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A television in the bedroom?

A study published in Pediatric Research found that having a TV in the bedroom at age 4 is associated with later physical, mental, and social problems. Children who spent more time watching TV in their room had higher body mass indexes, unhealthy eating habits, lower sociability, and increased emotional distress.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalPediatric Research·DateMar 7, 2019

Surrounded by low achievers -- High on positive emotions?

A recent study by Professor Thomas Götz found that students feel better in an environment with lower overall standards than in one with higher standards. The study, involving over 7,700 German school students, suggests a reciprocal effect where achievement influences emotions and emotions influence achievement.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateFeb 11, 2019

Adenoid and tonsil trouble for teens

Researchers found that adolescent adenoids and tonsils do not shrink significantly during teenage years, contradicting previous medical consensus. This challenges existing guidelines for respiratory complications like obstructive sleep apnea, potentially leading to changes in surgical procedures.

SourceTokyo Medical and Dental University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 8, 2019

School suspension, expulsion more likely to predict youth drug use than police arrest

A new study found that school suspension and expulsion are more effective predictors of youth drug use than police arrests, particularly among minority youth. The research suggests that removing students from school can facilitate drug use due to lack of supervision, whereas being arrested does not necessarily lead to drug use.

SourceCrime and Justice Research Alliance·JournalJustice Quarterly·DateFeb 5, 2019

Mom, I can't recognize your face from profile view!

Babies younger than 6 months fail to recognize their mothers' faces when watching mobile phones, but improve face recognition at around 5.5 months through increased brain activity in response to profile views. Longitudinal testing of 14 babies from 3-8 months old provided key insights into developmental changes in face recognition skills.

SourceChuo University·JournalNeuroImage·DateDec 6, 2018

Resilience may be neurobiological

A Northwestern University study found that youth living in high-crime neighborhoods experience worse cardiometabolic health due to neighborhood violence. However, those with higher brain connectivity in the frontoparietal central executive network display better resilience.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 28, 2018

Study demonstrates that long-term follow up in a trauma patient population is achievable

A recent study published in Academic Emergency Medicine demonstrated that long-term follow-up in a trauma patient population is feasible. The study used established contact strategies and various interview locations to track hard-to-reach populations. Researchers suggest exploring newer methods of contacting participants through techno...

SourceSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateNov 8, 2018

Losing your nest egg can kill you

A new Northwestern University study reveals that losing 75% of one's wealth in two years increases the risk of death by 50% over the next 20 years. The research also found that socially vulnerable individuals, including low-income people, are more likely to die after a financial shock.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJAMA·DateApr 3, 2018

Older adults who have slower walking speeds may have increased risk for dementia

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older adults with slower walking speeds may be at increased risk for developing dementia. The research examined data from nearly 4,000 participants and discovered a strong link between slower walking speed and higher risk of dementia.

SourceAmerican Geriatrics Society·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateMar 23, 2018

Leaving the house every day may help older adults live longer

A study of community-dwelling individuals aged 70-90 found that leaving the house daily lowered mortality risk, independent of social, functional, or medical factors. Daily outings facilitated exposure to beneficial experiences and allowed resilient individuals to remain engaged despite physical limitations.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateNov 22, 2017

PET imaging tracks Zika virus infection, disease progression in mouse model

Researchers used PET imaging to study brain inflammation following Zika virus infection in mice, finding a 2- to 6-fold increase in global brain neuroinflammation over time. The technology allows for longitudinal studies of the same animal during the course of the infection, providing enhanced information about disease progression.

SourceUS Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases·JournalMolecular Imaging and Biology·DateSep 19, 2017

Reed warblers have a sense for magnetic declination

Migratory Eurasian reed warblers rely on changes in magnetic declination to guide them along the east-west axis, solving a challenging navigational problem. The birds learn to recognize large-scale spatial patterns of declination gradients during their annual movements.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 17, 2017

Your sex life is only as old as you feel

A University of Waterloo study of 1170 adults aged mid-40s to mid-70s found that those closer to their chronological age reported lower quality sex lives. Feeling younger at heart was associated with increased interest in sex, particularly for middle-aged and older individuals.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalThe Journal of Sex Research·DateMay 30, 2017