Editor's Pick
An aspirin a day does not keep dementia at bay
April 1st, 2020 Aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties and also thins the blood. For years, doctors have been prescribing low-dose aspirin for some people to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. However, there are also possible risks to taking aspirin,...
Leaving baby to 'cry it out' has no adverse effects on child development
April 1st, 2020 An infant's development and attachment to their parents is not affected by being left to 'cry it out' and can actually decrease the amount of crying and duration, researchers from the University of Warwick have found. In the paper they deal with an...
Alcoholics Anonymous is most effective path to alcohol abstinence
March 25th, 2020 After evaluating 35 studies – involving the work of 145 scientists and the outcomes of 10,080 participants – Dr Keith Humphreys, Cochrane professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences, and his fellow investigators determined that Alcoholics...
Gratitude interventions don't help with depression, anxiety
March 25th, 2020 A study by researchers at The Ohio State University analysed results from 27 separate studies that examined the effectiveness of gratitude interventions on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. The results showed that such interventions had...
One egg per day does not increase CVD risk — Harvard meta-analysis
March 18th, 2020 Consuming up to one egg per day does not appear to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, according to a new study and meta-analysis led by researchers at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. “Recent studies reignited the...
Decades-old antidepressant may fend off prostate cancer's return
March 18th, 2020 A MAO inhibitor drug called phenelzine represents a potential new treatment direction with fewer side effects for men with recurrent prostate cancer, researchers said. "To our knowledge, this study is the first clinical trial of an MAO inhibitor in...
Neurologic music therapy benefits stroke victims — small, 2-year study
March 18th, 2020 Neurologic music therapy helps stroke patients through mood regulation, improved concentration, and neural re-organisation. Physical benefits include better arm function and gait, found a small, two-year UK observational study. Dr Alex Street,...
Drug that eases symptoms of chronic cough may become first new therapy in 50 years
March 11th, 2020 Effective treatments for cough are a significant unmet clinical need and the new drug Gefapixant, moving into phase-three trials, has the potential to be the first new therapy approved in over 50 years. Principle researcher Jacky Smith, a...
Starting oestradiol therapy soon after menopause may slow atherosclerosis
March 11th, 2020 Taking oestradiol within six years after the onset of menopause may help prevent atherosclerosis, plaque build-up in artery walls, from progressing; however, starting oestradiol therapy 10 years after menopause did not have similar benefits,...
Hearing aids improve cognitive function — Australian study
March 11th, 2020 Cognitive decline is associated with hearing loss, which affects about 32% of people aged 55 years, and more than 70% of people aged over 70 years. Hearing loss has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. University of...
Prescribing macrolide antibiotics in first trimester increases birth defect risk
March 4th, 2020 Children of mothers prescribed macrolide antibiotics during the first trimester of pregnancy are at an increased risk of major birth defects when compared with penicillin, and the drugs should be used ‘with caution’ according to a University...
Studies show little or no benefit from omega-3 supplements and slight risk
March 4th, 2020 Two large, randomised UK studies found that taking daily omega-3 fats in supplement form have no significant overall impact on a person's health, no demonstrable effect on the prevention or treatment of depression or anxiety and may very slightly...
Kids eat more calories in post-game snacks than they burn during the game
March 4th, 2020 A study led by Brigham Young University public health researchers finds the number of calories kids consume from post-game snacks far exceeds the number of calories they actually burn playing in the game. "Kids are getting inundated with snack...
Widowhood accelerates cognitive decline in those at risk for Alzheimer's disease
March 4th, 2020 The death of a spouse often means the loss of intimacy, companionship and everyday support for older adults. A study finds that widowhood can have another profound effect: It may accelerate cognitive decline. Investigators from Brigham and Women's...
Paralympic rule change for 'blade runners' is contradicted by US study
February 26th, 2020 The assumptions behind a recent International Paralympic Committee rule change affecting double, below-the-knee amputees racing in prosthetic legs are contradicted by a small, first-of-its-kind US study. The unusual mandate results from a recent...