Autism Diagnoses Rising Among U.S. Children, Adults

Big surges in new autism diagnoses among young adults, as well a rise in diagnoses for girls and young women, have driven a near-tripling of U.S. autism cases in just over a decade, researchers report.

Data on over 12 million patients enrolled in major U.S. health care systems found that between 2011 and 2022 the number of people diagnosed...

Once Again, Tuberculosis Becomes World's Top Infectious Disease Killer

In the highest tally ever recorded for tuberculosis cases, the World Health Organization reported Tuesday that over 8 million people worldwide were diagnosed with the lung disease last year.

Of that number, 1.25 million people died of TB, the new report found, meaning that it is once again the leading cause of deaths f...

Half of U.S. Teens Stare at Screens More Than 4 Hours Per Day

Half of young Americans between the ages of 12 and 17 spend at least four hours each day on their smartphones, computers or televisions, a new survey shows.

"As technology has become more integrated into teenagers’ lives, the time spent in front of screens has continued to rise in the United States," noted a team of researchers from ...

1 in 3 U.S. Teens Say They've Been Bullied

Bullying among American teens remains a big threat, with more than a third (34%) saying they've been bullied over the past year, new government data shows.

According to the report's authors, bullying occurs when a person is "exposed to aggressive behavior repeatedly over time by one or more people and is unable to defend themself."

...

Even 'Weekend Warrior' Exercise Can Keep Your Brain Healthy

Find it hard to take time to exercise during your busy workweek?

No problem, a new study says -- one or two “weekend warrior” workouts are just as likely to help you maintain your brain health.

People who regularly exercise, whether solely on the weekend or throughout the week, are more likely to stay sharp as they age co...

Can Cannabis Change Your Brain? Maybe, Maybe Not

People who regularly use marijuana experience changes in their brain structure and function, but it’s not clear that cannabis is the cause, a new study finds.

Researchers found specific differences in the brains of people who’d ever used weed, particularly in areas densely packed with cannabinoid receptors. However, genetic ana...

Late-Life Menopause Linked to Higher Asthma Risk

Women who enter menopause at a later age have a greater risk of asthma, a new study says.

Meanwhile, early menopause is associated with a reduced risk of developing asthma, researchers found.

The results run counter to other studies suggesting that early menopause, defined as ages 40 to 44, is more detrimental to a woman’s heal...

What You Don't Know About Pancreatic Cancer Could Harm You

Pancreatic cancer rates are rising in adults younger than 50, but many continue to believe it’s a disease that only affects the elderly, a new survey shows.

Folks in that age range also say they wouldn’t be able to identify early signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, and that there’s nothing to do to reduce their risk....

Could Constipation Be a Risk to the Heart?

Constipation might increase a person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke, particularly if they also have high blood pressure, a new study warns.

People who are constipated have twice the risk of a major heart health problem compared to those with normal bowel habits, researchers report.

Specifically, they are 2.7 times mo...

How AI Might Help Men Fighting Prostate Cancer

Artificial intelligence might be able to help doctors detect the prostate cancers most likely to be life-threatening to men, a new study suggests.

An AI program successfully identified and outlined 85% of the most aggressive prostate tumors seen on MRI scans of more than 700 patients, researchers said.

The larger tumors found by the ...

Marijuana Use Has Fallen 'Dramatically' Among U.S. Teens

Weed use among U.S. teenagers fell dramatically over the past decade, a new study shows.

By 2021, only about 16% of teens said they were currently using marijuana, down from 23% in 2011, researchers found.

All grades experienced a notable decline in current weed use, particularly among ninth graders, researchers said.

Further, ...

More Than Half of Heat Deaths Can Be Blamed on Global Warming: Study

Researchers looking at the sweltering European summer of 2022 estimated that more than half of the heat-linked deaths occurring on the continent would not have happened if human-led climate change wasn't in place.

"Without strong action, record temperatures and heat-related mortality will continue to rise in the coming years,” said s...

Colonoscopy Still Beats New Blood Tests at Spotting Colon Cancer

Middle-aged folks facing a colon cancer screening now have a blood test they can choose over a standard colonoscopy.

However, the blood test isn't as effective as colonoscopy at detecting and preventing colon cancer, a new review finds.

About two and a half times more colon cancer deaths can be expected to occur in people taking the ...

AI Might Help Pick Up Heart Trouble in Dogs

Artificial intelligence can accurately detect heart murmurs in dogs, a new study finds.

The AI program detects heart murmurs in canines with 90% accuracy, similar to the accuracy of expert cardiologists, researchers report.

And in more than half the cases tested, the AI completely agreed with a cardiologist’s assessment of the ...

You Can Take Weeks-Long Breaks in Weight Training and Muscles Bounce Back

For many reasons, bodybuilders and others involved in weight training might have to take a break from the gym.

However, new Finnish research finds that even weeks-long interruptions in training won't hamper muscle-building efforts.

“Of course, the break slows progress some, but it is comforting to know that it is possible to r...

Childhood Attention Issues Show Links to Later Risk for Psychosis, Schizophrenia

Most kids with attention issues won't go on to develop serious psychiatric conditions like psychosis or schizophrenia.

However, a new study finds poor attention spans in childhood, plus certain genes, could play a role in raising the risk for these conditions.

Of course, much more research is needed to pinpoint precursors to psych...

Being Too Heavy, Too Skinny in Childhood Can Impair Lung Function

Here's another good reason to help your child reach and maintain a healthy weight: A new study warns that kids who are either too skinny or too fat are at risk for impaired lung function.

However, if their weight can be normalized before they reach adulthood, this impairment can be offset, results showed.

“This highlights how i...

Having a Preemie Baby Can Harm Job Prospects, Income

The health problems of preemie babies cause untold heartache for new parents.

But these families also face a strained financial future, a new study finds.

About 30% of parents with a very low birth weight baby, under 3.3 pounds, have had to make serious decisions about their employment and career based on their child’s health, ...

Weed Use During Pregnancy May Harm Kids' Behavior, Thinking Skills

Smoking marijuana during pregnancy may quell your morning sickness, but it could also harm your child’s development, a new study warns.

Cannabis exposure in the womb is associated in early childhood with poorer thinking skills, researchers reported Oct. 28 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

These kids also have behaviora...

McDonald's Quarter Pounder Beef Patties Not Source of E. Coli Contamination

McDonald's Quarter Pounder beef patties have tested negative for E. coli contamination as an outbreak that has sickened 75 people in 13 states continues, the company announced Sunday.

Federal health officials had already identified slivered onions that had been used on the burgers as the likely culprit in the outbreak, which has landed 2...