Your friends and family will likely applaud your substantial weight loss — but your cells may resist change. New research finds that obesity can trigger genetic modifications within fat cells that allow the cells to store “memories” of being overweight in their nucleus and make it easier for the body to regain pounds. “We’ve found … Read more
You may want to pass on that joint. A new scientific paper describes cannabis as a “genotoxic” substance that damages genetic information within cells, potentially leading to DNA mutations, accelerated biological aging and cancer. The authors of the analysis say this genotoxicity can be transmitted to the weed smoker’s offspring via a damaged egg and … Read more
If sugar is always your jam, your DNA may be to blame. An international team of researchers says that a genetic variation in our ability to digest certain sugars may influence how much we like sweet foods — and how much we consume. The scientists are pointing the finger at the sucrase-isomaltase (SI) gene, which … Read more
Slow and heady wins the race. A two-headed turtle in New Jersey is being hailed a miracle after beating the odds and surviving past infancy despite its rare deformity. “I am going to do whatever it takes to keep these guys happy and alive,” owner Joseph Morena told Caters News Service of the reptilian anomaly. … Read more
It’s time to iron out your nutritional plan. A study published in August found that more than half the world doesn’t consume enough micronutrients essential to health, including calcium, iron and vitamins C and E. Now, California gastroenterologist Saurabh Sethi is sharing five signs that your body needs more nutrition — brittle nails, eyelid twitching, clicking of the joints, premature greying of the hair … Read more
Who moved their cheese? A pivotal new study that subjected mice to a variety of diets found that genetic factors had a far greater effect on their lifespan than eating habits. “If you want to live a long time, there are things you can control within your lifetime such as diet, but really what you … Read more
This news will dampen some spirits — a new study finds that certain alcoholic beverages can raise the risk of developing gout, a painful form of arthritis. Men who booze at least five times a week have a two-fold higher risk of gout than those drinking less than once a week, according to researchers from … Read more
Is there a sweet new solution to the bitter luck of baldness? Scientists say they may have accidentally discovered a revolutionary cure for male pattern baldness, a genetic condition that affects up to half of men and a quarter of women by age 50. Researchers found the gel treatment to be just as effective as … Read more
It turns out that wealth may not buy good health. A new, large study out of Finland suggests that people with good jobs have a greater genetic risk for cancer, especially breast and prostate cancers. These findings challenge the long-held belief that people struggling with poverty are more likely to have higher rates of cancer. … Read more
Rich people are genetically at greater risk of cancer than the poor, new research has revealed. The new study — conducted at the University of Helsinki in Finland — examined the relationship between socio-economic status, or SES, and an array of diseases. Those privileged to enjoy elevated SES, the findings suggested, are also at a heightened genetic … Read more
A deaf child has received a new gene therapy treatment with “mind-blowing” results that have allowed her to hear for the first time. Opal Sandy, from Oxfordshire, UK, is the first British patient and youngest child in the world to receive this groundbreaking treatment, according to a press release from Cambridge University Hospitals. Opal Sandy, … Read more
DEAR ABBY: I’m a millennial. I am successful in my career and lucky to have a loving husband and two amazing children. I am, however, trying to remind myself to be “better and not bitter” in another huge area of my life. The world is changing so quickly, especially in the field of in vitro … Read more
You might be able to blame your mom’s strange pregnancy cravings for your looks. The origins of facial features have long puzzled scientists, but new research suggests that a pregnant mother’s diet could actually influence certain features starting in the womb. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications on Tuesday, linked a mother’s protein … Read more
Kate Middleton revealed Friday that she’s battling cancer that was discovered after recent abdominal surgery — and now, oncologists are sounding the alarm about an uptick in certain cancers among younger adults. “There is an epidemic currently of young people getting cancer (under 50s),” Dr. Shivan Sivakumar, associate professor in oncology at the University of Birmingham … Read more
Here’s a hefty inheritance you could probably do without. If your parents packed on the extra pounds in middle age, you’re six times more likely to do the same, a new study suggests. Struggling with obesity tends to follow a individual throughout their lives, researchers at the University of Norway said, but the data showed … Read more
They’re not monkeying around with this breakthrough. Researchers from New York University Langone Health may have finally learned how early humans took a major step away from predecessor primates in the evolutionary process — by no longer growing tails starting 25 million years ago. “Our study begins to explain how evolution removed our tails, a … Read more
It’s the circles of life. An NYC dermatologist is highlighting four common types of dark circles — wrinkles, volume loss, vascular and hyperpigmentation — and treatment options for these eyesores. “I want to teach you which skin care ingredient to look for for each concern so that you can shop anywhere you need to,” Dr. … Read more
As a child, Lina Ahnberg experienced bruises all over her body and severe joint pain. Things got so bad, Ahnberg says, that teachers suspected child abuse. But Ahnberg was recently diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), a group of rare, inherited conditions that cause very flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin. “I was relieved to finally … Read more
Part of the club? Research shows that many humans have Neanderthal DNA. People with European or Asian backgrounds have 1% to 2% and as much as 4% if they are from East Asia — thanks to human-Neanderthal interbreeding. Because Neanderthals likely evolved outside of Africa, some African populations have almost no Neanderthal DNA. Now, a genetic engineer is … Read more
New research suggests that early birds face a greater risk of developing anorexia nervosa — and those who have the eating disorder may end up becoming early risers. Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital, in collaboration with researchers from the University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay, studied the genes associated with … Read more