Health & Fitness

Summary: Study reveals how psychedelic drug-induced changes in subjective awareness are rooted in specific neurotransmitter systems. Source: McGill University Psychedelics are now a rapidly growing area of neuroscience and clinical research, one that may produce much-needed new therapies for disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Yet there is still a lot to know about how these drug agents alter states of consciousness. In the world’s largest study on psychedelics and the brain, a team of researchers from The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) and Department of Biomedical Engineering of McGill University, the Broad Institute at Harvard/MIT, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and Mila—Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute have shown how drug-induced change...

Summary: People with major depressive disorder who spent more time at home during a two-week period reported more severe symptoms of depression. Source: King’s College London Researchers from the RADAR-CNS project have used data from smartphones and wearables to investigate the association between time spent at home and the severity of symptoms in people with major depressive disorder (MDD). The study, published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, revealed that individuals diagnosed with MDD who spent more time at home also reported more severe symptoms. The researchers collected data from 164 participants with MDD who were recruited for the RADAR-CNS project—a collaboration co-led by the King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Using geolocation data...

Throughout the pandemic, several professional and collegiate sports leagues cancelled major events and seasons, in part to slow the spread of COVID-19, but also due to alarming reports of athletes developing a syndrome called myocarditis -- inflammation of the heart muscle -- following a COVID-19 infection. After two years of research, the American College of Cardiology released guidance Tuesday that states the incidence of heart inflammation among athletes after COVID-19 is lower than originally thought, but they still suggest a step-by-step plan to help competitive athletes and weekend warriors alike that will help them safely return to their activities. "For athletes recovering from COVID-19 with ongoing cardiopulmonary symptoms ... further evaluation should be performed before resumi...

Sleep is important for many reasons – but experts have warned that too much can actually be bad for your brain. Official NHS guidance states that most adults need between six and nine hours sleep every night. Recent studies have however shown that this might not be the case, with some adults needing as little as four hours sleep to wake up feeling refreshed. Research from experts in Washington, US, found that having too much sleep could actually interfere with your cognitive function. The experts found that people who slept less than 4.5 hours a night, and those who slept more than 6.5 hours each night had a greater risk of cognitive decline over time. It’s key to note that all of these participants also struggled with poor quality sleep. They also...

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.–The sixth case of bird flu found in the state of Missouri this spring is the first case in St. Louis County, the health department announced Wednesday. Authorities say a “presumptive positive” case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was discovered in a wild bird in St. Louis County. The county health department said bird-to-human transmission is rare, and that the four people who came into contact with the animal were monitored for symptoms and released, with no signs of illness. Signs of symptoms in birds include tremors, head tilting, and trouble flying or walking. And the best place to live in Missouri is… In a news release, Dr. Faisal Khan, Acting Director of the St. Louis County Health Department underscored the importance ...

A close-up look at a female lone star tick.Photo: James Gathany/CDC Certain ticks in Georgia are carrying an emerging virus that can make people sick, new research shows. The study found traces of the Heartland virus, one of the most recently discovered tickborne germs in the U.S., in the state’s lone star tick populations. The virus found in these ticks appears to be genetically distinct from samples collected elsewhere in the country, suggesting that it’s been present in Georgia for some time now. The Heartland virus, also called Heartland bandavirus, was first discovered in 2009 by doctors in Missouri. By 2013, it was confirmed that lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) can carry and transmit the virus to humans. Its symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, and a large loss...

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CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — When their 11-year-old son started losing weight and drinking lots of water, Tabitha and Bryan Balcitis chalked it up to a growth spurt and advice from his health class. But unusual crankiness and lethargy raised their concern, and tests showed his blood sugar levels were off the charts. Just six months after a mild case of COVID-19, the Crown Point, Indiana, boy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. His parents were floored — it didn’t run in the family, but autoimmune illness did and doctors said that could be a factor. Could his diabetes also be linked with the coronavirus, wondered Nolan’s mom, a respiratory therapist. Turns out scientists in the U.S. and elsewhere are asking the same question and investigating whether any connection is more than a coincidence....

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — When their 11-year-old son started losing weight and drinking lots of water, Tabitha and Bryan Balcitis chalked it up to a growth spurt and advice from his health class. But unusual crankiness and lethargy raised their concern, and tests showed his blood sugar levels were off the charts. Just six months after a mild case of COVID-19, the Crown Point, Indiana, boy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. His parents were floored — it didn’t run in the family, but autoimmune illness did and doctors said that could be a factor. Could his diabetes also be linked with the coronavirus, wondered Nolan’s mom, a respiratory therapist. Turns out scientists in the U.S. and elsewhere are asking the same question and investigating whether any connection is more than a coincidence....

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — When their 11-year-old son started losing weight and drinking lots of water, Tabitha and Bryan Balcitis chalked it up to a growth spurt and advice from his health class. But unusual crankiness and lethargy raised their concern, and tests showed his blood sugar levels were off the charts. Just six months after a mild case of COVID-19, the Crown Point, Indiana, boy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. His parents were floored — it didn’t run in the family, but autoimmune illness did and doctors said that could be a factor. Could his diabetes also be linked with the coronavirus, wondered Nolan’s mom, a respiratory therapist. Turns out scientists in the U.S. and elsewhere are asking the same question and investigating whether any connection is more than a coincidence....