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THURSDAY, Aug. 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Yoga is known for its benefits to both the mind and body. And a gentle form of yoga may be an ideal early intervention technique for older women at risk of Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.In a small study involving kundalini yoga, participants reported that its stress-relieving effects translated to more efficient memory.“Women tend to practice yoga more readily than men. And I've done other studies previously in people, older adults with mild cognitive [mental] impairment and in caregivers with similar interventions,” said Dr. Helen Lavretsky, the lead psychiatrist on the study. “We are focusing now on women who are not as impaired as in my previous study, but still at risk for cognitive decline. And the idea is to get to...

THURSDAY, Aug. 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Golfing may be a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the pleasures of a classic summer pastime. But a new study warns that walking the greens for hours on end without adequate sun protection may notably increase the risk for skin cancer.Researchers in Australia found that more than one-quarter of golfers in that country have been diagnosed with skin cancer at some point, making Aussie players 2.4 times more likely to get the disease than their non-golfing peers.“Our previous research, and that of others worldwide, has demonstrated the positive impact of golf on people's health, including physical, mental and cognitive well-being,” said study lead author Brad Stenner.At the same time, “Australia is well known for its high skin cancer...

THURSDAY, Aug. 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- More girls started puberty before age 8 during the COVID-19 pandemic, a phenomenon called precocious puberty, researchers say.The reasons include potential risk factors such as increased screen time and less exercise, according to a new study, published online Aug. 3 in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.In precocious puberty, children's bodies begin changing into adult bodies too soon. These changes normally begin between age 8 and 14.The number of girls referred to pediatric endocrinologists for precocious puberty rose substantially over the past two years, researchers found. COVID-19 has also been linked to endocrine diseases, including obesity, which can contribute to early puberty in girls.“Our study confirms the rise in precocious...

THURSDAY, Aug. 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- J.D. Butler was planning a future with his girlfriend at his favorite New York City restaurant when that future came to a sudden, crushing halt.“They were planning on when she was moving in and arranging floor plans on the table, with where the furniture was going to go,” said his mother, Karen Butler, a lifelong New York resident. “And he had a grand mal seizure, and then his heart stopped.”A subsequent autopsy revealed that J.D.'s fatal seizure was brought on by mitragynine toxicity, caused by long-term ingestion of the widely used herbal supplement kratom, Butler said.“She said there was evidence in his organ tissue that it had been in his body consistently for a while,” Butler said. “It’s one of those drugs to which you...