Your Health

Scientists used a new gene-editing technique to prevent a form of deafness in mice.

Scientists Use Gene Editing To Prevent A Form Of Deafness In Mice

6:06am December 21, 2017

by Rob Stein

Success with a new gene-editing technique in mice prone to deafness highlights the potential for using it to prevent a form of inherited hearing loss in humans. But it has many hurdles to overcome.

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Samantha Pierce of Cleveland has a 7-year-old daughter, Camryn. In 2009, Pierce gave premature birth to twins. The babies did not survive. Scientists say black women lead more stressful lives, which makes them more likely to give birth prematurely and put

How Racism May Cause Black Mothers To Suffer The Death Of Their Infants

10:05am December 20, 2017

African-American women are more likely to lose a baby in the first year of life than women of any other race. Scientists think that stress from racism makes their bodies and babies more vulnerable.

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Health workers killed chickens in a Hong Kong market in 2014 in an effort to stop the spread of H7N9 flu. It's being watched closely as a virus that might spark a pandemic outbreak.

NIH Lifts Ban On Research That Could Make Deadly Viruses Even Worse

11:12pm December 19, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

After an unusual three-year moratorium, the federal government says it will once again allow research on deadly viruses that could spark pandemics. The work has sparked concerns about bioterrorism.

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What Happens To Obamacare If Individual Mandate Disappears?

5:39pm December 19, 2017

Republicans' tax overhaul gets rid of the tax penalty for people who fail to maintain insurance coverage. If it becomes law, what happens to the deficit and the number of uninsured?

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Health & Safety

First Gene Therapy For Inherited Disease Gets FDA Approval

2:18pm December 19, 2017

by Rob Stein

The Food and Drug Administration approved Luxturna, a genetically modified virus that restores by ferrying a healthy gene into the eyes of patients born with a genetic disease that impairs sight.

Some Republicans see HSAs as a great way of helping consumers deal with mounting medical costs. It's still possible a change to the rules governing who can have an HSA and what they are allowed to cover could be added to another bill, some analysts say.

GOP Tax Bill Leaves Health Savings Accounts Untouched

10:47am December 19, 2017

by Michelle Andrews

Republicans tried last summer to expand the use of these tax-advantaged accounts that are linked to high-deductible health plans. But their expansion proposal didn't make it into the tax bill.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to take action against risky homeopathic remedies under a policy unveiled Monday.

Food And Drug Administration Plans Crackdown On Risky Homeopathic Remedies

11:26pm December 18, 2017

by Rob Stein

FDA says homeopathy has grown into a $3 billion industry with treatments being sold for conditions ranging from the common cold to cancer. The agency will prioritize action against unsafe products.

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Researchers have identified a pattern of brain activity that precedes impulsive behavior like binge eating.

Could A Zap To The Brain Derail Destructive Impulses?

3:45pm December 18, 2017

by Esther Landhuis

A brain implant already used to treat severe epilepsy might also help fend off impulses to abuse drugs or overeat before they happen, researchers say. But so far it's been tested mostly in mice.

Safety apps are designed to help people escape from uncomfortable or dangerous dating situations.

Feel In Danger On A Date? These Apps Could Help You Stay Safe

12:38pm December 18, 2017

by Allison Aubrey

Safety apps are designed to help women ease out of a dating situation that seems uncomfortable or dangerous. But experts say it's also important to help friends in real life.

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As people age they may forget more because their brain waves get out of sync, new research finds.

Older Adults' Forgetfulness Tied To Faulty Brain Rhythms In Sleep

8:11am December 18, 2017

by Jon Hamilton

As people get older, brain waves that occur during deep sleep become less synchronized. This appears to disrupt a system that saves new memories.

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