Health News

The Blood Trade
New guidelines recommend plasma exchange for patients with severe relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS) and for those with nerve disorders such as neuropathy.
Flipping Off Inflammation
A "master switch" protein in white blood cells has been found to influence whether the cells promote or hinder inflammation, according to a new study.
Deadly Genetic Two-fer
The genetic mechanism that destroys brain cells responsible for Alzheimer's disease is also the cause of early development of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down Syndrome.
A Gentler Approach to Dementia
A study by the Institute of Aging Research suggests that treating the symptoms and stress associated with advanced dementia may be more efficient than aggressive treatment for the illness.
Flipping the Switch on MS
In multiple sclerosis (MS), white blood cells known as leukocytes enter the central nervous system (CNS) with help from a family of molecules (MMPs) and then damage the protective coating called myelin around nerves.
FDA Approves Pain Reliever Abstral for Cancer Patients
The FDA has approved the use of Abstral for additional pain relief in cancer patients. The drug is an immediate release medication designed to help individuals already on regular opioid pain treatment.
Bad for the Bones
Past studies have established links between anti-epileptic drugs and bone density loss . Now, new research indicates that specific anti-epileptic drugs correspond to an increased risk of bone fractures in people 50 years of age and older.
Nevermind Mindfulness
Mindful meditation -- a combination of gentle yoga maneuvers and meditation -- doesn't appear to help those with the chronic pain condition known as fibromyalgia.
Common Osteoporosis Drugs Linked to Increased Cancer Risk
Oral bisphosphonates, a treatment for bone disease, may double the risk of developing esophageal cancer (cancer of the gullet), according to a new study from the University of Oxford.
Hunting Down Huntington's Disease
Findings from a new study indicate a host of new clinical, functional, and neuroimaging tests are able to track the progression of Huntington's disease (HD) before outward symptoms begin to appear.