Latest Health News

FRIDAY, May 5, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- While a lot of research has focused on autism in children, much less effort goes toward studying adults with autism.Now, two new reports find this group is at substantial risk for age-related physical conditions and injuries, as well as being particularly susceptible to certain mental health issues including loneliness, social isolation and lower quality of life.“There is accumulating evidence suggesting that when autistic individuals get older, they face considerable challenges from co-existing physical conditions,” said researcher Shengxin Liu, a PhD student at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. “For instance, there was evidence on obesity and epilepsy, but the research among older autistic adults remains scarce, accounting...

FRIDAY, May 5, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk said Thursday it will limit distribution of its low-dose versions of the wildly popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, to ensure that people already taking the drug will have enough supply. The medication is one of three drugs from a class known as GLP-1 agonists. These medications have been shown in studies to be effective for weight loss but have faced shortages amid a boom in sales triggered by celebrity endorsements, the company said in a statement.The two other drugs in this class, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, are also used to treat type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is the same medication as Ozempic but it is available in higher doses."Today, we are serving hundreds of thousands of U.S. patients with...

FRIDAY, May 5, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Getting good sleep is an important part of wellness for many reasons, but new research suggests deep sleep may even guard against memory loss linked to Alzheimer's.While disrupted sleep has been linked with accumulating beta-amyloid plaques in the brain faster, scientists found that superior amounts of deep, slow-wave sleep can be protective against memory decline in those with a high burden of Alzheimer’s disease.This could help ease some of dementia’s most devastating outcomes, the experts said.“With a certain level of brain pathology, you're not destined for cognitive symptoms or memory issues,” said study author Zsófia Zavecz, a postdoctoral researcher from the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Human Sleep Science....

FRIDAY, May 5, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Four symptoms could provide early warning of colon cancer in younger adults.Being aware of these red flags could lead to earlier detection and diagnosis for those under age 50, said researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.The telltale symptoms are abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea and iron deficiency anemia.The death rate from colon cancer has been dropping for several decades in older adults who get regular colonoscopies and have improved treatment, according to the American Cancer Society. However, more younger people are diagnosed at advanced stages and are dying. In fact, the number of young adults with colon cancer has nearly doubled in recent years. “We want younger adults to be aware of and act on...