A simple blood test could soon become the latest monitoring tool for the early detection of melanoma in the eye. University of Queensland scientists have discovered markers in the blood that can differentiate between a benign mole and a melanoma, while also identifying if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. UQ Diamantina Institute’s Dr...
Do fish yawn? And what is yawning in the first place?
Everybody yawns once in a while. In fact, there is a huge chance that you are going to yawn while reading this article. Just seeing the word “yawn” may make you yawn. People yawn, dogs yawn, snakes yawn, but do fishes yawn? And why do we yawn in the first place? Yawning in the painting...
To Understand Facebook, Study Capgras Syndrome
Illustration by Dadu Shin We start with the case of a woman who experienced unbearable tragedy. In 1899, this Parisian bride, Madame M., had her first child. Shockingly, the child was abducted and substituted with a different infant, who soon died. She then had twin girls. One grew into healthy adulthood, while the other, again, was...
Here’s How Sleep Removes Poisons From Your Brain, Protecting You From Alzheimer’s as Nothing Else Can
By Minda Zetlin Co-author, The Geek Gap@MindaZetlin GETTY IMAGES The more we learn about sleep, the more important we know it is to brain function. We even know that not enough uninterrupted sleep can increase your risk for Alzheimer’s. New research has shown exactly why that is, and it should be frightening news for anyone who routinely...
Not yesterday’s cocaine: Death toll rising from tainted drug
Reviewed by James Ives, M.Psych. (Editor)Nov 25 2019 A pain pill prescription for nerve damage revived Gwendolyn Barton’s long-dormant addiction last year, awakening fears she would slip back into smoking crack cocaine. She’d done that drug and others for about 20 years before getting sober in 2008. But things were different back then. This time, the...
How does a piece of bread cause a migraine?
by Lauren Green, The Conversation Tens of millions of people worldwide suffer from migraines, according to the World Health Organization. Credit: Maridav/Shutterstock.com Migraine is the third most prevalent illness in the world and causes suffering for tens of millions of people. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 U.S. household includes someone with migraines. Migraine is not just a headache but also...
Some brain-boosting supplements contain an unapproved drug that could harm users, study warns
By ELIZABETH COONEY @cooney_liz NOVEMBER 25, 2019 The FDA has sent warning letters to companies including Pure Nootropics for selling piracetam as a dietary supplement.FDA Promising to lift brain fog or improve memory, brain-boosting supplements have joined sexual-enhancement and weight-loss remedies in the lightly regulated world of dietary supplements. These products may be sold legally with broad-brush...
Temple study shows extra virgin olive oil staves off multiple forms of dementia in mice
IMAGE: DOMENICO PRATICÒ, MD, SCOTT RICHARDS NORTH STAR FOUNDATION CHAIR FOR ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH, PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF PHARMACOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY, AND DIRECTOR OF THE ALZHEIMER’S CENTER AT TEMPLE AT THE… view more CREDIT: THE LEWIS KATZ SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (Philadelphia, PA) – Boosting brain function is key to staving off the effects of aging....
Blood pressure chart: Ranges and guide
Maintaining optimal blood pressure plays an essential role in reducing the risk of serious health problems, such as heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke. Keep reading for more information about blood pressure and what are normal and abnormal readings. What is blood pressure? Blood pressure refers to the force that blood puts on the walls of the...
Trigger finger: 7 home remedies
Trigger finger is a condition in which a person’s finger locks or catches if they try to straighten or bend it. Depending on the condition’s severity, doctors will recommend either surgical treatments, medications, or some home remedies. Most people experience trigger finger in the fourth (ring) finger or the thumb, but the condition can affect...