Using a epidemiologic approach, researchers have discovered a key indicator for increased risk of mental retardation in the general population. Researchers found that low maternal education resulted in the highest risk of intellectual disability to offspring compared with other factors

Authorities often fail to recognize or treat the physic damage suffered by siblings in families where only one child is abused. In chilling anecdotes extrapolated from cases, the study chronicles how parents can force siblings to become either emotionally numb

The combination of negative mother-daughter relationships and low blood levels of serotonin, an important brain chemical for mood stability, may be lethal for adolescent girls, leaving them vulnerable to engage in self-harming behaviors such as cutting themselves.

One out of 10 elderly adults on Medicare reports drinking more alcohol than is recommended, according to a new study. Nine percent engaged in unhealthy drinking -- consuming more than thirty drinks per month, or drinking four or more drinks

Most of us experience 'gut feelings' we can't explain, such as instantly loving -- or hating -- a new property when we're househunting or the snap judgments we make on meeting new people. Now researchers say these feelings -- or

Researchers involved in a large, multi-institutional study using positron emission tomography imaging with the radiotracer fluorodeoxyglucose were able to classify different types of dementia with very high rates of success, raising hopes that dementia diagnoses may one day be made

It's happened to all of us: While sitting at the conference table or at dinner party, a friend or colleague unleashes a questionable remark that could offend at least one person amongst the group. A hush falls and, if you're

Parents worldwide are doing little to protect their children from exposure to secondhand smoke, according to a new study. The household study, conducted in 31 countries, found that 82 percent of parents who smoked reported smoking around their children. Measurements

Children who have been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are more likely to have serious psychiatric and behavioral problems later in life. Studies have shown that early intervention is a key element in minimizing the negative effects of FAS. Early

In a study of 104 children under treatment for type 2 diabetes at the Vanderbilt Eskind Pediatric Diabetes Clinic, the children and their parents were surveyed about their perceptions of the child's weight, dietary and exercise practices, as well as

Researchers have found a clue about how resistance to the hormone leptin might disrupt the brain signals that tell the body when to stop eating. The research, which focused on the rare genetic disorder Bardet-Biedl syndrome, also found an association

In a new survey, physicians report they are not getting the sleep they need to function at their best and current work schedules may contribute to their inadequate sleep. Physicians reported more caffeine use but better overall health than the

The relationship between heavy drinking and hypertension is more significant than previously thought according to a new analysis of recent studies. Individuals who drink on a regular basis have a systolic blood pressure around 7 mmHg higher than that of

Using a combination of positron emission tomography and computed tomography for radiation therapy treatment planning in head and neck carcinoma patients provides for excellent, local and regional disease control when compared to CT alone, according to a new study.

Video games like Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution can play an important role in getting kids off the couch and involved in physical activity. But are they a replacement for traditional exercise? Definitely not, a university wellness coordinator.

Cochlear implant recipients experience a significant improvement in their quality of life, and have improved speech recognition, according to new research published in the March 2008 issue of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.

Happiness in life is as much down to having the right genetic mix as it is to personal circumstances according to a recent study. Happiness is partly determined by personality traits and that both personality and happiness are largely hereditary.

Many children with autism have elevated blood levels of serotonin -- a chemical with strong links to mood and anxiety. But what relevance this "hyperserotonemia" has for autism has remained a mystery. Investigators provides a physical basis for this phenomenon,

Impaired brain function is a prominent and still unsolved problem in AIDS. Shortly after an individual becomes infected with HIV, the virus can invade the brain and persist in this organ for life. Many HIV-infected individuals experience disturbances in memory

Just picture the scene: you're at a cocktail party, talking to someone you would like to get to know better but the background noise is making it hard to concentrate. Luckily, humans are very gifted at listening to someone speaking