folks at High Risk of Heart Disease May Gain From Eating Mackerel, Tuna
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 6, 2023
- Full Page
Folks with a family history of heart disease might benefit from eating more oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, a new study finds.
Oily fish contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from the ...
Two New Studies Point to the Promise of Gene Therapy for High Cholesterol
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- November 13, 2023
- Full Page
MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Two new gene-editing treatments that target dangerously high levels of cholesterol in people with a genetic predisposition to the condition were found safe and effective in new, groundbreaking research.
While powerful drugs like ...
Smoking Undermines Human DNA That Would Normally Prevent Cancer
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- November 8, 2023
- Full Page
Everyone knows smoking to be a major cause of cancer.
Now, exactly how tobacco smoke triggers tumor development just got a bit clearer, thanks to new Canadian research.
According to a team at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) in Toronto, smo...
Scientists Spot Genes Linked to Raynaud's Phenomenon
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 16, 2023
- Full Page
Scientists have discovered two genes that may trigger Raynaud's phenomenon, a condition that can cause fingers and toes to go cold and numb because of the constriction of tiny blood vessels under the skin.
"We identify two distinct genes that point to two distinct mechan...
Woman Resistant to Alzheimer's Helps Inspire New Way to Fight the Disease
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- October 9, 2023
- Full Page
Researchers have developed an antibody that can reduce Alzheimer's-like brain damage in lab mice -- inspired by the case of one woman with remarkable resistance to the disease.
The work, by researchers at Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School in Boston, and elsewh...
Genes Might Be Driving You to Go Vegetarian
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 4, 2023
- Full Page
Going vegetarian is trendy and popular, along with being a healthy choice, but a large portion of those who say they want to stick with a plant-based diet don't.
It might come down to your DNA, suggests new research that has uncovered three genes that seem to be strongly...
Largest-Ever Study of Suicide Genetics Gives Clues to Who's at Risk
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 4, 2023
- Full Page
New research has discovered 12 gene variants that may be tied to an increased risk of attempting suicide.
These genes also may have links with physical and mental health woes, including chronic pain, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), lung conditions and h...
Scientists Spot Gene Mutation Linked to Esophageal Cancer
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 22, 2023
- Full Page
Researchers have found a gene mutation linked to esophageal cancer, which could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies.
Investigators from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio found the mutation, potentially helping those at risk of what is a highly letha...
Many Women May Overestimate Risks From Genes Tied to Breast Cancer
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- September 19, 2023
- Full Page
Women who carry mutations in genes known as BRCA have an elevated risk of breast cancer. But a large, new study suggests that risk may be lower than generally believed -- especially if a woman has no close relative with the disease.
The study, of more than 400,000 Britis...