Sniffing out Dementia

Simple memories, like being able to identify a smell, can be affected in later stages of dementia. However, research suggests that changes in smell memory may show up early.

Climate, Crops and Skin Cancer

Our planet is experiencing plenty of climate change these days - as it has been changing for a few billion years - with temperature records smashed and another drought affecting most of the U.S. What's this have to do with our health?

Is There A Better Way To Treat PTSD?

Traditional treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) involves hours in therapy and often trying different medications. Luckily, a new method of treatment may be able to help millions who suffer from PTSD.

The Freshman Depression

The transition from high school to college can be a difficult one. Students are faced with not only a more challenging academic life, but often a separation from the world they have grown up knowing. Moving out of the parents’ house, and the freedom, independence and responsibilities that come with it, can make for an emotionally charged time filled with ups and downs. As students deal with these difficulties and the academic challenges that face them, (both during their freshman year and throughout the college experience) mental health issues can often present themselves. Studies...

Do Different Military Professionals Have Mental Health Issues?

War is hell, said General William Tecumseh Sherman. Fortunately, very few of us have to find out. We trust in highly trained professional soldiers, who bear everyone's burden. Not all of them are able to leave these burdens behind, when the battle call falls silent. The Veteran's Health Administration is coping with a record number of physically, emotionally, and mentally scarred warriors returning home. Some of the damage cuts across the artificial boundary we in the West have drawn between the physiological and the psychological. The care we have developed for seared skin, tor...

Measuring Blood Vessel "Bendiness"

Have you ever heard of the word "bendiness?" We have not either. Yet scientists are using this term to describe the twists and turns of blood vessels, because too much bendiness may mean a serious bend in one's health.

Metformin for Diabetes Still Top Notch

Not only is metformin the oldest diabetes drug, it is also still the first choice for diabetes treatment. Researchers wanted to see if metformin still remains a good choice. These researchers found type 2 diabetes patients taking metformin may have a lower risk of heart disease and death, compared to patients on insulin.

Drug May Have No Benefit in PsA

Methotrexate (sold as Rheumatrex and Trexall ) may be the first-choice drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis. But how does it fare in patients with psoriatic arthritis? A recent study found no evidence that methotrexate improves joint inflammation in people with psoriatic arthritis.

Insulin Sensitivity in Heart Surgery

During heart surgery, some patients experience weakened insulin sensitivity. That is, their bodies do not respond as well to insulin - a hormone that regulates blood sugar. This could increase the risk of diabetes. Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins are often recommended to patients with heart disease.

Incontinence in MS Women Increasing

Many women do not seek medical care for urinary incontinence as they may not feel like it is a priority medical issue or they may feel too embarrassed to address it. Addressing the problem can help patients improve their quality of life, especially for those who are living with other medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS).