Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). It is believed to be an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
In detail, the immune system attacks myelin – the protective coating surrounding nerve fibers – as well as the nerve fibers th…[Read more]

In 1996, Medical Microbiology reported that there were over 100 known herpes viruses, eight of which can normally affect humans.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is transmitted by mouth and causes cold sores. HSV-2 is responsible for genital herpes, causing painful blisters or ulcers in the genital area. HSV-3, or herpes zoster, leads to < …[Read more]

It’s no secret that the adolescent years can be challenging: young teens have a heightened sensitivity to perceived injustice and react against authority. And their newfound social conscience and desire for autonomy can motivate many of their decisions – even food choices.
A new study, “Harnessing Adolescent Values to Motivate Healthier Eating,”…[Read more]

Scientists have long known that there is a strong association between diabetes and Alzheimer’s, but the nature of that relationship – and how to treat it – was unclear. Now Melissa Schilling, an innovation professor at NYU, has discovered the pathway between diabetes and Alzheimer’s, and it has big implications for how Alzheimer’s can be p…[Read more]

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can affect any part of the urinary system, kidneys, bladder or urethra.
More than 3 million Americans, mostly women, experience a UTI every year.
Symptoms include frequent, painful urination, pelvic pain and traces blood in the urine. The infection does not normally last long, and most patients self-diagnose.
For m…[Read more]

According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Mental health is an integral part of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health.”
This is a statement that is supported by numerous studies. One from 2012 published in The BMJ, for example, found that individuals with poor mental health are at increased risk of death from ca…[Read more]

Shift work has its own demands that set it apart from jobs with traditional working hours. Shift work has its benefits; it can be more convenient from a child care perspective, is sometimes better paid and can allow workers time for other activities, such as study.
However, the medical and scientific communities are continually reporting that…[Read more]

Now, scientists believe they have identified what happens in the brain to cause this, according to research published in Nature.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat anxiety, depression, and related conditions. Around 10 percent of people in the United States use them, including 1 in 4 women in their 40s and 50s.…[Read more]

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) define stress as the “brain’s response to any demand.” In other words, it is how the brain reacts to certain situations or events.
It is important to note that not all stress is negative. Many of us who have been in a pressurized situation may have found that stress has pushed us to perform better. T…[Read more]

First study author Deanna M. Barch, PhD, chair of the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences in Arts & Sciences, and colleagues publish their findings in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
The study builds on previous research from the team published last year, which found that children raised in poverty have reduced gray and white matter v…[Read more]

Study co-author Prof. Saverio Stranges – visiting academic of the University of Warwick Medical School, United Kingdom, and scientific director of the Department of Population Health at the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) – and colleagues publish their findings in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Chocolate is often perceived as a treat that…[Read more]

6 Simple Ways to Lose Belly Fat, Based on Science

Overweight does not necessarily equal unhealthy.
There are actually plenty of overweight people who are in excellent health (1).
Conversely, many normal weight people have the metabolic problems associated with obesity (2).
That’s because the fat under the skin is actually not that big of a pro…[Read more]