It’s a bone-a-fide mystery. Joint pain, hair loss and fatigue are clues that can point to various conditions. One in particular has been throwing people for a loop even as 16,000 new US cases are reported annually. Lupus is sometimes called a cruel mystery since it can take many years for patients to be accurately … Read more
Researchers have discovered an experimental medication that significantly reduces a cholesterol-like particle that can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Many Americans are unaware that elevated levels of this particle — known as lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) — are circulating in their blood. Elevated Lp(a) cannot be modified with lifestyle changes, and has been called … Read more
From sweethearts to siblings — yes, you read that right. Victoria Hill sat in sheer “disbelief” upon discovering that her boyfriend was actually her brother. “He sent me the screenshot that, ‘You are my sister,’” Hill, a crestfallen mom of two from Connecticut, explained on the UK’s ITV “This Morning” show. Victoria Hill learned that … Read more
This isn’t your daddy’s cancer scare. Studies have previously linked low sperm count to an increased risk of cancer, but new research takes that a step further. Approximately 1 in 10 men have some sort of fertility issue in the US. Syda Productions – stock.adobe.com Researchers at the University of Tartu in Estonia found that … Read more
Feel like you “can’t handle your alcohol?” Do you experience nausea, facial flushing or a racing heart after enjoying even small amounts of your favorite cocktail? These could be signs that you have an inherited intolerance to alcohol — and a mutated gene could be the culprit, according to Cleveland Clinic. This gene mutation hampers … Read more
Pinpointing the cause of autism has proven difficult, in part because it’s a complex group of developmental disorders and not a single condition. Now, an international team of researchers says it has uncovered a “direct link” between autism and a gene known to play a role in brain development. An international team of researchers says … Read more
Neanderthals and humans likely mixed and mingled during a narrow time frame 45,000 years ago, scientists reported Thursday. Researchers analyzed ancient genes to pinpoint the time period, which is slightly more recent than previous estimates for the mating. Modern humans emerged in Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago and eventually spread to Europe, Asia and … Read more
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