Mental Health

A federally funded study is testing aerobic exercise as a way to prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Health & Safety

Is Aerobic Exercise The Right Prescription For Staving Off Alzheimer's?

4:38pm July 18, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Researchers are testing exercise in people at high risk for Alzheimer's. The goal of a federally funded study is to learn whether aerobic physical activity can protect the brain.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter begins closing statements during the opioid trial at the Cleveland County Courthouse in Norman, Okla., on Monday, July 15. It's the first public trial to emerge from roughly 2,000 U.S. lawsuits aimed at holding drugma

Health & Safety

Pain Meds As Public Nuisance? Oklahoma Tests A Legal Strategy For Opioid Addiction

5:55pm July 16, 2019

by Jackie Fortier

The first civil trial against an opioid manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, has ended in Oklahoma. The verdict could affect lawsuits filed by other local and state governments coping with addiction.

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Arts

Netflix Cuts Controversial Suicide Scene From '13 Reasons Why'

8:37am July 16, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

The show is centered on the suicide of a teenage girl, and the first season's finale shows her taking her own life. Several organizations raised concerns that it could romanticize suicide.

Parental drug use is increasingly cited as the reason to remove kids from their homes and place them in foster care. Some argue more should be done to keep families together.

More Kids Are Getting Placed In Foster Care Because Of Parents' Drug Use

12:36pm July 15, 2019

by Susie Neilson

With drug use surging in the past decade and a half, many parents are losing custody of their kids. But is foster care the best solution?

Researchers are hoping to learn how to effectively convey information about people's risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, a dementia still without a cure.

Health & Safety

A Genetic Test That Reveals Alzheimer's Risk Can Be Cathartic Or Distressing

11:09pm July 12, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Genetic tests can now tell us a lot about our risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. But that doesn't mean people are prepared to receive the information.

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After a difficult time in her life, Jill Hill knew she needed therapy. But it was hard to get the help she needed in the rural town she lives in, Grass Valley, Calif., until she found a local telehealth program.

Health & Safety

With Rural Health Care Stretched Thin, More Patients Turn To Telehealth

8:09am July 07, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

Advances in online tech are revolutionizing health care, with patients now emailing doctors, filling prescriptions or even getting therapy via a video session. But what if you can't afford broadband?

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The squiggly blue lines visible in the neurons are an Alzheimer's biomarker called tau. The brownish clumps are amyloid plaques.

New Markers For Alzheimer's Disease Could Aid Diagnosis And Speed Up Drug Development

5:18am July 04, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Researchers are using brain scans, blood and spinal fluid to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease. These "biomarkers" may also offer a quicker way to test new Alzheimer's drugs.

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According to the facial feedback theory, the simple act of putting a smile on your face can boost your mood. But research shows it doesn't work for everyone and can make some people feel worse.

The Science Of Smiles, Real And Fake

5:03am July 01, 2019

by Maanvi Singh

According to the facial feedback hypothesis, the simple act of putting a smile on your face can boost your mood. But recent research shows pasting on a grin can have mixed results.

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Nearly 9 in 10 Americans say people are more likely to express anger on social media than in person.

Health & Safety

Poll: Americans Say We're Angrier Than A Generation Ago

10:26am June 26, 2019

by Scott Hensley

The latest NPR-IBM Watson Health poll found that 29% of people said they were often angry when checking the news. Another 42% said the news sometimes made them angry.

Two San Francisco ordinances would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes in brick-and-mortar stores and ban online sales to shipping addresses in the city.

San Francisco Bans Sales Of E-Cigarettes

7:48pm June 25, 2019

by Laura Klivans

San Francisco supervisors say they need to protect kids and teens from becoming addicted to nicotine. The dominant vaping company, Juul, is headquartered in the city and hopes to overturn the ban.