Research

Photo by Pixabay @Pexels Stroke statistics are scary. Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death, and 2022 has taught us that there is a need for stroke research for better preventive measures, rehabilitation, and stroke treatment options.1,2 Defining stroke Strokes can be characterized by the inability of blood to flow to the brain. […]

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh @Pexels The risks of tick bite disease and the effects on the immune system are becoming more frequent.1 The incidence of the disease is rising partially due to environmental health issues causing changes in wildlife populations.1 Fortunately, a recent clinical trial may have a solution with clothing to protect the […]

Photo by Caique Nascimento @Pexels Hair loss affects millions of men and women worldwide.1 One of the most common forms of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia. Androgenic alopecia results in receding hairlines and balding. Many individuals seek treatments to help their hair regrow. Still, there is a need for the availability of favourable treatment options. […]

Spinal injuries are scary. These injuries reduce a person’s mobility, affecting their quality of life. Unlike other injuries, the nerve tissue that makes up the spinal cord takes a long time to regenerate and sometimes may not regenerate. Additionally, injuries to the spine can cause partial or complete paralysis. Paralysis happens when the communication network between […]

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay. In recent years, it is becoming more evident that there is gender inequality is research and science. society has undervalued the contribution of women to science. This undervaluing of women in science has occurred throughout history and continues in some forms today.  As a scientific author, it is one’s […]

Currently, a topic of intense research is long COVID. One recurring symptom that has been identified in some long COVID patients is peripheral neuropathy – damage to nerves that causes numbness and weakness in affected areas of the body (not including the brain or spinal cord).1  A study from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and […]

Probiotics may be a useful tool to help with symptoms of depression, according to a new study.1 A research group from the University of Basel, Switzerland presented an association between certain gut bacteria and decreased depressive symptoms. The article can be found in Nature Translational Psychiatry.   Major depressive disorder treatments need improvement Depression can be […]

Scientists are continuing to work towards understanding the long-lasting consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using artificial intelligence, a team of researchers found that multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a post-COVID condition, induces the same immune response as Kawasaki Disease (KD) and SARS-CoV-2 infection.1  However, MIS-C is characterized by a more severe immune response than KD. Researchers hope […]

A new study investigates whether long-term air pollution exposure is associated with increased COVID-19 severity. It’s no secret that air pollution is an issue.  Although rates of greenhouse gas emissions are declining with the implementation of new technologies and environmental regulations, air pollution levels are still significant, particularly in urban cities.1  Notably, a growing body […]

Many adults regularly experience problems sleeping. The American Sleep Association estimates that 50 to 70 million U.S. adults currently suffer from sleep disorders.1 When deep sleep is affected, this may decrease the body’s ability to function normally. What is deep sleep? During deep sleep, slow waves are detectable within the brain.2 The time spent in […]

As of May 2022, COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, with reduced mask mandates in public spaces and increased vaccination rates. So far, approximately 81% of the Canadian population and 66% of the U.S. population are fully vaccinated.1 According to recent studies, these vaccines have significantly reduced risk of hospitalization and death from SARS-CoV-2 infection.2,3  However, […]

Being optimistic means that you are hopeful about good things to come in the future. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the ability of many to think positively about the future, there is growing evidence that optimism may be linked to better health.  A new study, published in the Journals of Gerontology, investigated the association […]

COVID-19 has taken the world by surprise since 2020, affecting millions globally. Due to the uniqueness of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19, scientists are following individuals who have been infected to better understand both the short- and long-term effects – particularly the cognitive effects of ‘Long COVID‘.  An ongoing study from the […]