That cold sore on your lip might be painful and unsightly, but it could also be a harbinger of debilitating brain aging.

The oral herpes virus appears to be linked with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that the common infection might play a role in the disease, a new study published in the journal Cell Reports says.

Her... Full Page

The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) released the first-ever guidelines for levels of lead in processed baby foods this week. However, many health and safety advocates say they are not satisfied with the guidance.

Under the FDA's new guidelines, baby food manufacturers should have no more than 10 parts per billion of lead in baby yogur... Full Page

Pulse oximeters -- those tiny devices that measure blood oxygen levels with a quick clip to your finger -- may soon get a major upgrade to ensure they work just as well for people of all skin tones.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidelines on Jan. 6 proposing that manufacturers conduct larger, more inclusive st... Full Page

Fluoride exposure appears to slightly decrease IQ scores in children, a new federal meta-analysis has concluded -- but not at the low levels recommended for U.S. drinking water.

Fluoride in drinking water was associated with reduced IQ scores at levels of less than 4 milligrams per liter, but not at less than 1.5 mg/L, according to the ana... Full Page

A Louisiana resident has died after being hospitalized with bird flu in December of last year, marking the first known U.S. death from the virus.

The patient who, "was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions," state health officials announced in a statement, tested positive for the virus and developed seve... Full Page

It’s long been a mystery why folks need a flu vaccine every year, even though immunizations they got in childhood continue to protect them from measles and mumps.

Researchers now think they know why vaccine effectiveness varies -- and they’ve even come up with a blood test to check a vaccine’s durability.

“Our... Full Page

Worried about the risky sex you had last night?

Using a common antibiotic following sex can dramatically reduce a person’s risk of some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a new study says.

Taking doxycycline within 72 hours after sex reduced risk of chlamydia by 79%, syphilis by 80%, and gonorrhea by 12%, results published... Full Page

Kids with autism who speak more than one language tend to have fewer symptoms from their disorder.

Being multilingual not only enhances their general cognitive abilities, but also helps them better control their daily thoughts and actions, researchers reported in a study published recently in the journal Autism Research.

The... Full Page

Patients have more access to their own medical test results than ever before, thanks to legislation requiring results be released as soon as they’re available.

But that’s not necessarily a good thing, a new study warns.

Many patients are reading test results in their electronic medical record before their doctor has had a... Full Page

More and more adults are stuck in the middle of their families, caring not only for their children but also for aging parents and other older family members.

The mental and physical health of these “sandwich carers” is more likely to deteriorate over time, a new study published in the journal Public Health says.

... Full Page

Abortion bans have led many young people to decide they’d rather forego having kids than ever face that dilemma.

A surge in permanent contraception immediately followed the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, researchers said in a new study published Jan. 6 in the journal Health Affairs.

Tubal ster... Full Page

Rates of whooping cough in the U.S. continue to climb, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Over 32,000 cases reported have been reported as of mid-December -- about six times more than there were at this time last year, and more than there have been since 2014, according to CNN.

Whooping cough, also known... Full Page

Wealth could be related to brain health, a new study says.

People raised in poorer communities or nations appear to have brains more likely to shrink with age, as well as disrupted connectivity between brain regions related to memory and thinking, according to results published recently in the journal Nature Aging.

This puts... Full Page

A norovirus outbreak aboard the P&O Cruises’ Arcadia ship last fall left dozens of passengers confined to their cabins and is now linked to the death of a 77-year-old British passenger.

Alan Forster, a retired teacher from Paignton, England, fell sick with norovirus two weeks into the month-long voyage with his wife, and later di... Full Page

Turns out, starting physical therapy earlier after a concussion may significantly improve recovery outcomes.

A new study published recently in the Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal followed just over 200 adults recovering from mild traumatic brain injuries, or concussions, who were within two to 12 weeks from their inj... Full Page

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that can ruin grape, apple and hop crops and do terrible damage to maple and walnut trees.

Luckily, man’s best friend is on hand to help fight this insect foe, a new study published in the journal Ecosphere says.

Farmers and conservationists have trained dogs to sniff out lant... Full Page

Heart disease and cancer might seem completely unrelated, but these two top causes of death sometimes act in concert.

Women with heart disease appear to have a greater risk of aggressive breast cancer, according to a new study published Jan. 2 in JAMA Network Open.

In fact, women with advanced breast cancer were 10% more lik... Full Page

Mind-opening psychedelic drugs can provide a needed boost to people dealing with cancer or struggling with alcoholism, according to a pair of new studies from New York University.

One study found that psilocybin -- the active ingredient in magic mushrooms -- significantly reduced anxiety, depression, anger and other mental health problems ... Full Page

Palling around with family and friends is more than just fun and relaxing -- it also boosts health.

A new study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior says that blood samples show that an active social life appears to boost the immune system and lower risk of illnesses like heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

... Full Page

A new diet is on the New Year’s resolution list for nearly half of U.S. adults, according to a new survey from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

However, many plan to pick up diets with dicey track records, survey results show.

About 46% of adults said they plan to start a new diet in 2025, the survey found.Full Page