Japan’s population crisis was years in the making – and relief may be decades away

CNN  —  Each spring, as reliably as the changing of the seasons, Japan releases grim new population data that prompts handwringing in the press and vows by politicians to address the country’s demographic crisis. It’s “now or never” to tackle declining births and the shrinking population, the country’s leader warned last year – nearly eight … Read more

RSV vaccines may be linked to small increased risk of developing GBS

The new vaccines that protect older adults against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, may be linked to a small increased risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration suggest. At a meeting Thursday of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccine safety … Read more

Autism Genes Link to Sound Sensitivity

Summary: Researchers are embarking on a pioneering study to uncover how genes associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) converge to affect brain neurons, particularly leading to heightened sound sensitivity. This research aims to identify common neural circuit mechanisms that may underlie the diverse genetic pathways contributing to ASD, focusing on auditory hypersensitivity, a condition that … Read more

Impaired Spatial Navigation May Signal Early Alzheimer’s

Summary: Researchers have pioneered a study using virtual reality (VR) to identify early signs of Alzheimer’s disease through impaired spatial navigation in asymptomatic adults at risk. By testing 100 middle-aged adults with genetic, familial, or lifestyle risk factors for Alzheimer’s, the study discovered that spatial navigation difficulties in VR environments precede traditional cognitive decline symptoms. … Read more

8 Rules You Can Stop Following

With the firehose of nutrition advice at our fingertips, it can be hard to tell the difference between fact and fiction, especially when it comes to nutrition. Intermittent fasting, keto, low-carb, no-sugar, gluten-free, and vegan diets are having a moment right now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re right for runners—or for you. As a … Read more