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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, […]
A new study investigates the rates of sleep impairments and adverse mental health in COVID-19 patients. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted individuals and populations around the globe in a variety of ways. The implications on public mental health have been particularly significant, as recent studies have highlighted increased rates of anxiety disorders and depression since the […]
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 […]
Nostalgia is that warm, sentimental feeling you get from reflecting on the past… but it may offer more than a happy feeling. Through brain imaging technology, a new study suggests that nostalgia may also act as an analgesic – an agent that can reduce the perception of pain.1 Nostalgia decreased perception of low intensity pain […]
Amidst the growing obesity epidemic, learning how to manage body weight has become increasingly important. In a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, colleagues from the University of Chicago and University of Wisconsin-Madison showed that getting more sleep may help decrease caloric intake; researchers are hopeful this finding will help in creating weight loss programs.1 […]
A new study investigated whether wearable activity trackers could detect biomarkers associated with depression, and whether this could be an effective screening method for depression. Depression is a very common mental health condition, affecting roughly five percent of adults globally.1 Depressive disorders are complicated, and they ultimately impact people in different ways. However, they can bring significant […]
Taking supplements of vitamin D and omega-3 have been the subject of research studies looking at potential treatments for autoimmune diseases – such as arthritis. However, a recent study investigated the effects of vitamin D and omega-3 supplements on the risk of developing autoimmune diseases – to see if these supplements may be able to […]
Study shows link between weight loss from bariatric surgery and COVID-19 severity. Entering 2022, worldwide COVID cases have topped the 290 million mark, with more than five million deaths (1). While new variants develop with lower mortality rates, the risk of severe COVID infection is still greater for some groups. Common risk factors include people […]
Ketogenic diets are diets that are high in fat and protein and very low in carbohydrates. This diet is meant to predominantly burn fats as an energy source. Research has shown that when the human body is experiencing energy restriction—a common occurrence with diets—human bodies tend to lower the amount of energy being used up […]
With the emergence of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, there is some concern that vaccine induced immunity will not be as effective. There is some debate over whether or not COVID-19 vaccine boosters will make any difference. A study conducted in Israel set out to test whether booster shots with the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine […]
There has been concern surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine and rare cases of myocarditis in young adults and adolescents. A recent study, published in the journal Circulation, suggests that these rare cases generally have mild symptoms and a short recovery time. The study, co-authored by paediatric cardiologist Dr. Dongngan T. Truong of the University of Utah, reported […]
A new study investigates the effectiveness of a saliva test for detecting COVID-19 in children, which may be helpful in the school setting. Considering the reopening of schools, understanding and preventing COVID-19 transmission is particularly important. At this point in time, the majority of young children are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19.1,2 Additionally, children that contract […]
Sotrovimab – a treatment for COVID-19 – is an antibody therapy that has been created to attach to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is administered as an IV infusion, in one dose. In pre-clinical animal studies, researchers confirmed that this antibody is able to bind to and ‘neutralize’ SARS-CoV-2. This means that […]