September 27, 2024 by Boston University School of Medicine Genetic prion disease generally manifests with cognitive difficulties, poor muscle control and abrupt jerking movements of muscle groups and/or entire limbs. The three major phenotypes of genetic prion disease are genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD), fatal familial insomnia (FFI), and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) syndrome. The most common cause...
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Commonly used drug could transform treatment of rare muscle disorder
September 27, 2024 by University College London Lamotrigine, a drug commonly used to treat epilepsy and certain mood disorders, has been shown to be an excellent treatment option for a rare genetic neuromuscular disease known as non-dystrophic myotonia, in a world-first trial led by University College London researchers. The study, published in The Lancet Neurology,...
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Allegra vs. Benadryl: 8 Differences Between These 2 Allergy Medications
supersizer/iStock via Getty Images Plus Allegra (fexofenadine) and Benadryl (diphenhydramine) are two antihistamines available over the counter (OTC). They can both help relieve allergy symptoms in adults and children. But they have some notable differences. For instance, Benadryl is a first-generation (older) antihistamine, while Allegra is a third-generation (newer) antihistamine. This distinction means that Allegra tends to have fewer side effects, among...
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‘Smart’ insulin prevents diabetic highs — and deadly lows
Crystals of insulin. A new kind of insulin can modify its activity in response to glucose levels in the blood.Credit: Antonio Romero/Science Photo Library Scientists have designed a new form of insulin that can automatically switch itself on and off depending on glucose levels in the blood. In animals, this ‘smart’ insulin1 reduced high blood-sugar concentrations...
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Your diet can change your immune system — here’s how
Illustration: Asia Wójtowicz Reboot your immune system with intermittent fasting. Help your ‘good’ bacteria to thrive with a plant-based diet. Move over morning coffee: mushroom tea could bolster your anticancer defences. Claims such as these, linking health, diet and immunity, bombard supermarket shoppers and pervade the news. Beyond the headlines and product labels, the scientific...
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Can Magnesium Supplements Help You Sleep Better?
In modern society, poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation have become a common occurrence that is implicated in several health disorders, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, and diabetes.1 Therefore, multiple pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions have been formulated to improve sleep quality. Several studies have indicated an association between sleep and magnesium intake. This article explores...
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Everyday products ranked for health impact: Which ones are harming you and which are making you healthier?
A recent report, Building H Index 2024, by Building H, which is part of the Public Health Institute, rated and ranked popular products and services based on how they impact their users’ health, focusing specifically on non-healthcare-related items. The authors, Steve Downs and Thomas Goetz, co-founders of Building H, identified more than 75 services and products across the transportation,...
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GAMES AND PUZZLES CAN SLOW COGNITIVE DECLINE
A new study suggests that older people with mild cognitive impairment who engage in high levels of activities such as word games and hobbies have better memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed than those who do not. The aging process can lead to diminished cognitive functioning for older adults. In addition, about 10% of...
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Is Stem Cell Therapy Effective?
Many patients wish to benefit from regenerative medicine but are unsure if it’s worth pursuing, as they don’t know how well cell therapy works. It’s certainly effective for many diseases. For some conditions, cell therapy is presumed effective and is still undergoing clinical research. Affordable stem cell therapy options are presented on the Booking Health...
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Invention quickly detects earliest sign of heart attack
Fast, accurate blood test could speed results to physicians, first responders Johns Hopkins University image: Johns Hopkins research Peng Zheng with the heart of the invention, a tiny chip with a groundbreaking nanostructured surface on which blood is tested. Credit: Will Kirk/Johns Hopkins University With heart attacks, every second counts. A new blood test diagnoses...