In a research article, researchers have revealed compelling evidence that biological sex significantly influences substance use patterns among individuals with panic disorder, with implications for both clinical assessment and treatment strategies.
Medication-induced sterol disruption: A silent threat to brain development and public health
An editorial published in Brain Medicine raises the alarm about a previously overlooked threat to brain development and public health: the disruption of sterol biosynthesis by common prescription medications.
Middle-aged Americans report higher loneliness than older adults, global study finds
Middle-aged Americans have demonstrated some of the highest levels of loneliness in a new study assessing tens of thousands of 50-to-90-year-olds across 29 countries.
Combining brain stimulation with speech therapy shows promise for restoring language in primary progressive aphasia
Primary progressive aphasia is a neurological condition that causes a gradual decline in language abilities. There is no cure or medication that can reverse or stop the progression of PPA. The standard practice in the clinical setting is speech-language therapy to help people with PPA maintain their ability to communicate.
Using pilocarpine drops post goniotomy may reduce long-term glaucoma medication needs
Using pilocarpine eye drops following Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) goniotomy surgery may improve clinical outcomes for patients with glaucoma and reduce the need for future medications, according to new research published by faculty members and trainees in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The study is published in the journal Current Eye Research.
Psilocybin use rises across all age groups following 2019 decriminalization
A multisource observational study aimed to quantify the change in prevalence and health care utilization of psilocybin users between 2014 and 2023. The study found that the prevalence of psilocybin use increased across all age groups, with those with mental or physical comorbidities among the most common users.
Hormone therapy may improve heart health in menopausal women
Deciding whether to start hormone therapy during the menopause transition, the life phase that’s the bookend to puberty and when a woman’s menstrual cycle stops, is a hotly debated topic. While hormone therapy—replacing the hormones that were previously produced by the body with synthetic medication—is recommended to manage bothersome symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, Matthew Nudy, assistant professor of medicine at the Penn State College of Medicine, says there is confusion about the long-term effects of hormone therapy, especially on cardiovascular health.
Alzheimer’s risk factors that can impact cognition in adults as young as 24 revealed
A new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Columbia Butler Aging Center suggests that risk factors and biomarkers related to Alzheimer’s disease are associated with cognition much earlier in life than previously recognized. The study highlights significant associations between cognition and Alzheimer’s disease risk factors as young as ages 24 to 44 and underscores the importance of early prevention.
Unvaccinated kids face up to 20 times higher risk of long COVID, analysis finds
Unvaccinated children and adolescents were up to 20 times more likely to develop long COVID than their vaccinated peers, according to new research led by a team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. However, the analysis they performed also indicated that protection afforded by the vaccine primarily comes from preventing infection in the first place, rather than offering special protection against long COVID itself.
Adverse pregnancy outcomes partly mediate association between prepregnancy obesity, cardiovascular disease risk
Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) mediate a small proportion of the association between prepregnancy obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in midlife, according to a study published in the April 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.