Research on adult health and behavior. Covers suicide risk, regulated psilocybin, alcohol and cannabis use, and family and life choices.
Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in adulthood, including hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance. Early intervention and prevention strategies are crucial to minimize this risk.
Research shows that young children are sensitive to others' moral behaviors and intentions, helping less when they see harm or intention behind an action. This suggests children's moral development is more complex than previously thought.
A new study reveals that adopting a healthy lifestyle in young adulthood can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease in middle age. The five key behaviors include not smoking, low or no alcohol intake, weight control, physical activity, and a healthy diet. In contrast, genetics play a smaller role in determining cardiovascular h...
Research found that mothers who smoked heavily during pregnancy had kids who were more likely to become repeat criminal offenders as adults. The study, which tracked over 4,000 adults from 1959-1966, showed a 30% increased chance of arrest among children whose mothers smoked heavily.
Researchers found that people taking anti-clotting medication often unaware of dangers of taking herbal supplements, posing a risk to patient safety. Overweight black teenagers are at high risk for cardiovascular disease due to non-traditional risk factors such as insulin resistance and family history of heart attack.
A study of 68,505 premenopausal US nurses found a positive association between child/teen abuse and higher incidence of uterine fibroids. The researchers discovered that physical and sexual abuse increased the risk of fibroid tumors by 36% among those with severe cumulative abuse in childhood.
As children develop, brain regions that make up the default-mode network start functioning together, leading to increased introspection and perspective-taking. This development coincides with emerging introspective mental activity during adolescence.
Researchers found that taller people use less energy per stride when walking, making short people less economical walkers due to taking more steps. A new equation can now be used to calculate the energetic cost of walking based on these factors.
Research by University of Sheffield finds that deaf adults can react more quickly to objects at the edge of their visual field than hearing people. Children born deaf initially have slower reaction times, but improve as they age and develop better-than-normal peripheral vision by adulthood.
Research found that obese adolescents are more likely to develop severe obesity in adulthood, with higher risks for women and black women. The study tracked 8,834 individuals from adolescence to adulthood, finding a significant association between adolescent obesity and severe obesity in adulthood.
A new study suggests that spending quality time with children, such as reading and teaching organizational skills, can foster better psychological health in adulthood. The study's findings support the importance of strong interpersonal connections and social skills developed during childhood.
Health Canada's decision to cancel plans for new cigarette warning labels may result in increased smoking rates and a surge in smoking-related illnesses and deaths. Warning labels are an effective communication strategy that deter smokers and non-smokers alike, with international guidelines recommending large pictorial warnings.
Research on 1,000 adults aged 18-85 found that physically fit individuals experience fewer and milder colds. Exercise was shown to boost immune system cells, reducing infection frequency by 43% and symptom severity by 41%.
A study reanalyzed Japanese atomic bomb survivor data and found that middle-aged radiation exposure may lead to a higher cancer risk for some tumor types. The model used by the researchers suggests that adult bodies already contain larger numbers of premalignant cells, making promotion effects more likely.
A University of California, Riverside biologist found that adult Trinidadian guppies can mitigate the negative effects of a poor early start through flexible growth and reproductive strategies. This study suggests that adults can compensate for their early conditions through adaptive changes.
A new study finds that three-year-olds have a specific, highly robust bias to trust testimony, prioritizing verbal information over visual cues. This trust in verbal testimony can lead to continued acceptance of misinformation even after repeated corrections.
A recent study found that only 58% of young people with mental health problems successfully transitioned to adult care services, highlighting a significant gap in provision. The research team identified key factors contributing to the poor transition experience, including inadequate information transfer and inconsistent documentation.
A study published in Journal of Women's Health reveals a rapid increase in diabetes hospitalizations for young adults, particularly young women, which echoes the dramatic rise in obesity rates across the US. The number of hospitalizations among younger adults more than doubled from 1993 to 2006.
A new report by the Commonwealth Fund predicts that up to 12.1 million young adults will gain subsidized insurance under the Affordable Care Act, while 7.2 million will gain Medicaid coverage and 4.9 million private coverage through new exchanges. The law aims to reduce the uninsured rate among young adults from nearly 15 million in 2009.
