'Mind-Reading' Technology Allows Paralyzed Man to Rapidly Text

WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- A microchip implanted in the brain has allowed a paralyzed man to communicate by text — at speeds that approach the typical smartphone user.

The achievement is the latest advance in "brain-computer interface" (BCI) systems.

Scientists have been studying BCI technology ...

Moderna Vaccine Can Trigger Red, Itchy 'COVID Arm,' But It's Temporary

WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- In rare cases, people who receive the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may experience a red, itchy patch of skin a few days later at the injection site, a new report finds.

They shouldn't panic: This "COVID arm" reaction, although annoying, was short-lived in all case...

Do Prescription Sleep Medicines Even Work?

WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- An estimated 9 million Americans turn to prescription pills when they can't sleep, but a new study of middle-aged women finds taking the drugs for a year or longer may do little good.

Comparing a group of about 200 women who were medicated for sleep problems with over 400 women...

Uber Rides, Vouchers & Free Beers as Feds, States Seek More Vaccine Takers

Uber and Lyft will start giving free rides to vaccination sites starting May 24, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday as his administration tries to address lingering vaccine hesitancy among Americans.

The ride-sharing initiative will last until July 4, a date that Biden has set for getting shots into the arms of at least 70 percent ...

Gene Therapy Uses HIV to Rescue Kids Born Without Immune System

Cora Oakley is a rough-and-tumble 4-year-old who loves gymnastics and outdoor activities, particularly if it involves bouncing on a trampoline.

It's hard to tell from looking at her that she was born without an immune system. Kids with this condition can acquire dangerous, life-threatening infections from day-to-day activities as simple as...

Rural U.S. Schools Are Bringing Back In-Person Learning Faster Than Urban Schools

Rural school districts in the United States have led the way back to in-person instruction during the pandemic, a survey of school leaders finds.

About 42% of rural school districts were fully back to in-school learning by February, compared with 17% of urban districts, the survey found.

The opposite was true for online learning: 29%...

Humans Started Loving Carbs a Very Long Time Ago

Not only have humans and their ancient ancestors been eating carbs for longer than was realized, but a new study finds these starchy foods may actually have played a part in the growth of the human brain.

A new study researching the history of the human oral microbiome found that Neanderthals and ancient humans adapted to eating starchy f...

For the Poor, Even a Small Medical Bill Can Trigger Coverage Loss

WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) – When people with low incomes are asked to help pay for their health insurance, some drop their coverage, even when bills as low as $20 per month arrive.

That's the upshot of a new study of Medicaid expansion in the state of Michigan.

Leaving the insurance plan means people may miss out on ...

U.S. Seniors Are Getting Fewer Abdominal Surgeries

Older Americans, especially those 85 and older, are having fewer abdominal surgeries than in decades past, a new study finds.

The study examined data from 2002 to 2014, and was not able to tell the exact reasons for the trend. It might be that improvements in medical treatments and cancer screening for older adults are reducing the need f...

Grief Can Strike Even Before a Loved One Is Gone

Feelings of grief are expected after the loss of a loved one, but having those feelings when your loved one has a terminal illness is also real and can fluctuate over time, experts say.

Individuals can adjust to their emotional pain, according to a new study focusing on what is known as "pre-loss grief" observed at two points in tim...

AHA News: These 'Concrete Steps' Could Help Fight Racism in Health Care

Doctors, hospitals and medical schools should take specific actions to fight the structural racism that threatens the health of millions of Americans, according to a new report meant to help guide the medical establishment.

Among the recommendations, which are part of the 2020 American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology C...

New Insights Into Treating Mild Head Injuries

It may be possible to treat the thinking problems that result from repeated hits to the head, a new laboratory study suggests.

The new experiments with mice are the first to offer a molecular analysis of what happens in the brain after repetitive but mild blows to the head, said researcher Mark Burns. He is head of the Laboratory for Brain...

Any COVID-19 Infection Raises Odds for Lingering Symptoms, Study Finds

Serious cases of "long-haul COVID-19" are rare in patients who were not hospitalized after their infection, but these patients still report more doctor or health care visits after recovery,. Danish researchers report.

The new six-month study found that COVID patients who were not hospitalized had small increased risks of blood clots and br...

Meat Production Is Dirtying the Air You Breathe

TUESDAY, May 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Steaks and burgers could be killing thousands of Americans each year, but in a way most people wouldn't expect -- via air pollution.

That's the conclusion of a new study estimating that airborne particles generated by food production kill nearly 16,000 Americans each year. Pollut...

In Girls as Young as 7, Weight May Predict Odds for Eating Disorder

TUESDAY, May 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Could there be a way to tell years in advance which girls are more likely to develop eating disorders?

New research from Denmark suggests that childhood body mass index (BMI) may offer important clues. BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.

The new resea...

Sleep Disorders Cost U.S. Health Care System Nearly $95 Billion Per Year

Sleep problems cost America's health care system nearly $95 billion a year and raise the cost of health care by 60%, a new study finds.

Researchers discovered the number of doctor visits and prescriptions was nearly doubled in people with sleep problems such as sleep apnea and insomnia, compared to people without these conditions. People...

Most Severe COVID Cases Involve Neuro Issues, and They're More Often Fatal

Neurological problems are occurring in a very high percentage of hospitalized COVID-19 patients — and what's worse, those symptoms foretell a bad end for many sufferers, a new study finds.

About four out of five people sick enough to be hospitalized for COVID-19 suffer some sort of neurological problem, ranging from headache and a loss...

FDA Approves Emergency Use of Pfizer Vaccine for Those Aged 12 to 15

In a move that should hasten the country's recovery from the pandemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the emergency use of Pfizer's two-dose coronavirus vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.

"Today's action allows for a younger population to be protected from COVID-19, bringing us closer to returning to a sense o...

Centuries Ago, Gene Changes May Have Stopped Bubonic Plague

TUESDAY, May 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) - - After examining DNA from remains in an ancient mass grave in Germany, scientists think that genetic immunity from bubonic plague may have developed in the wake of the disease.

"We found that innate immune markers increased in frequency in modern people from the town compared to plague victims," s...

Alcohol Is No Friend to Social Distancing

Maintaining adequate social distance from strangers — a key COVID-19 preventive measure — can be tough when you're drinking alcohol, researchers say.

In a new study, the researchers put more than 200 young social drinkers in different social situations in laboratory settings. They drank either alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages.