Could Neck-Strengthening Prevent Some Concussions?

SUNDAY, Jan. 20, 2019 -- Boosting athletes' neck strength in the off season might reduce their concussion risk in sports such as football and soccer, researchers say.

This is among several recommendations from researchers at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., who are looking to prevent these serious head injuries in athletes.

Shoes Make the Difference When Starting to Exercise

SATURDAY, Jan. 19, 2019 -- If you've vowed to be more active this year, be sure you have proper athletic shoes, a doctor suggests.

"The right shoe is important for a runner as much as a good tennis racket is important for a tennis player," said Dr. Ronald Lepow. He is an assistant professor in the department of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston.

Disrupted Sleep Plagues Hospital Patients, But New Program Might Help

FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 -- Anyone who has cared for a hospitalized loved one knows that frequent nighttime sleep interruptions -- caused by noise or nursing checks -- are a big concern.

But in a new study, a Chicago hospital adopted sleep-friendly measures for patients that led to fewer nighttime awakenings without compromising care.

Frailty a Risk Factor for Dementia

FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 -- Frailty is associated with a higher risk of both Alzheimer's disease and its crippling symptoms, a new study shows.

"By reducing an individual's physiological reserve, frailty could trigger the clinical expression of dementia when it might remain asymptomatic in someone who is not frail," said study leader Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.

Many Oncologists in the Dark About LGBTQ Health Needs

FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 -- Most cancer specialists are comfortable treating LGBTQ patients, but many aren't confident in their knowledge about these patients' specific health needs, a new survey finds.

"Cancer care within the LGBTQ community is a largely ignored public health issue," said Gwendolyn Quinn, a professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Population Health at NYU Langone Health in New York City.

Study Examines Link Between Type 1 Diabetes, Broken Bones

FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 -- Poor blood sugar control puts people with type 1 diabetes at increased risk for fragility fractures, a new study shows.

A fragility fracture is a broken bone caused by a fall from standing height or less.

Ditch Your Leisure To-Do List

FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 -- If the fun is often missing from your social activities or play feels like work, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have an explanation: You're probably overplanning.

With so many demands on your time, precise scheduling might be the only way to accomplish everything you want. But while that can help at work and with family responsibilities, applying it to leisure time takes away spontaneity and, in turn, much of the enjoyment.

Protecting Seniors From Scammers

FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 -- It seems as though every day brings warnings about phone and internet scammers, with older Americans being particularly vulnerable.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 7.3 percent of adults between the ages of 65 and 74, and 6.5 percent of those aged 75 and older, are victims of financial fraud to the tune of billions of dollars. If you're looking after aging parents, these tips will help you watch out for their financial health.

Big Pharma's Marketing to Docs Helped Trigger Opioid Crisis: Study

FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 -- Aggressive direct marketing to doctors by pharmaceutical companies is tied to spurring the ongoing epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States, a new study claims.

A county-by-county analysis showed that opioid use increased in places where drug makers focused their marketing efforts, explained lead researcher Dr. Scott Hadland. He's a pediatrician and addiction researcher at Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction.

Movie Violence Doesn't Make Kids Violent, Study Finds

FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2019 -- Parents often worry that violent movies can trigger violence in their kids, but a new study suggests PG-13-rated movies won't turn your kids into criminals.

Researchers found that as PG-13 movies became more violent between 1985 and 2015, overall rates of murder and violence actually fell.