A new study found that social media platforms restrict user-generated content and advertising related to illegal muscle-building drugs but offer few restrictions on legal dietary supplements. This has raised concerns about the potential negative effects of these products on young people's health and behavior.
Older adults with a GED certificate have higher odds of cognitive impairment, hearing impairment, and limitations in daily activities compared to high school graduates. The study suggests that the cognitive reserve hypothesis may partially explain these disparities, as well as access to healthcare services.
The study, which analyzed data from older adults with peptic ulcer disease, revealed that approximately 1 in 8 individuals developed depression for the first time during the pandemic. Women, those who felt lonely, and those with functional limitations were at higher risk of depression. Targeted screening and intervention are being reco...
A new study found that muscle dysmorphia symptoms are associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Canadian adolescents and young adults. The study highlights the need for greater awareness and proper identification of muscle dysmorphia symptoms to prevent future suicidal ideation and suicide planning.
A new national study finds that lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents in the US are more than twice as likely to report binge eating than their heterosexual peers. Stressors like discrimination and stigma can lead to poor self-esteem and disordered eating.
A new study by researchers at the University of Toronto found that most Canadians with arthritis and debilitating chronic pain are free of all psychiatric disorders, including depression. More than half achieve excellent mental health, characterized by daily happiness, high social well-being, and freedom from anxiety and depressive dis...
Cancer cells exploit enhancer DNA to accelerate tumor growth, according to researchers at the University of Toronto. The study found that specific proteins regulate this process, suggesting potential treatments through FOXA1 or NFIB suppression.
Researchers propose that cerebrospinal fluid leaks could contribute to the link between traumatic brain injury and dementia. The hypothesis suggests that treating these leaks could mitigate dementia symptoms in some patients with a history of TBI. Further research is needed to confirm this potential association.
A recent study by the University of Toronto has found a significant link between food insecurity and muscle dysmorphia symptoms among adolescent and young adult Canadians. The research revealed that individuals experiencing food insecurity were more likely to suffer from symptoms of muscle dysmorphia, including functional impairment an...
A new study found that older adults with COPD had a heightened risk of depression during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 1 in 2 individuals with COPD and a pre-pandemic history of depression experienced a recurrence of depression.
A recent policy analysis highlights gaps in Canadian regulation of muscle-building dietary supplements, including whey protein and creatine monohydrate. The lack of consistent manufacturing site and product safety testing poses significant health risks to young people.
A new study from the University of Toronto finds that cyberbullying is associated with binge eating, weight gain worries and body image distress among 10-14 year olds. The study suggests that limiting social media that encourages eating disorders and appearance comparisons can help prevent these issues.
A new study published in Cancer Management and Research found that 1 in 8 older adults with a history of cancer experienced depression for the first time during the early stages of the pandemic. Those with functional limitations, family conflict, and women were particularly vulnerable to depression.
The study found a significant decline in the prevalence of serious later-life cognitive impairments among Black Americans, narrowing racial disparities. However, racial disparities persisted in activities of daily living and functional limitations. Improved air quality may have contributed to the narrowing of disparities in cognitive i...
A new fossil ape named Anadoluvius turkae, discovered in Türkiye, pushes the origin of African apes and humans from Europe to Asia. The findings suggest that hominines evolved in western and central Europe before migrating to Africa.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that child language development and language evolution share a common cognitive foundation, based on a core knowledge base. The team built a computational model that predicts word meaning extension patterns across languages and time scales, highlighting the role of visual, associative,...
A study found that babies watching live music had higher heart rates and were more engaged than those watching recordings, even with identical audio. The researchers tracked the babies' responses using heart monitors and tablets, and noted that the live performance captured their attention for 72% of the show.
For over a billion years, the sun's atmospheric tide countered the moon's gravitational pull, keeping Earth's rotational rate steady and day length at 19.5 hours. This balance was disrupted by climate change, resulting in our current 24-hour day stretching to over 60 hours if not for the pause.
A recent study found that older Americans living in warmer regions are more likely to experience serious vision impairment. The odds of severe vision impairment were 14% higher for temperatures between 50-54.99°F, 24% higher for 55-59.99°F, and 44% higher for those above 60°F.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have made a breakthrough in understanding dark matter and its impact on the universe's large-scale structure. By analyzing cosmic microwave background data and galaxy clustering patterns, they suggest that ultra-light axion particles could account for the observed lack of clumpiness.
A new study followed over 7,000 middle-aged and older Canadians for three years, finding that social participation was associated with successful aging. Those who engaged in volunteer work and recreational activities were more likely to maintain excellent health and less likely to develop physical or mental problems.
A national study published in Sleep Health found that screen habits linked to better sleep include keeping devices out of the bedroom and avoiding screens before bedtime. The study analyzed data from 10,280 preteens aged 10-14 and found that 15.5% reported trouble falling or staying asleep in the past two weeks.
Research published in Children and Youth Services Review found that approximately two-thirds (63%) of adult survivors of childhood physical abuse are in complete mental health. Barriers to achieving this include a lack of social support, chronic pain, and a history of mental illness like depression or substance use disorders.
A new study found that ocean acidification is causing Dungeness crabs to physically sniff less and have decreased ability to detect food odours. This loss of smell may be partially explaining the thinning of crab populations, as reduced food detection could impact energy availability for reproduction.
Researchers have developed a system that uses generative diffusion to create new proteins, advancing the field of generative biology. The system, called ProteinSGM, learns from image representations to generate fully new proteins, which are biophysically real and functional.
