Dementia is on the decline, with the risk of developing it dropping 20 percent per decade since the late 1970s, according to a new study. David Jones (HMS) is quoted.
The World Health Organization, which declared a public health emergency over the birth defects linked to Zika, is clear that changes in climate mean a redrawn landscape for vector-and water-borne diseases. Aaron Bernstein (Boston Children’s) is quoted.
The three dental schools in Massachusetts have agreed to teach skills in managing pain, prescribing painkillers, and detecting improper use of those drugs as part of the effort to combat the state’s opioid crisis. R. Bruce Donoff (dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine ) is quoted.
Wellesley College announced the appointment of Paula Johnson (Brigham and Women’s) as its president, making her the first African-American to lead the school.
By mining electronic medical records, scientists show the lasting legacy of prehistoric sex on modern humans’ health. Sriram Sankararaman (HMS) is quoted.
There are disagreements among experts about how hard to push athletes, but nobody recommends anything like what the NBA prescribes. Charles Czeisler (Brigham and Women’s) is quoted.
The risk of developing dementia is decreasing for people with at least a high school education, according to a new study suggesting that changes in lifestyle and improvements in physical health can help prevent or delay cognitive decline. David Jones (HMS) is quoted.
Irene Davis (Spaulding) led a study looking at running injuries, one of the surprisingly understudied aspects of running. The study focuses, in part, on those rare long-time runners who have never been hurt.
Joshua Hutcheson’s (Brigham and Women’s) research looks at the importance of collagen protecting human arteries hardened by plaque against cardiovascular risk.
Experts estimate that 10 to 20 percent of incoming Syrians refugees to the U.S. will have war-related psychological problems warranting treatment. Richard Mollica (Mass General) is quoted.
John Peteet (Brigham and Women’s) co-authored a study of doctor-assisted death for people with mental disorders. The study raises questions about the practice, finding that in more than half of approved cases, people declined treatment that could have helped, and that many cited loneliness as an important reason for wanting to die.
