W.H.O wants more bird flu monitoring — and other health news
Medical Watch Digest for April 19
Concerns about the potential for bird flu to spread among humans.
The World Health Organization is calling for more tracking and preparation.
H5N1 is a highly infectious strain of the virus that’s been spreading within several mammal species, including cows in the U.S. So far, there is no evidence it can spread from person to person.
In the hundreds of cases where humans have been infected through contact with animals over the past 20 years, the mortality rate is “extraordinarily high.”
That’s because humans have no natural immunity to the virus.
More Coverage: WGN’s Medical Watch
Early abuse can lead to addiction.
Maltreated children are three times more likely to develop substance use disorders as adults.
The Society for the Study of Addiction found abused children have an increased risk for hospital admissions for alcohol and substance use by age 40 compared to those who were not mistreated.
Researchers studied 6,000 children and referred back to data regarding agency reported physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect.
Those who reported sexual abuse had the greatest likelihood of addiction.
Calorie restriction can protect cells from aging
Penn State scientists say they uncovered critical clues to they way diet impacts aging.
Consuming fewer calories alters telomere length, those are the protective caps at the end of chromosomes.
Researchers analyzed data for people who restricted calories for two years.
The finding offers an explanation for previous studies showing restricting calories 20-60% promoted longer life.
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