Crisis Services Haven't Adapted To New 988 Suicide Hotline

Most community crisis services did not expand following the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, potentially blunting the effectiveness of the hotline, a new study says.

Walk-in psychiatric services, mobile crisis response units and suicide prevention programs all declined following the launch of the 988 line in July 2022, rese...

Weight-Loss Surgery Protects Liver Health

Weight-loss surgery can protect the liver health of patients with obesity and fatty liver disease, a new study reports.

Patients had a 72% lower risk of developing serious complications of liver disease after undergoing weight-loss surgery, researchers reported in Jan. 27 in the journal Nature Medicine.

They also had an 80% ...

Heavy Weed Use Affects Young Adults' Short-Term Memory

Heavy weed use appears to dull the brains of young adults, particularly affecting their short-term working memory, a new study suggests.

MRI scans showed less brain activation in heavy tokers performing tasks that tested their ability to temporarily hold a limited amount of information at the ready for immediate mental use, according to re...

Opioid Painkillers Less Available To People Of Color

People of color now have less access to prescription opioid painkillers than white patients, an unintended consequence of efforts to stem America’s opioid epidemic.

Communities of color have a 40% to 45% lower distribution of commonly prescribed opioids, compared to majority white communities, researchers reported in a study publishe...

Cholesterol Changes in Seniors Linked to Brain Health

Seniors whose cholesterol levels spike and plummet year-to-year could be at increased risk of dementia and failing brain health, a new study suggests.

Those whose cholesterol fluctuated the most had a 60% increased risk of dementia, researchers report in findings published Jan. 29 in the journal Neurology.

They also had a 23...

Bird Flu Found in North Carolina Turkey Flock as Outbreak Worsens

A commercial turkey flock in North Carolina has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday.

The affected flock is in Sampson County and is the second case in the state this year, according to WRAL-TV in Raleigh. The first was detected ...