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U.S. federal officials took a big step toward protecting children from a contaminant blamed for irreversible health effects, proposing tougher standards for removing lead-based paint in pre-1978 buildings and child care facilities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the proposed new standards Wednesday at an event in Newark, N.J. If finalized, the new rules would protect up to 500,000 children under age 6 from lead exposure each year. The proposed standards would apply to homes and child-care facilities. “The Biden-Harris Administration is taking a whole-of-government approach to ensuring that the most vulnerable among us — our children — are protected from exposure to lead,” EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe said in an agency news release. “This proposal to safely remove lead paint along with our other efforts to deliver clean drinking water and replace lead pipes will go a long way toward protecting the health of our next generation of leaders.” The plan is aligned with the EPA’s aim to address racial, ethnic and economic disparities in lead exposure. Lead-based paint is more likely to be found in lower-income areas, putting communities of color at greater risk. Racial segregation in housing over the years, called redlining, is part of this. Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, noted there is no safe level of lead. “Even low levels… read on > read on >

The centuries-old practice of mindfulness is having a moment in present times, and a new study finds the therapy can improve mental health for at least six months. Analyzing the results of 13 prior studies, U.K. researchers concluded that in-person, teacher-led mindfulness courses were tied to reduced stress and anxiety. Mindfulness “was the seventh step of the Noble Eightfold Path in Buddhism many thousands of years ago. And lots of different cultures have used different variations of this,” said Dr. Yvette Sheline, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral research at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. There are many cited benefits of mindfulness, which is defined by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center as “maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.” Mindfulness training is offered in over 600 companies globally, and 79% of U.S. medical schools, according to background notes with the new study. And it’s estimated that at least 5% of U.S. adults have practiced mindfulness. “Although there has been previous research on the topic, this is the largest and most reliable study so far confirming that these courses work for the average person,” said study co-author Julieta Galante, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cambridge, in England. For the study, Cambridge researchers pooled and analyzed data from 2,371 adults who participated… read on > read on >

Water fasting has become one of the trendiest new weight-loss sensations, touted by former athletes and wellness gurus. But whatever weight is lost during a water fast can come back quickly, while other health benefits fade fast, according to a new review of the available scientific evidence. “I personally wouldn’t really recommend this diet,” said senior researcher Krista Varady, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “I know it’s become popular for some reason, kind of out of nowhere, over the past year or so. But even if people maintain the weight loss, all the health benefits go away.” Water fasting involves taking in nothing but water for at least five to 20 days, and sometimes even longer, researchers said in background notes. Some supervised water fasts allow 250 calories a day, “a little bit of juice at breakfast and a really small amount of soup at lunch,” Varady said. Last month, former Seattle Seahawks lineman Russell Okung announced on Twitter that he had lost more than 100 pounds by taking in nothing but water for 40 days. “I fasted for 40 days with nothing but water. Yes, you read right!” Okung tweeted. “The experience was so rich and rewarding that I’m going to do it again…” And Australian wellness coach Kristine Crouch says a 25-day water fast cleared up her… read on > read on >

Pickleball is a hot trend and it’s getting folks exercising who haven’t been so active in a long time. It’s also racking up injuries — both overuse type and acute traumas — often in those aged 50 and up. A new poll suggests these players are forgoing care when they hurt their knees, wrists and rotator cuffs. Sports medicine experts are urging them not to ignore their nagging pain. Dr. Luis Gandara, a specialist in sports medicine at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute in Florida, sees a few types of pickleball injuries, including those that are acute from a fall and those in which someone has aggravated chronic pain issues, such as existing arthritis in a hip or other joint. “Then [there are] the other ones who enjoy it so much that they play either too many hours or play too many games in a row,” Gandara said. “And those are the ones that we see having the overuse type of injuries due to the time and span, or the improper use of the equipment, like the paddle’s too heavy, improper mechanics or they may be using the wrong shoes to play.” About one-third of people surveyed last month in a new Harris Poll for Orlando Health reported avoiding sports or a hobby because of a nagging injury. Nearly half said it wasn’t worth seeing… read on > read on >

A growing obesity epidemic may affect the outcome of treatment for those dealing with cancer, according to a new study of adults and teens being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Researchers called for further study of how weight affects the response to different chemotherapy regimens for ALL. “We have known for roughly 15 years that obesity affects survival in pediatric patients treated for ALL, and more recently, we are recognizing a similar relationship in adult populations,” said lead author Dr. Shai Shimony, an advanced fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. “But we wanted more granular data on this, to understand why this correlation exists, and how dependent it is on age.” For the study, Shimony’s team collected data on 388 individuals (average age, 24 years) who were treated on Dana-Farber Consortium pediatric regimens for ALL from 2008 to 2021. The investigators examined the relationship between body mass index (BMI, a measure of body fat based on height and weight); age; toxicities; and treatment outcomes. In all, nearly 47% of the individuals were overweight or obese. The study found they had a higher rate of non-relapse death, nearly 12%, compared to just under 3% for those with a normal BMI. They also had a lower event-free survival rate — 63% versus 77% at four years. (Event-free survival is the length of time after… read on > read on >

