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 >

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 >

Norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug, is surging across the United States this winter, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data shows 91 outbreaks of norovirus during the week of Dec. 5, a sharp rise from the 69 outbreaks recorded the previous week. For context, the first week of December has typically seen a maximum of 65 outbreaks in recent years. Often called the “stomach flu,” norovirus causes sudden vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Outbreaks tend to occur in crowded settings such as nursing homes, schools, jails, and cruise ships. The report comes after a recent outbreak that infected over 300 individuals onboard three different cruise ships earlier this month. Norovirus spreads rapidly through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Sharing food, drinks, or utensils with someone infected can also transmit the virus. Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and last for one to three days. While most people recover fully, dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea can be dangerous, particularly for young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. The best defense against norovirus is frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially before meals. Disinfecting surfaces with household cleaners can also reduce the risk of infection.…  read on >  read on >

THURSDAY, Dec. 26, (2024 HealthDay News)  — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Monday the approval of the first generic version of a daily injectable GLP-1 medicine for people living with Type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide, the generic for Victoza, is similar to semaglutide, the active ingredient in the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic. The FDA supports the development of generic drugs, such as GLP-1s, by funding research and informing industry through guidance, Dr. Iilun Murphy, director of the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs, said. “Generic drugs provide additional treatment options which are generally more affordable for patients,” she said in a statement released Dec. 23, 2024. “Today’s approval underscores the FDA’s continued commitment to advancing patient access to safe, effective and high-quality generic drug products.” Last month, the agency approved the first generic version in this class of medications with the green lighting of a generic version of Byetta (exenatide). Experts hope the new approvals will help prevent shortages triggered by demand for injectable weight loss and type 2 diabetes drugs, including semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Liraglutide is expected to expand access for people managing type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 38 million Americans, according to federal health data. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not use insulin well and cannot keep blood…  read on >  read on >

Virtual reality headsets like the Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro will be a Christmas gift in more than one home this year. Now mice are getting in on the action. Researchers have developed a set of VR goggles for lab mice for use in brain studies, according to a report published recently in the journal Nature Methods. These VR goggles will allow scientists to provide immersive experiences for the mice, while capturing fluorescent images of the rodents’ brain activity. The goggles — which dwarf the tiny mice in size — were built using low-cost, off-the-shelf components like smartwatch displays and tiny lenses, researchers said. “It definitely benefited from the hacker ethos of taking parts that are built for something else and then applying it to some new context,” co-lead investigator Matthew Isaacson, a post-doctoral researcher at Cornell University, said in a news release from the college. “The perfect size display, as it turns out, for a mouse VR headset is pretty much already made for smart watches,” Isaacson continued. “We were lucky that we didn’t need to build or design anything from scratch. We could easily source all the inexpensive parts we needed.” Mice are frequently used in studies of brain activity. About a decade ago, researchers began rigging up clunky projector screens for mice as a means of creating virtual reality environments, but…  read on >  read on >

What type of “me-time” is more restorative to a person — hiking by yourself deep in a forest, or reading a book while sipping a latte in a coffee shop? Surprisingly, you’ll do best with a cup of joe and a good book, alone with yourself while surrounded by people, a new study published recently in the journal PLOS One found. Intense episodes of complete isolation aren’t as likely to benefit a person’s well-being as me-time that maintains some social connectedness. “We learned that less complete solitude is more likely to restore energy and maintain a feeling of connection with others,” lead researcher Morgan Quinn Ross, an assistant professor of communications with Oregon State University, said in a university news release. “In a world where social interaction is almost always just a click away, we need to understand how to balance social interaction with different types of solitude,” Ross added. For the study, researchers surveyed nearly 900 people regarding their mental health, preferred type of solitude and social interactions. The research team specifically assessed the conditions under which a person’s me-time might be intruded upon by people or technology, causing time alone to become more social in nature. Results show that less complete forms of solitude, like playing a game on your phone or going to a movie by yourself, offer some advantages over a…  read on >  read on >