So Fly: Scientists Complete Map of Adult Fruit Fly Brain

The head of a Princeton team that mapped the brain of an adult fruit fly -- a watershed step in understanding the human brain -- explains the feat in a way that belies its complexity.

"Just like you wouldn't want to drive to a new place without Google Maps, you don't want to explore the brain without a map," explained lead author Sven Dork...

Deadly Legacy of Storms Like Helene Can Linger for Over a Decade

As the southeastern United States begins to recover from Helene's devastation, a new study suggests the health impact of major storms can linger for over a decade.

So far, more than 120 people across six states have already been confirmed dead in Helene's aftermath, although that number could rise much higher as rescue efforts continue. <...

Scientists Get Closer to Stopping Macular Degeneration

Scientists say they've discovered a protein that seems crucial to the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of blindness in older people.

The research is in its very early stages, but it might help lead to the first effective therapy against the vision-robbing illness, which affects up to 15 million Americans.

Restrictive State Laws Tied to Higher Suicide Risk for Trans Youth

In a finding that illustrates the damage that laws targeting transgender people can cause, new research shows that trans and nonbinary youth in states with such laws are more likely to attempt suicide.

How much more likely? The study authors found the laws triggered up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts in the past year.

“Th...

George the Frenchie's Cancer Journey May Help Other Dogs and Even Children

The short but much-loved life of a French bulldog named George leaves a legacy of learning for those who care for animals and humans.

George's owner Louis Tavares, of Windemere, Fla., brought him to doctors at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine’s Small Animal Hospital in late 2023, with what appeared to b...

Coffee, Water, Soda: Which Raise Your Odds for Stroke?

Want to keep a stroke a bay? Drink water, nothing fizzy and skip fruit drinks.

That's the key takeaway from a global review that also raises a red flag for people who drink more than four cups of coffee a day.

"While [high blood pressure] is the most important risk factor, our stroke risk can also be lowered through healthy lifestyle...

1 in 14 U.S. Hospital Patients Fall Victim to Harmful Diagnostic Errors

One in 14 hospital patients may be the victim of damaging diagnostic mistakes, new research suggests.

The finding is from a study of 675 patients admitted to one large hospital in Boston at various periods between July 2019 and September 2021. The patients were randomly selected from more than 9,000 hospitalized during that time.

"Th...

Six in 10 Americans Have Unhealthy Pro-Inflammatory Diets

Most Americans are eating their way to inflammation that puts them at risk of cancer, heart disease and other serious health problems, a new study shows.

"Overall, 57% of U.S. adults have a pro-inflammatory diet and that number was higher for Black Americans, men, younger adults and people with lower education and income," said lead study ...

Adding Routine 'Suicide Care' to Primary Care Could Save Lives

More and more, primary care doctors routinely ask patients a question that may come as a surprise: Do you ever have suicidal thoughts?

Now, new research shows it's a simple intervention that can save lives.

When suicide care was made a routine part of primary care visits at Kaiser Permanente clinics in Washington state, suicide attem...

Brain Zap Treatment Could Get Arms, Hands Moving After Head Injury

Patients who lose the use of their hands and arms after a stroke or traumatic brain injury could regain some function through deep brain stimulation (DBS), new research demonstrates.

DBS involves surgical placement of electrodes to deliver electrical impulses to areas of the brain regulating specific activity. It is often used to treat con...

GLP-1 Weight-Loss Meds Could Interfere With Endoscopy, Colonoscopy

Food left in the stomach or stool left in the bowel can impede a doctor's ability to successfully perform an endoscopy or colonoscopy.

Now, research finds this scenario is more likely if the patient is taking popular new weight-loss meds such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound.

For these patients, "inadequate bowel preparation ...

U.S. Breast Cancer Deaths Keep Declining, Though Disparities Remain

While women overall are less likely to die of breast cancer now, some alarming disparities remain, a new American Cancer Society (ACS) analysis warns.

Death rates for American Indian and Alaska Native women haven't changed for the past 30 years, according to the new report. And breast cancer incidence continues to grow -- rising 1% a year ...

California Bans 6 Artificial Dyes in Foods Served at Public Schools

A new law just passed in California makes it the first state to tell public schools they may no longer serve foods that contain six artificial dyes linked to health and behavior problems among children.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the California School Food Safety Act into law on Saturday. It bans Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue...

Helene's Aftermath: How to Safely Enter, Clean Flood-Damaged Homes

Following the historic destruction of Hurricane Helene, many Americans must now return to their mangled homes and begin the heartbreaking task of clean-up.

After making landfall in Florida near Tallahassee as a ferocious Cat 4 storm on Thursday, Helene caused record-breaking storm surges in Tampa, flash flooding in Atlanta and power outag...

Outbreak of Ebola-Like Marburg Virus in Rwanda Has Killed 8 People

A rare, highly contagious Ebola-like virus has claimed eight lives in Rwanda, and U.S. health officials are closely monitoring the outbreak.

Marburg virus causes a rare hemorrhagic fever that has no authorized vaccine or treatment. 

No cases related to the Rwanda outbreak have been reported in the United States, and the current ...

Bogus 'Conversion Therapy' Leads to Higher Risk of Mental Illness for LGBT People

Besides being useless in altering a person's sexuality or gender identity, so-called "conversion therapy" or "conversion practice" can greatly raise the odds that an LGBT person experiences mental health issues, new research finds.

Questionnaires completed by over 4,400 LGBTQ+ Americans found that having undergone these bogus interventions...

COVID Shot Lowers Your Odds for COVID-linked Heart Trouble

While rare, heart-related side effects sometimes follow a COVID-19 vaccine shot, new research shows that's more than offset by heart-healthy benefits.

Folks who are fully vaccinated are significantly less likely to develop serious heart problems stemming from a COVID infection, the study found.

"The increases in cardiovascular risk w...

Outpatient CAR-T Cancer Therapy Can Be Safe, Effective

Patients with  a fast-spreading blood cancer respond well to outpatient treatment with CAR-T therapy, the largest study examining its use in a community setting has found.

CAR-T is shorthand for chimeric antigen receptor therapy. In this treatment, doctors remove the patient's own white blood cells, tweak them in a lab and then infus...

Black, White Cancer Patients Now Benefit Equally From Cord Blood Therapy

Blood cancer patients of all races who receive cord blood transplants are now living longer.

The finding, reported by a team led by oncologist Dr. Karen Ballen, of UVA (University of Virginia) Health, shows that a previously identified survival gap for transplant recipients has been eliminated.

"Outcomes for cord blood transplants ar...

Drug Industry Taking Bigger Role in Clinical Cancer Trials

Clinical trials sponsored by Big Pharma enrolled eight times as many patients as U.S.-government trials did between 2018 and 2022, new research shows.

The study -- conducted by researchers at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle -- underscores the lack of investment in federally funded studies and a growing reliance on industry research. Th...