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MONDAY, Sept. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- People who work in manufacturing, welding and chemical operations and are exposed to hazardous chemicals may face a higher risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study found."This study shows that certain occupational settings and exposures increase one’s chances of developing ALS," said first author Dr. Stephen Goutman. He's director of the Pranger ALS Clinic and associate director of the ALS Center of Excellence at University of Michigan.Pesticides and carcinogenic compounds have been found at elevated levels in the blood of patients with ALS, the rare and deadly condition also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. To study whether that had an impact on the development of ALS, researchers surveyed 381 patients with ALS and...

MONDAY, Sept. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have been looking to the microbiome, and its numerous gut bacteria, as an area of research with plenty of potential for finding connections to various diseases.Now, scientists have found evidence of significant differences between the gut bacteria of individuals who have multiple sclerosis (MS) and those of healthy patients in the same households. Most of these changes are being reported for the first time, according to researchers from the consortium of scientists participating in the International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study (IMSMS). They found novel mechanisms by which these bacteria may potentially influence disease development and treatment response.“This is the reference study that will be used by the field for years...

SUNDAY, Sept. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Although wearing reusable contact lenses is generally safe, it can be associated with a greater risk of a rare eye infection, new British research shows. In the study, people who wore reusable contact lenses were nearly four times more likely to develop the infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) than those who wore daily disposable lenses. Risks increased for those wearing them overnight or leaving them in while in the shower. "In recent years, we have seen an increase of Acanthamoeba keratitis in the [United Kingdom] and Europe, and while the infection is still rare, it is preventable and warrants a public health response," said lead author Dr. John Dart, of University College London's (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye...

SATURDAY, Sept. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- It can be hard to talk to your loved ones about moving into assisted living, so don't push them too hard and make sure they feel safe and comfortable with the idea, one expert advises."Start the conversation as early as possible, and focus on what matters,” said Dr. Angela Catic. She's a geriatrician and associate professor in the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "Think about if an assisted living environment could not just support, but enrich things that really bring joy to that individual's life," Catic said in a college news release.As people age, it gets harder to take care of a house and yard. Adult children often start talking about assisted living when they see their...