Most folks tap away at their smartphone for fun, communication or information. But such tapping may also help them track the progress of a rare degenerative brain disease, researchers say. Five simple smartphone-measured tests of movement control can provide quick and regular insight into the motor function of someone with Huntington’s disease, researchers reported June 9 in the journal Brain. These app-based tests of balance, finger tapping and involuntary movements are used to produce a Huntington’s Disease Digital Motor Score (HDDMS), researchers said. “Incorporating the HDDMS in clinical trials will help to give clearer answers about whether a potential treatment is working, with fewer participants or shorter lead times than conventional measures,” said researcher Ed Wild, a professor of neurology at University College London’s Huntington’s Disease Center. “What’s more, the fact that the HDDMS is evaluated in a five-minute assessment in people’s homes makes it convenient and potentially more meaningful than in-clinic measures of motor impairment,”  he added in a news release. Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that causes nerve cells in parts of the brain to break down and die, according to the National Institutes of Health. The disease specifically attacks areas of the brain related to movement. Patients develop uncontrollable dance-like movements and contort into abnormal body postures, and these movements can become more intense when the person is nervous or distracted.…  read on >  read on >

A person’s smartwatch can capture a lot of data about their health – and a new study says most folks are willing to share it with doctors. About 94% of people who wear smartwatches or activity trackers are open to sharing data with their doc if it will improve their health care, researchers report. In fact, 47% had already discussed their data with a doctor, and 43% had already shared it, according to findings published recently in the journal Healthcare. “Every day we hear about privacy risks and data breaches, so it’s reasonable to assume that data sharing might raise issues,” senior investigator Ty Ferguson, a research fellow at the University of South Australia, said in a news release. “But in reality, the opposite is true — people are overwhelmingly willing to share health data from their smartwatches, as long as it’s with trusted health professionals such as doctors or physiotherapists,” he continued. “This was even more prevalent among people with chronic health conditions.” About 39% of U.S. adults wear a smartwatch, opening up the possibility that doctors could personalize health care by reviewing the data captured by the wrist devices, researchers said in background notes. “By sharing personalized health data — such as sleep patterns, physical activity, or heart rate – healthcare providers can gain deeper insights about each patient’s needs, potentially offering smarter,…  read on >  read on >

A person’s smartwatch can capture a lot of data about their health – and a new study says most folks are willing to share it with doctors. About 94% of people who wear smartwatches or activity trackers are open to sharing data with their doc if it will improve their health care, researchers report. In fact, 47% had already discussed their data with a doctor, and 43% had already shared it, according to findings published recently in the journal Healthcare. “Every day we hear about privacy risks and data breaches, so it’s reasonable to assume that data sharing might raise issues,” senior investigator Ty Ferguson, a research fellow at the University of South Australia, said in a news release. “But in reality, the opposite is true — people are overwhelmingly willing to share health data from their smartwatches, as long as it’s with trusted health professionals such as doctors or physiotherapists,” he continued. “This was even more prevalent among people with chronic health conditions.” About 39% of U.S. adults wear a smartwatch, opening up the possibility that doctors could personalize health care by reviewing the data captured by the wrist devices, researchers said in background notes. “By sharing personalized health data — such as sleep patterns, physical activity, or heart rate – healthcare providers can gain deeper insights about each patient’s needs, potentially offering smarter,…  read on >  read on >

BowFlex, a fitness equipment brand, is recalling more than 3.8 million adjustable dumbbells because their weight plates can fall off and hurt users. The recall follows more than 100 reports of injuries, including concussions, broken toes, bruises and scrapes, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recalled weights are popular because they allow users to switch between different weights without need for full rack of dumbbells. But the CPSC says the adjustable design may pose a safety hazard. The recalled units include 3.7 million sets sold by Nautilus Inc., which changed its name to BowFlex in 2023, CBS News reported. BowFlex filed for bankruptcy in March 2024. Some of its assets, including the recalled dumbbells, were bought by Johnson Health Tech Retail, which is handling the recall. “A proactive and broad initiation of this voluntary recall is consistent with our fundamental mission to serve consumers with high-quality and durable fitness equipment,” Johnson Health Tech Trading said in a statement. The recall involves two models: BowFlex 552, 52.5-lb Adjustable Dumbbells BowFlex 1090, 90-lb Adjustable Dumbbells If you bought the dumbbells from Johnson Health Tech Trading, you may be eligible for a refund or replacement. If you bought them from BowFlex (formerly Nautilus), you can request a prorated voucher instead. You’ll also be eligible for a free one-year digital fitness membership. The company said…  read on >  read on >

BowFlex, a fitness equipment brand, is recalling more than 3.8 million adjustable dumbbells because their weight plates can fall off and hurt users. The recall follows more than 100 reports of injuries, including concussions, broken toes, bruises and scrapes, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recalled weights are popular because they allow users to switch between different weights without needing a full rack of dumbbells. But the CPSC says the adjustable design may pose a safety hazard. The recalled units include 3.7 million sets sold by Nautilus Inc., which changed its name to BowFlex in 2023, CBS News reported. BowFlex filed for bankruptcy in March 2024. Some of its assets, including the recalled dumbbells, were bought by Johnson Health Tech Retail, which is handling the recall. “A proactive and broad initiation of this voluntary recall is consistent with our fundamental mission to serve consumers with high-quality and durable fitness equipment,” Johnson Health Tech Trading said in a statement. The recall involves two models: BowFlex 552, 52.5-lb Adjustable Dumbbells BowFlex 1090, 90-lb Adjustable Dumbbells Consumers who bought the dumbbells from Johnson Health Tech Trading may be eligible for a refund or replacement. If they were bought from BowFlex (formerly Nautilus), a prorated voucher can be requested instead. Consumers will also be eligible for a free one-year digital fitness membership. The company said…  read on >  read on >

A structured exercise program helped colon cancer survivors live longer and lowered their odds for a relapse, a major international study shows. The program lasted three years and included regular meetings with a fitness coach, Associated Press reported.  Over the period, people in the exercise group had 28% fewer cancers and had 37% fewer deaths from any cause, researchers reported. “This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,” Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), told the AP. “I love this study because it’s something I’ve been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.” The results were presented Sunday at ASCO’s annual meeting in Chicago and published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study included 889 people from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Israel and the U.K. All had been treated for colon cancer and had finished chemotherapy. Half received a booklet with advice on exercise and healthy eating. The other half met with a fitness coach every two weeks for the first year, then monthly for the next two years. “This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,” said Terri Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario, who joined the program and walked regularly. “I wouldn’t want to go there and say, ‘I didn’t do anything,’…  read on >  read on >

A structured exercise program helped colon cancer survivors live longer and lowered their odds for a relapse, a major international study shows. The program lasted three years and included regular meetings with a fitness coach, Associated Press reported.  Over the period, people in the exercise group had 28% fewer cancers and had 37% fewer deaths from any cause, researchers reported. “This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,” Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), told the AP. “I love this study because it’s something I’ve been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.” The results were presented Sunday at ASCO’s annual meeting in Chicago and published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study included 889 people from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Israel and the U.K. All had been treated for colon cancer and had finished chemotherapy. Half received a booklet with advice on exercise and healthy eating. The other half met with a fitness coach every two weeks for the first year, then monthly for the next two years. “This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,” said Terri Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario, who joined the program and walked regularly. “I wouldn’t want to go there and say, ‘I didn’t do anything,’…  read on >  read on >