On Disabilities

A man who breaks a wrist after age 50 is more likely to die prematurely than a woman with the same injury.

Have You Broken A Wrist? Men Are At Risk Of Osteoporosis, Too

5:45pm November 06, 2014

by Nancy Shute

A broken wrist may not seem like much, but it can be the first sign that you're headed for a broken hip or spinal fracture. Men often don't realize they are at risk of osteoporosis as they age.

Scientists are getting a clearer idea of how genetic mutations cause autism.

Scientists Implicate More Than 100 Genes In Causing Autism

6:51pm October 30, 2014

by Nancy Shute

Spontaneous gene mutations, not ones inherited from parents, increase a child's risk of autism, scientists say. By comparing genes within families they've identified more than 100 suspects.

A legally blind woman in Vermont who has led a fight to make Medicare pay for care even when patients' medical conditions don't improve is in court to get Medicare payment for her own home care.

Health & Safety

Disabled Vermont Woman Who Led Class-Action Suit Sues Medicare Again

12:58pm October 27, 2014

by Susan Jaffe

A legally blind woman who has led a fight to make Medicare pay for care even when patients' medical conditions don't improve is in court to get Medicare payment for her own home care.

Patients with certain kinds of brain damage can wind up with locked-in syndrome: they may be able to think just fine, but are unable to communicate their thoughts to others. A recently published case study shows that a non-invasive brain-computer interfac

From Brain To Computer: Helping 'Locked-In' Patient Get His Thoughts Out

10:08am October 27, 2014

by NPR Staff

"When I first saw him he had a little bit of eye movement and that was really the only way he could communicate," says Eric Sellers, who helped a patient use a brain-computer interface to communicate.

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Is Enterovirus D68 Behind The Mysterious Paralysis In Children?

4:28pm October 03, 2014

by Nancy Shute

Several dozen children in California and Colorado have suffered paralyzed limbs, which doctors speculate could be caused by the respiratory virus EV-68. But we're a long way from knowing for sure.

Justin McCowan poses for a portrait outside of his house in Santa Monica, Calif., on Aug. 14.

Death Cuts Short The Life Of An Alzheimer's Research Volunteer

4:45pm September 29, 2014

by Jon Hamilton

Justin McCowan wanted to help find a cure for Alzheimer's because it's more common in people like him who have Down syndrome. He died in his sleep last week at age 40.

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Tom Murphy, 56, in his home in Gainesville, Va., was diagnosed with ALS four years ago. An experimental drug seems to have slowed the progression of his disease, he says, though most ALS patients aren't as lucky.

Patients Vulnerable When Cash-Strapped Scientists Cut Corners

9:09am September 16, 2014

by Richard Harris

A shrinking pool of grant money for medical research has led competing applicants to oversell weak scientific findings, critics say. The result: Many experimental treatments are worthless.

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Do Autistic Kids Fare Better In Integrated Or Specialized Schools?

4:03pm June 03, 2014

by Deena Prichep

Some advocates say autism-only schools can be life-changing for autistic kids who struggle in traditional classrooms. Others say segregating kids with autism carries its own problems.

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Robotic Exoskeleton Helps Get Vets Back On Their Feet

7:26pm April 21, 2014

by Erin Toner

Several bio-tech companies are developing exoskeletons that give people superhuman abilities. But these robotic suits are also doing something simpler: They're helping paralyzed veterans walk again.

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Janet Wertheimer does a back hyperextension exercise at Boston Sports Club in Wellesley, Mass. Regular exercise has helped control her chronic back pain.

Pain In The Back? Exercise May Help You Learn Not To Feel It

4:56pm January 15, 2014

There's evidence that many standard treatments for back pain — including surgery, spinal injections and painkillers — are often ineffective and can even worsen and prolong the problem.

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