Long COVID has emerged as a lingering concern for many individuals who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. While some may experience only a brief period of illness, others face the daunting reality of symptoms persisting for months on end. The reasons behind why some individuals are more prone to developing long COVID have remained shrouded
Health
Have you ever found yourself reaching for a snack after a workout or while watching sports on television? Research suggests that physical exercise often leads to increased food consumption, whether as a reward or to replenish energy. But what about watching sports on a screen? Can it also influence how much we eat? The answer
Recent research suggests that the use of psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and cannabis, may have a positive impact on aging brains. A study conducted on 3,294 US adults between the ages of 42 and 92 revealed that individuals who reported using hallucinogens in the past year displayed fewer depressive symptoms and experienced
Autism spectrum disorder affects individuals in varying degrees, with some experiencing milder symptoms and others facing significant challenges in social, language, and cognitive skills. A recent study on mini-brains developed in the lab sheds light on the biological foundations that underpin this diversity in autism, offering valuable insights that could enhance our comprehension and management
COVID-19 has affected millions of people worldwide, leading to severe illness and death. However, there is a small percentage of individuals who seem to be immune to the virus altogether. Recent research conducted by the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University College London has shed light on the novel immune response that provides a robust front-line
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has been spreading among animals at an unprecedented rate, being found on all continents except Oceania. The United Nations has labeled it as “a global zoonotic animal pandemic.” H5N1 has the ability to infect over 350 species of birds and close to 60 species of mammals, with migratory
Climate change is a pressing issue that poses a significant threat to public health, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. Global warming, which is a part of this threat, has been linked to various health issues, including preterm birth and stillbirth. While the short-term effects of heat exposure during pregnancy have
The relationship between mental well-being and physical health has long been a topic of interest among researchers. A recent genetic analysis conducted in China has shed light on the connection between better mental well-being and living a longer, healthier life. While the study delves into various lifestyle choices that can impact overall well-being, one finding
A recent study conducted on mice revealed the promising effects of fasting on the immune system’s ability to combat cancer. The research, led by experts from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, focused on the metabolic reprogramming of natural killer cells (NK cells) in response to fasting. These findings shed light on
A recent study conducted by researchers has shown promising results in detecting the presence of Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before symptoms manifest. The identification of specific blood markers that change as the disease progresses could potentially lead to the development of a simple blood test for early detection. This could be a groundbreaking
As more than 260 million individuals brace themselves for extreme temperatures in the upcoming week, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns that the first significant heatwave of the summer is set to shatter records across the northeastern US. The duration of this heatwave is expected to be noteworthy, with potential to be the longest experienced
The decriminalization and legalization of psilocybin in various cities and states across the U.S. have led to a concerning trend in the number of calls to poison control centers related to psilocybin exposures among adolescents and young adults. The calls increased significantly after 2019 when psilocybin was decriminalized in Denver, Colorado, and subsequently legalized in
Centenarians, once considered rare, have become commonplace. Indeed, they are the fastest-growing demographic group of the world’s population, with numbers roughly doubling every ten years since the 1970s. How long humans can live, and what determines a long and healthy life, have been of interest for as long as we know. Plato and Aristotle discussed
Imagine being accused of drunkenness when you haven’t consumed a drop of alcohol. This is the reality for those suffering from auto-brewery syndrome – a rare and poorly understood condition where gut microbes produce alcohol, leading to symptoms that mimic signs of alcohol intoxication. While this syndrome is not widely recognized, the impact it can
Recent studies have shown that our body’s circadian clock plays a significant role in influencing the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments. Specifically, research suggests that checkpoint inhibitors, which are immunotherapy drugs designed to block proteins from binding to cancerous tumors, may be impacted by the body’s circadian rhythm. While these drugs are considered less toxic