A unique gastroenterology procedure, Double-Balloon Enteroscopy (DBE), has been successfully used to treat small intestinal diseases in children. DBE allowed doctors to diagnose and manage diseases such as Crohn's disease and Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome with improved symptoms.
The University of Illinois Chicago has received a $12.4 million grant to study the predictors of smoking patterns from adolescence through young adulthood. Researchers will track approximately 1,200 youth to explore social and emotional contexts that influence smoking behavior.
Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that children under 12 do not combine different sensory information like adults, and this ability develops around age 12. Adults can integrate multiple sources of visual information, such as perspective and binocular depth, to make a unified estimate.
Kendall Hunter will use non-invasive ultrasound measurements and invasive heart catheterization to diagnose and predict progression of PAH. The grant aims to improve diagnosis and treatment of this fatal disease in children and adults.
A study found a linear association between short sleep durations and psychological distress in young adults, with increased risks for those sleeping less than six hours per night. The risk of persistent distress was also higher, especially among those with extremely short sleep durations.
A study by Karen Fingerman found that 68% of parents have at least one grown child with a problem, while only 49% say one is highly successful. Parents who had multiple high-achieving children reported better well-being, but having even one problematic child negatively impacted their mental health.
A new study by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth found that youth exposure to alcohol advertising in magazines declined by 48 percent between 2001 and 2008. The largest brands still advertising in youth-oriented publications were those selling spirits.
A study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science reveals that childhood personality traits are a strong predictor of adult behavior. Researchers found consistent patterns across four decades, with verbally fluent children displaying interest in intellectual matters and adaptable children behaving cheerfully.
A 20-year study found that young adults with even modestly elevated cholesterol levels are more likely to develop coronary artery calcium and atherosclerosis. Cholesterol levels found in the majority of young adults in their 20s and 30s are associated with damage to coronary arteries, which can accumulate over time.
Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that maternal affection at 8 months predicts emotional distress in adulthood. The study tracked 482 participants from childhood to adult life, revealing a strong correlation between mother's warmth and child's emotional well-being.
A study by USC researchers found significant national differences in the degree of conflict between older parents and their adult children. In contrast to European countries, US parents were more likely to experience disharmonious relationships with their adult children.
A study found significant variations in spoon capacity, leading to children receiving more or less than needed. Experts recommend using calibrated medicine syringes to ensure accurate dosing.
Research tracked over 5,000 military conscripts from age 20 to 80 and found that obese men had twice the death risk as non-obese men, with a constant effect lasting up to 60 years. Obesity at age 20 was also linked to increased mortality by 10% for each BMI point above a healthy threshold.
Researchers exposed fetal monkeys to x-rays and found a profound deficit in working memory ability when tested as adults. This mild insult early in gestation produced significant cognitive dysfunction that emerged with maturation, supporting the critical window of vulnerability during brain development.
A new study links child abuse to increased rates of mental disorders in young adulthood, including anxiety, mood, and substance abuse conditions. The study used national records and a community survey to analyze the long-term effects of childhood maltreatment on adult mental health.
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified the key enzyme Brg1, which plays a vital role in both fetal heart development and causing cardiac hypertrophy in adults. The discovery could lead to the development of new treatments for heart disease.
The US ranked last in five areas of health system performance: quality, efficiency, access, equity, and healthy lives. Affordable Care Act provisions may improve access and equity, but the country still lags behind others on measures of quality and value.
A study of 17,337 adult members found a graded relationship between the number of adverse childhood experiences and the likelihood of experiencing frequent headaches. The researchers suggest that ACEs may contribute to the development and frequency of severe headaches later in life.
The study found that participation in the National School Lunch Program significantly increases educational opportunity and attainment, while having an insignificant effect on adult health levels. The program encouraged children to attend school more than they would have without it, based on data from the U.S. Census.
Research found that frequent moves in childhood are related to lower life satisfaction and fewer quality social relationships as adults. Introverts and neurotic people were more negatively affected by frequent relocations.
A new study found that impulsivity and alcohol consumption decrease significantly in 18-to-25-year-olds. The study analyzed data from 489 college students and identified five trajectory groups with distinct patterns of change. Individuals who decreased in impulsivity also showed the steepest decreases in alcohol use and related problems.