Teens who use stimulant medication like Ritalin to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not have an increased risk of illicit drug use later, a new study finds. This study looked specifically at cocaine and methamphetamine use. High school seniors who used stimulant therapy were no more likely to use cocaine or methamphetamine as young adults (ages 19 to 24) than their peers who didn’t use stimulant therapy, the researchers found. “These findings should be comforting to parents who have teenagers taking stimulants for ADHD, who worry that these medications may lead to use of illicit stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine as their children enter young adulthood and become more independent,” lead researcher Sean Esteban McCabe said in a University of Michigan news release. He’s a professor of nursing and director of the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health. Some past research has tied ADHD to an increased risk for illicit drug use, so these findings should reassure concerned parents, the study team stressed. However, the researchers also found that teens who misuse prescription stimulants were significantly more likely to use these illicit drugs as young adults. Moreover, the frequency of misuse matters. About 20% of high school seniors who misused prescription stimulants like Ritalin (methylphenidate) or Adderall started using cocaine or methamphetamine in young adulthood. And 34% of teens who misused… read on > read on >

As extreme heat continues to blanket numerous parts of the United States, Americans with dementia may be particularly challenged. “Triple-digit temperatures and heat indexes are especially dangerous for someone with a dementia-related illness such as Alzheimer’s disease, because the effects of dementia can impair their ability to notice if they are developing heat stroke or dehydration,” said Jennifer Reeder, director of educational and social services for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. “Taking a few simple steps will go a long way to help caregivers keep their loved one with dementia safe during the heat wave,” Reeder said in a foundation news release. Watch out for wandering, a common behavior in individuals with dementia. They can become lost or disoriented and not know whom to call for help. This can be a particularly concerning behavior during a heat wave because in extreme heat conditions heat stroke can develop within minutes. A way to reduce the chances of wandering is to help someone feel purposeful indoors, while also reducing excessive stimuli and ensuring basic needs are met. Create walking paths around the home with visual cues and stimulating objects. Help the person stay engaged with simple tasks or activities such as music, crafts and games. Just in case your loved one still does wander, be sure you have recent photo and medical information close at hand to… read on > read on >

The European Medicines Agency is investigating concerns that popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Saxenda may be linked to suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm. Three case reports from Iceland spurred the agency’s safety committee to conduct a medication review, CNN reported Monday. The EMA is Europe’s equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Icelandic Medicines Agency reported two cases of suicidal thoughts. One happened after use of Ozempic (semaglutide) and the other after taking Saxenda (liraglutide). The third report was about Saxenda and thoughts of self-injury. Both drugs are made by Novo Nordisk. The company said, “patient safety is a top priority,” adding it takes “all reports about adverse events from use of our medicines very seriously,” CNN reported. Prescribing information in the United States for Saxenda includes a recommendation to monitor patients for depression or suicidal thoughts, but Ozempic does not carry a similar warning. The weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide, the same active ingredient as in Ozempic) includes in its prescribing information that reports of suicidal behavior and ideation have occurred in clinical trials with other weight-management medications, the news report said. Clinical trials in adults for Saxenda found that nine people among 3,300 reported suicidal ideation, while two in 1,900 reported suicidal ideation while on a placebo in those drug trials, CNN reported. One adult taking Saxenda attempted suicide, the… read on > read on >

Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool capable of deciphering a brain tumor’s genetic code in real time, during surgery — an advance they say could speed diagnosis and personalize patients’ treatment. The researchers trained the AI tool to recognize the different genetic features of gliomas, a group of tumors that constitute the most common form of brain cancer among adults. Not all gliomas are the same, however. Most people are diagnosed with one of three subtypes that each have different genetic features — and, critically, different degrees of aggressiveness and treatment options. Right now, doctors called pathologists can analyze gliomas for those genetic markers, in what’s known as molecular diagnosis. But the process takes days to weeks, said Dr. Kun-Hsing Yu, the senior researcher on the new study. In contrast, the AI tool his team is developing can enable molecular diagnosis in 10 to 15 minutes. That means it could be done during surgery, according to Yu, an assistant professor of biomedical informatics at Harvard Medical School, in Boston. The technology, called CHARM, also appears high on the accuracy scale. When Yu’s team put it to the test with glioma samples it had never “seen” before, the AI tool was 93% accurate in distinguishing the three different molecular subtypes. Being able to make such distinctions in the operating room is critical, Yu and… read on > read on >

The couch potato life may not be a happy one. When older adults become more sedentary, their overall quality of life takes a hit, new research cautions. Sitting still is your enemy, the study suggests. Even slow walking can help improve your mental and physical health, say the British researchers who tracked more than 1,400 adults age 60 and up. “We set off to look at whether people who reduced their physical activity levels or increased their sitting time in their older years had poorer quality of life later on,” said study lead author Dr. Dharani Yerrakalva. The answer to both questions was yes, said Yerrakalva, a doctoral fellow with the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge. This really matters, she and her colleagues said, noting prior research suggests that as quality of life worsens, the risk for hospitalization goes up. So too does the risk for a premature death. Connie Diekman is a food and nutrition consultant and former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She said the findings serve as a “strong confirmation of what most health organizations recommend: Stay physically active to keep the body and mind healthy.” “Regular activity helps people feel vital, strong and anxious to keep enjoying life,” said Diekman, who was not part of the study. There are several ways… read on > read on >

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EPA Toughens Lead Standards in Older Homes, Buildings

Stressed? Depressed? Mindfulness Training Could Offer Long-Term Relief

Water Fasting: Is It Safe? Is It for You?

As the Popularity of Pickleball Soars, So Do Related Injuries, Poll Finds

Obesity, Overweight Shrinks Survival Rates Against Childhood Leukemia

ADHD Drugs Won’t Raise Risk for Illicit Drug Use Later

Triple-Digit Heat Wave a Danger to Those With Dementia

Risk of Suicidal Thoughts With Popular Weight-Loss Drugs Being Investigated by European Regulators

AI Tool ‘Reads’ Brain Tumors During Surgery to Help Guide Decisions

Want a Healthier, Happier Old Age? Get Moving