Max-dose statins save lives—here’s why doctors are starting strong

Max-dose statins save lives—here’s why doctors are starting strong

There is broad consensus that the overall body of evidence shows lowering LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol provides both statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefits in treating and preventing cardiovascular disease. Often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol, elevated levels of LDL can clog arteries and significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. In…

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Why cold feels good: Scientists uncover the chill pathway

Why cold feels good: Scientists uncover the chill pathway

Researchers at the University of Michigan have illuminated a complete sensory pathway showing how the skin communicates the temperature of its surroundings to the brain. This discovery, believed to be the first of its kind, reveals that cool temperatures get their own pathway, indicating that evolution has created different circuits for hot and cold temperatures….

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Reversing Alzheimer's damage: Two cancer drugs demonstrate surprising power

Reversing Alzheimer’s damage: Two cancer drugs demonstrate surprising power

Scientists at UC San Francisco and Gladstone Institutes have identified cancer drugs that promise to reverse the changes that occur in the brain during Alzheimer’s, potentially slowing or even reversing its symptoms. The study first analyzed how Alzheimer’s disease altered gene expression in single cells in the human brain. Then, researchers looked for existing drugs…

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Drones reveal 41,000-turtle nesting mega-site hidden in the Amazon

Drones reveal 41,000-turtle nesting mega-site hidden in the Amazon

A University of Florida research team has developed a more accurate way to count wildlife using drones — an innovation that helped confirm the world’s largest known nesting site for a threatened turtle species. By combining aerial imagery with statistical modeling, the researchers documented more than 41,000 Giant South American River Turtles gathered along the…

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Pain relief without pills? VR nature scenes trigger the brain’s healing switch

Pain relief without pills? VR nature scenes trigger the brain’s healing switch

Immersing in virtual reality (VR) nature scenes helped relieve symptoms that are often seen in people living with long-term pain, with those who felt more present experiencing the strongest effects. A new study led by the University of Exeter, published in the journal Paintested the impact of immersive 360-degree nature films delivered using VR compared…

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This sugar molecule could stop type 1 diabetes, by fooling the immune system

This sugar molecule could stop type 1 diabetes, by fooling the immune system

Scientific breakthroughs in one disease don’t always shed light on treating other diseases. But that’s been the surprising journey of one Mayo Clinic research team. After identifying a sugar molecule that cancer cells use on their surfaces to hide from the immune system, the researchers have found the same molecule may eventually help in the…

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