A study in mice suggests that prenatal exposure to BPA or DES may program a fetus for life, increasing the risk of breast cancer in adulthood. Higher EZH2 levels are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in humans, highlighting the potential need for monitoring women exposed to these chemicals.
A study found that children with severe asthma have a significantly higher risk of developing COPD as adults. Children with mild asthma were not at increased risk. The study suggests early treatment and surveillance for children with severe asthma may prevent long-term complications.
Researchers have developed a new tool to identify the remains of children using craniofacial shape analysis. This breakthrough can help resolve missing-persons cases and advance our understanding of past civilizations' population dynamics. The study found that children's facial shapes attain adult-like characteristics as early as age 14.
Adults with sickle cell anemia exhibit lower average nonverbal function scores, as well as difficulties in processing speed, working memory, and executive function. Anemia is associated with neurocognitive impairment in older patients, highlighting the need for early identification and intervention.
A study found significant geographic variation in childhood obesity rates across the US, with Southern states having higher rates than Western states. Obesity rates varied by state, with Mississippi and Arizona having the highest rates and Oregon and Utah having the lowest.
A new study reveals that copycat behavior in children is a universal human activity, where they mimic everything an adult shows them, even if it's irrelevant. This finding sheds light on how humans develop and transmit culture.
The study reveals a significant increase in inequality in adult mortality, with men in Swaziland facing a nine-fold higher probability of premature death than Cyprus. The United States has fallen behind other countries in reducing deaths, ranking 49th for women and 45th for men by 2010.
The study reveals that Australia and South Korea have some of the highest annual rates of decline in adult mortality. Iceland and Cyprus rank as the lowest risk countries for men and women, respectively. However, the HIV epidemic and social dysfunction in former Soviet states have contributed to high mortality rates in many countries.
A new study by Oregon State University researchers reveals that young Americans are delaying adulthood due to economic challenges. Many are living at home longer and rely on their parents for financial support, a trend different from previous generations. The study highlights the need to strengthen institutions supporting young adults ...
A genetic study has pinpointed the role of LIN28B in regulating height growth from birth to adulthood in a complex and sex-specific manner. The research found that two variants of the gene influence growth, with one having a more prominent effect on males.
Researchers propose new methods to accurately estimate child and adult mortality rates, improving data collection and analysis. These methods, such as using summary birth history and sibling survival data, aim to address limitations of traditional demographic methods and provide a more reliable understanding of population health trends.
A large population-based study of diabetes in China estimates that 92.4 million adults age 20 or older have diabetes, while 148.2 million adults have prediabetes, a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The researchers recommend national strategies for preventing, detecting and treating diabetes.
A recent study found that children with severe behavior disturbances had approximately double the risk of chronic widespread pain by age 45 compared to those without behavioral problems. The researchers believe a dysfunction in the interaction between the nervous system and hormones may have long-term consequences for adult health.
A study published by University of Chicago researchers found that men can expect another 15 years of sexual activity at age 55, while women expect less than 11 years. The study also introduced a new health measure, 'sexually active life expectancy,' which was lower for both men and women.
A study of 141 parents whose children died of cancer found that 13% considered hastening their child's death, especially in cases of pain. The study suggests that education and discussion about intensive symptom management may mitigate consideration of hastened death among parents.
Researchers manipulate a schizophrenia susceptibility gene in fetal mice to unravel the link between prenatal brain development and adult cognition. The study finds that transient reduction of the Disrupted-in-Schozophrenia-1 gene leads to aberrant changes in adult animals, including perturbation of specific dopaminergic brain pathways.
A recent study found that early life stress can predict an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Researchers used a proven model of chronic behavioral stress on rat pups and found that animals with early life stress had increased blood pressure and inflammation in their blood vessel walls upon reaching adulthood.
A new report found that over 30% of seniors in 36 states are not immunized against pneumonia, highlighting a need for increased awareness and access to vaccines. The report also highlights low vaccination rates for the seasonal flu, tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough vaccines.
Adolescent exposure to cocaine or ecstasy leads to long-lasting changes that increase addictive power, persists into adulthood. The study highlights the critical stage of development in which drug consumption affects brain plasticity.
A Canadian study links parenting style to children's relationships with hobbies, finding autonomy fosters passion while control predicts obsessive behavior. The research team evaluated over 500 participants between six and 38 years old.