A new study found that LGB preteens ages 10-14 reported 10.4 hours of daily recreational screen time, which was nearly four hours more than their straight peers. The researchers argue that parents should regularly talk to their children about screen usage and develop a family media use plan.
A new study by University of Toronto researchers found high levels of toxic PFAS chemicals in Canadian fast-food packaging, contaminating the food people eat. The study suggests that PFAS can enter the environment through waste streams and never break down, posing significant health risks.
A new national study finds that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are twice as likely to report trouble falling or staying asleep than their straight peers. This is attributed to greater depression, stress, and family conflict among LGB youth, which can make it harder for them to get a good night's sleep.
A new study published in BMC Public Health suggests that problematic social media use in preteens is linked to both positive and negative alcohol beliefs. Researchers found that 97% of social media posts display alcohol in a positive context, contributing to positive perceptions among adolescents.
A review of dozens of studies found a positive association between sugary drinks and weight gain in both adults and children, with increasing SSB intake linked to greater weight gain over time. Limiting SSB consumption is an effective way to prevent age-related weight gain.
A new study found that social workers experienced high rates of depression, PTSD, and anxiety during the pandemic, with 40% reporting depression - a rate 4 times higher than the general population. The study highlights the need for trauma-informed approaches and strong mental health supports for staff to sustain the profession.
A study of 11,633 children aged 9-11 found that increased screen time was associated with a higher risk of developing suicidal behaviors two years later. Each additional hour of screen time led to a 9% higher risk of reporting suicidal behavior.
A new study found that women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a cumulative risk of 49% developing any type of cancer after age 50. Risk-reducing surgeries like mastectomies and BSOs can lower this risk, but many women opt out despite elevated risk. Genetic testing is crucial for accurate risk assessment and personalized care.
A recent study from the University of Toronto found that greater screen time is associated with more symptoms of muscle dysmorphia among Canadian young people. The researchers analyzed data from over 2,500 adolescents and young adults and found that social media use, texting, TV watching, and video chatting were linked to muscle dysmor...
A new study found that high physical activity does not offset obesity risk among preteens with high screen time, highlighting the importance of limiting screen time. Parents are advised to encourage physical activities, such as sports and outdoor play, to help combat childhood obesity.
A recent study found that dry scooping, ingesting pre-workout powders without water, is common among adolescent boys and young adult men in Canada. The study analyzed data from over 2,700 participants and showed a significant association between social media use and gym culture participation and dry scooping behavior.
The prevalence of disabilities among American adults aged 65 and older declined substantially between 2008 and 2017. In 2008, 12.1% reported limitations in daily living, while in 2017, this percentage dropped to 9.6%, saving an additional 1.27 million Americans from ADL limitations. Furthermore, the percentage of functional limitations...
Researchers developed a novel technology to engineer proteins targeting specific DNA sequences, offering a new approach to gene therapies. The system generates engineered zinc fingers that bind to any given sequence of DNA, potentially treating diseases caused by genetic mutations.
Researchers successfully applied AlphaFold AI to an end-to-end platform, discovering a novel target and developing a potent hit molecule for liver cancer. The study demonstrates the potential of AI-powered drug discovery to accelerate treatment development.
A recent study published in Respiratory Medicine found that older adults with asthma are at high risk of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately half of those with a pre-pandemic history of depression experienced a recurrence, while one in seven without a history of depression developed depression for the first time.
A recent study found that adolescent boys and young adult men in Canada experience high levels of muscle dysmorphia symptoms, with one in four at clinical risk. The study highlights disparities among sexual identities and racial/ethnic groups, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and knowledge among healthcare professionals.
Researchers developed HippoCamera, a new smartphone app that significantly improves memory recall by boosting attention to daily events. Users record videos and audio descriptions of everyday experiences, which are then replayed to reinforce memory consolidation.
The team isolated pairs of atoms within a 3D optical lattice to measure the strength of their mutual interaction. They confirmed a longstanding prediction that the p-wave force between particles reached its maximum theoretical limit.
A new study from the University of Toronto found that refugees and immigrants aged 15-64 generally report good physical health, but those who experienced discrimination, had poor mental health, or were unmarried did not fare as well. The study highlights the importance of anti-discrimination strategies in healthcare settings.
A study followed over 7,000 Canadians for three years to find that being female, physically active, and not obese were key to maintaining excellent health. Factors such as high income and social support also played a crucial role in optimal aging.
A new study found that eating disorder attitudes and behaviors are more severe among transgender and gender non-conforming youth in Canada compared to their heterosexual counterparts. The research also highlights the need for prevention, assessment, and treatment methods that consider diverse presentations of disordered eating behaviors.
A new study by University of Toronto researchers found that a strong majority of those diagnosed with COPD were in excellent mental health. 87% of older Canadians with COPD had no mental illness, highlighting the importance of social support and interventions to promote well-being.
Experimental physicists discovered that water impurities become entrapped within icicles, creating chevron patterns and ripple effects. The study reveals that internal patterns are connected to external shapes, leading to a deeper understanding of natural ice formations.
A large-scale study of 20,000 older adults found that nearly half who had experienced depression before reported being depressed again, highlighting the pandemic's devastating impact on mental health. Factors associated with depression included low income, chronic pain, and family conflict.
A large-scale study found anabolic-androgenic steroid use is relatively common among Canadian adolescents and young adults, associated with dependence and serious side effects. Nearly 1 in 4 steroid users experienced moderate or severe dependence and adverse health issues.