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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. “These individuals, who balance the demands of caring for both their children and aging parents, often experience a decline in their well-being,” lead researcher Dr. Baowen Xue, a lecturer in social epidemiology with the University College London, said in a news release from the school. “It’s crucial that we recognize and support the unique needs of this growing group to ensure their health and resilience,” Xue added. For the study, researchers analyzed data from about 2,000 sandwich carers, comparing them with 2,000 other people who only care for a child younger than 16. All participants were provided a pair of questionnaires aimed at assessing their mental and physical health. Results show that parents’ psychological distress increased significantly when they also had to care for an older relative, and even more if they spent over 20 hours a week providing care. Sandwich carers also suffered a faster decline in their physical health if they spent more than 20 hours a week in caregiving, researchers found. These folks must manage not only the… read on > read on >

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 as pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory illness that spreads through bacteria in the air. It is common in the United States, with frequent outbreaks. Reported cases have been climbing for several months with about a quarter of all cases reported in Illinois, Indiana and other states in the Midwest. Pennsylvania has more reported cases compared to other states. Some states, such as Oregon, ticked a record high number of cases recently. For 2024, Oregon recorded the highest number of whooping cough cases since 1950, a news release stated. Typically, the infection starts with cold-like symptoms before a serious, full-body cough can develop. The name comes from the sound people make as they try to catch their breath between coughs. The coughing can last for several weeks or even months. Cases dropped during the pandemic, but according to the CDC, recent trends suggest that the U.S. is returning to pre-pandemic levels. Whooping cough can be serious for people of all ages, yet children younger than one… read on > read on >

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 injury. Researchers found that those who started physical therapy within two months of their injury reported fewer symptoms, better balance, and quicker reaction times compared to those who delayed therapy. Participants were split into two groups: 82 began physical therapy just seven days after joining the study (around 56 days post-injury), while 121 waited six additional weeks (around 99 days post-injury). Both groups completed eight therapy sessions over six weeks, focusing on balance, cervical spine exercises, and cardiovascular health, alongside a home program. “There seems to be a window of opportunity within two months,” Laurie King, senior study author and professor of neurology at Oregon Health & Science University, said in a news release. “After that point, the brain compensates in a way that’s not good.” For the estimated 30% of people who experience persistent symptoms — including dizziness, balance issues, and cognitive challenges — King emphasized the importance of timely intervention. “Correctly identifying this group is the challenge,” she noted. The researchers noted that delayed PT patients appeared to rely more on vision to maintain balance,… read on > read on >

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 lanternfly egg masses in vineyards and forests during the winter, before the pests can begin their springtime blight. A Labrador retriever and a Belgian Malinois were more than three times better than humans at detecting egg masses in forested areas near vineyards, researchers found. “A spotted lanternfly infestation in a vineyard can cause 80% to 100% mortality of the vines in one growing season,” lead researcher Angela Fuller, a professor of natural resources and the environment at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, said in a news release from the college. Spotted lanternflies are native to Asia, and likely arrived in the U.S. on goods shipped from overseas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and have since spread to 18 other states, researchers said in background notes. When the insect feeds, it creates a sticky, sugary fluid that causes sooty mold, the USDA says. Lanternflies lay their eggs on any hard surface, including grills, vehicles, trailers, firewood, outdoor furniture, bikes and toys,… read on > read on >

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 in people with cancer, when combined with therapy. The second found that psilocybin can reduce depression, impulsiveness and other unhelpful feelings in people being treated for alcohol use disorder. “Our findings suggest that the mental health benefits of psilocybin therapy for cancer patients may reach far beyond what we have previously understood,” Dr. Petros Petridis, lead author of the first study and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said in a news release from the school. For the first study, researchers analyzed data from two previous clinical trials that used psilocybin-assisted therapy to address anxiety and depression in nearly 80 men and women with cancer. The data showed that psilocybin boosted therapy’s ability to help cancer patients deal with their feelings, compared to therapy given with a placebo dose of vitamin B3. The positive benefits lasted at least six months. Further, results showed that psilocybin did not appear to cause any harmful side effects like paranoia, psychosis or phobia. For the second study, researchers randomly assigned 84 people… read on > read on >

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. When asked which diets they plan to try, results show that: 40% said they’ll eat fewer calories. 26% said they’ll try a low-carb diet like keto, Atkins or South Beach. 7% said they’ll eat a plant-based diet. Research has shown that a plant-based or vegan diet is among the most effective means for losing weight and keeping it off, experts said. “Counting calories can be time consuming and create a negative relationship with food for some people, and low-carbohydrate diets come with a range of side effects,” Dr. Roxanne Becker, medical editor with the Physicians Committee, said in a news release from the group. “Research has shown that plant-based diets are effective for weight loss without purposefully restricting or counting calories,” Becker continued. “This is because plants tend to be naturally lower in calorie density and higher in fiber, which promotes a feeling of fullness.” The committee pointed to a 2017 study in which obese or overweight New Zealand residents ate a whole-food, plant-based diet for… read on > read on >

