Diet Patterns Linked With Brain Health Dec. 28, 2011 — Eating a diet rich in certain vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids and low in trans fats may be best for brain health, new research suggests. Older people who ate this way had less of the brain shrinkage linked with Alzheimer’s disease and scored better on [...]

New Clues to Memory Loss Dec. 29, 2011 — Strokes so tiny they are termed ”silent” may be linked to memory loss in older adults. Previously, experts thought that memory loss among older adults was caused by deterioration in the hippocampus, the part of the brain involved in memory and other functions. Although that is [...]

Where’s the Flu? Get Ready Dec. 29, 2011 — Where is this flu season we keep hearing about? Brace yourself. Although it’s seemed pretty quiet so far, flu season may already have arrived. Although official CDC data show little flu activity throughout the U.S., it takes about two weeks to compile that data. More timely [...]

Get First Cat as Adult, Double Allergy Risk Dec. 28, 2011 — Adults who get their first cat double their risk of cat allergy — especially if the cat is allowed in the bedroom. But adults who had cats as kids are less likely to become allergic to their new feline pets, a large European [...]

Sensitive Blood Test Rules Out Heart Attack Dec. 27, 2011 — When someone is having chest pain or other heart symptoms, it’s not always easy to tell whether they’ve suffered a heart attack. An electrocardiogram (ECG), one of the key tests used to confirm heart damage, isn’t always conclusive. When that happens, doctors may use [...]

Study: Music Can Ease Pain Dec. 27, 2011 — Losing yourself in music really may help take the sting out of a root canal or other painful medical procedure — especially if you are feeling anxious about it. In a new study, 143 people listened to music while they received a painful shock in their [...]

Smoking During Pregnancy May Damage Children’s Blood Vessels Dec. 26, 2011 — If women didn’t already have enough reasons to quit smoking before pregnancy, here’s a big one: Smoking during pregnancy may set their child up for blood vessel damage, a new study shows. Dutch scientists enrolled more than 250 children. When the children were [...]

Obesity Linked to Poor Mother-Toddler Bond Dec. 26, 2011 — Tots who have a poor relationship with their moms are more likely to be obese by the time they turn 15, a new study shows. So just how does a toddler’s less-than-stellar relationship with mom affect risk for being obese as a teen? The reasons [...]

Carcinoid Tumors: When Surgery Isn’t an Option When carcinoid tumors are at a more advanced stage, surgery may not be possible. However, other treatments can help manage these neuroendocrine tumors. Although these treatments don’t cure the cancer, they can help slow or stop the growth of the tumor and ease symptoms. Using a Variety of [...]

Understanding Carcinoid Tumor Carcinoid tumors are a rare, slow-growing type of cancer that can be cured if caught early, but is difficult to diagnose. Most carcinoid tumors start in the gut, including the intestines, appendix, rectum, colon, stomach, and pancreas. They account for about one-third of all tumors of the small intestine and almost 50% [...]