Who knew that the first six months of life could be so, well, weighty? A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences tracked 800 young Filipino men since birth. They found that those who grew quickest from …
research
Latest Ruling Opens Stem Cell Research, But Experts Worry for the Long Term
The former Congressman behind a 1996 law that prohibits the government from funding research that harms or destroys embryos say he is “gratified” by a recent federal judge’s ruling that current federal funding of embryonic …
The Truth About B Vitamins and the Alzheimer’s Brain
Senior moments are normal — scary, but normal. Forgetting a friend’s phone number, a celebrity’s name, or even what you came into a room to retrieve are all part of the typical aging process. It’s only when forgetfulness …
The Great Pot Debate: Does Marijuana Improve Mental Function?
I recently tried to find some consensus in the research on whether smoking marijuana makes you psychotic — some data indicate that pot-smokers are more likely to develop schizophrenia, while other studies find that marijuana …
As Suspected, Women’s Memories Last Longer than Men’s
It’s one of the oldest marital spats in the books: you remember an event one way and your spouse remembers it completely differently. That, then, spirals into an argument about who has the best memory. It’s such a chestnut, …
Training Your Brain to Learn Better (Even Without Drugs)
I’m excited to be starting my “new school year” as a blogger here on Healthland — and what better way to begin than with news about boosting your ability to learn, using neuroscience! One of the hottest articles flying around the Web today is Benedict Carey’s great New York Times science story headlined “Forget What You Know …
Research: treating and preventing HIV and AIDS
Among the findings being presented and discussed this week at the 18th International AIDS Conference being held in Vienna are data suggesting that more HIV patients are taking anti-retroviral medications, study results indicating that proper, routine use of a vaginal gel before and after sex may cut infection HIV-infection rates by as
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Study on genetics of longevity comes under scrutiny
A study published in the prestigious journal Science earlier this month suggesting that genes may hold a key for living to be 100 or older has since come under criticism from experts in the field of genetics. The study, led by Paola Sebastiani and Dr. Thomas Perls at the Boston University School of Public Health and School of Medicine,
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Using stem cells to restore sight
Using stem cell therapy, a team of Italian researchers was able to restore sight for patients who had been blinded or suffered severely impaired vision after suffering a chemical burn. In a study of 106 patients treated between 1998 and 2007, researchers were able to extract adult stem cells from healthy eye tissue, grow additional stem
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Designing a low-allergy peanut?
In a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, researchers are working to develop a new breed of “low allergy” peanut. By cross breeding existing types of peanuts, researchers are working to develop a new variety of peanut that lacks the three proteins associated with most peanut allergies, the Telegraph reports. To
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A “tattoo” to help monitor blood sugar levels?
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are taking preliminary steps toward developing a “tattoo” that could enable diabetics to constantly monitor blood sugar levels — without having to routinely change equipment or perform routine finger pricks to test blood. The experimental technology being developed by MIT
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An early step toward a cure for hearing loss?
A new development with mouse embryonic stem cells could pave the way for future research into human hearing — and even a cure for some types of hearing loss. A study published in the May 14 issue of the journal Cell details how a team of researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine found a way to grow hair-like cells —
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A pill that can tell if it’s been taken?
Imagine a pill that could tell your doctor whether you’ve actually taken it, or tell researchers conducted a clinical trial whether you’re using the medication as instructed. Rizwan Bashirullah, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Florida, is working to develop exactly that. By applying
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