Some standard health tips are timeless, aren’t they? The basics of living a healthy life don’t really change. Get lots of sleep and rest, exercise, and nutrient rich food. Manage stressors and symptoms. But as basic as those rules can be, it is still hard to practice them consistently. What’s more, wellness is more about enhancing your life than following rules. As a new year dawns, UCLA Health experts share some of their most practical and not-always-obvious feel-good advice. Here, seven smart tips from seven different health and wellness experts. 1. Keep Doing the Good-for-You Things You Already Do “Most of what people can do to have a healthy 2025 is not much different than what they could do to have a healthy 2024: exercise; don’t smoke; drink alcohol in moderation, if at all; stay engaged; and keep your mind stimulated. Be decent in every interaction and seek optimism every day. You may not find something to rejoice about but you may find something meaningful that may help others and yourself.” — Dr. David B. Reuben, geriatrician. 2. Honor and Nurture Your Feet “Our feet take a pounding every day, but most of us don’t take care of our feet. Give yourself a foot massage. It’s a simple, easy thing that anyone can do – very low cost, low investment and high yield. There is a whole body of knowledge about… read on > read on >

Wondering which popular diet will help you shed extra weight in a healthy way this year? The Mediterranean diet tops the best diet categories in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 edition. According to the report, the eating style that refers to the traditional eating habits of the people who live in the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, is the most highly-rated diet across most categories. Despite having the word “diet” is in its name, it’s not one particular branded diet, but more of a broad eating pattern. It is heart-healthy and proven to be helpful in reducing risk factors that can potentially lead to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Each year, a panel of medical and nutrition experts works with U.S. News & World Report to review a wide range of eating plans and flag the ones they find to be have the best healthy eating options. “This year, the “Best Diets’ updated rating evaluation system reflects the diverse needs and goals of individuals, considering factors beyond weight loss,” according to Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health at U.S. News. Looking beyond basic weight loss, this year’s report considers overall well-being, chronic disease prevention and special needs. U.S. News added 12 new Best Diets categories for evaluation, all focused on specific health and lifestyle needs, according to a news release. For… read on > read on >

Some brain cells are more susceptible to the ravages of aging than others, a new mouse study has found. These results could shed new light on why people’s risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders increase with age, researchers said in a study published Jan. 1 in the journal Nature. “Aging is the most important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and many other devastating brain disorders. These results provide a highly detailed map for which brain cells may be most affected by aging,” Dr. Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging, said in an NIA news release. “This new map may fundamentally alter the way scientists think about how aging affects the brain and also provide a guide for developing new treatments for aging-related brain diseases,” Hodes added. Using advanced genetic analysis, researchers compared individual cells in the brains of 2-month-old “young” and 18-month-old “senior” mice. Specifically, they looked at the genetic activity of cell types located in 16 different regions constituting 35% of the total volume of the mouse brains. Researchers found that aging tends to decrease activity in genes associated with brain cells. For example, aging reduced development of newborn neurons in at least three different parts of the brain — including neurons associated with learning and memory. On the other hand, aging also increased the activity of genes… read on > read on >

It’s not fun for folks to admit to their doctor that they’re a couch potato. But such a frank talk could help protect against chronic disease, a new study says. People with the highest levels of physical activity have a lower risk of 19 different chronic health problems, researchers reported recently in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease. Those who got at least 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous exercise were less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, lung problems, diabetes, and a range of other debilitating ailments, researchers found. On the other hand, folks who got little to no exercise had more risk of chronic disease, results show. Based on these findings, researchers recommend that doctors ask patients about their physical activity, and provide encouragement to those who need to get more exercise. “In our health care environment, there’s no easy pathway for a doctor to be reimbursed for helping patients become more physically active,” senior researcher Lucas Carr, an associate professor of health and human physiology with the University of Iowa, said in a news release. “And so, for these patients, many of whom report insufficient activity, we need options to easily connect them with supportive services like exercise prescriptions and/or community health specialists,” Carr continued. Most U.S. hospitals and health systems don’t bother asking patients about physical activity, researchers said in… read on > read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Caregivers Face Mental, Physical Health Risks

U.S. Whooping Cough Cases Surge

Early Physical Therapy Key for Concussion Recovery, Study Shows

Dogs Can Help Detect, Remove Spotted Lantern Flies

Psychedelics May Boost Mental Health of People with Cancer in Recovery

About 50% of Adults Resolve to Try New Diet, Survey Says

7 Surprising Ways to Make 2025 Healthy

These Are Some of the Best Diets for 2025, Report Says

Some Brain Cells Change with Age, Some Don’t: Study

More Activity, Less Risk: Tell Your MD How Much You Move