Bridging the gap between research and real life
Over the years, EBL readers have appreciated our occasional reports on scientific evidence on popular sports. Indeed, during Cornell’s epic run for the NCAA tournament, we reviewed very interesting research on the “hot hand” in basketball, one of our most viewed posts. We’ve also written about other factors that determine a team’s success and the science of the Olympics. Well, we like to keep our readers up to date, and there’s new information on the “hot hand” findings. And … [Read more...]
A disproportionate number of older adults suffer from depression, according to data collected by the National Institute of Mental Health. It is estimated that millions of senior citizens suffer from dementia. And older adults commit suicide at higher rates compared to other age groups. Now a new systematic review investigates whether depression among older adults leads to dementia. The review, published in the British Journal of Psychology, used 23 population-based prospective studies of people … [Read more...]
More than 15,000 lawsuits are filed against doctors in the United States each year for medical malpractice, a claim that medical treatment caused injury or death to the patient, typically involving a medical error. Medical errors clearly have negative consequences for patients. At the same time, the cost of processing these law suits and the insurance that health providers purchase to protect against such suits drive up the cost of health care in our country. Collecting new evidence on this topic … [Read more...]
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, causing about 500,000 deaths per year and driving up costs in the U.S. health care system. And more than 80 percent of adult smokers began smoking before they turned 18 years old - a fact that provides an opportunity to educate adolescents and teens about the dangers of tobacco. In fact, schools across the United States and the globe use curricula aimed at discouraging students … [Read more...]
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S. In any given year, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 40,000 die from it. Researchers have been developing new ways to treat and even prevent this deadly disease. One method involves taking breast cancer medicines - specifically tamoxifen and raloxifene. Now a new systematic review looks at the evidence on whether these drugs can help prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease. The … [Read more...]
We have some exciting news in my family: We are expecting our third child in mid-October. The upcoming addition to our family has me reviewing the evidence on how to have a healthy pregnancy. So I was intrigued when I saw an article in the New York Times this week about alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The article cites a longitudinal study conducted in England that found light drinking during pregnancy - up to one glass of wine per week - is not linked to developmental problems in children … [Read more...]
Ensuring children grow up to be healthy, productive and fulfilled adults are major goals of every society. Children across the world today face complex risks and challenges including the wide availability of unhealthy foods, the prevalence of bullying and increases in drug and alcohol abuse. The United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, is a non-profit organization that works in 190 countries to improve children's lives. They have released a new, comprehensive report on the well-being of children … [Read more...]
Salt makes our food taste, well, delicious. It's found in nearly everything we eat - from soups, to baked goods to meats and cheeses. Most adults consume between 6 and 12 grams of salt per day, even though health organizations recommend intake less than 5 grams per day. Now a new, sweeping review published in the British Medical Journal finds that a high salt intake significantly increases a person's risk of suffering heart disease or a stroke. The review included 13 prospective, long-term … [Read more...]
One in three senior citizens suffer from Alzheimer's disease or dementia when they die, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Often patients with dementia have behavioral problems such as agitation, aggression, anxiety and depression. Many times, doctors prescribe antipsychotic medications to control these problems. But their effectiveness is limited and there is concern about side effects, including higher mortality rates with long-term use. Now there's a new systematic review by the Cochrane … [Read more...]
About 2 percent of children in the U.S. are being raised by their grandparents with no parent living in the home, according to the U.S. Census bureau. But what do we know about these families? And do grandparents face any particular parenting challenges that differ from more traditional households? Researchers at the College of Human Ecology and the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research are experts in these complex relationships. They've published a research brief that summarizes the … [Read more...]
