Publisher Health

AdvertisementContinue reading the main storySupported byContinue reading the main storyPhys EdHow Exercise Enhances Aging BrainsSedentary, older adults who took aerobic dance classes twice a week showed improvements in brain areas critical for memory and thinking.Volunteers who participated in pre-pandemic dance classes in Newark, N.J., showed improvements in memory centers in the brain.Credit…Rutgers UniversityMarch 3, 2021, 5:00 a.m. ETExercise can change how crucial portions of our brain communicate as we age, improving aspects of thinking and remembering, according to a fascinating new study of aging brains and aerobic workouts. The study, which involved older African-Americans, finds that unconnected portions of the brain’s memory center start interacting in complex and healthier new ways after regular exercise, sharpening memory function.The findings expand our understanding of how moving molds thinking and also underscore the importance of staying active, whatever our age.The idea that physical activity improves brain health is well established by now. Experiments involving animals and people show exercise increases neurons in the hippocampus, which is essential for memory creation and storage, while also improving thinking skills. In older people, regular physical activity helps slow the usual loss of brain volume, which may help to prevent age-related memory loss and possibly lower the risk of dementia.There have been hints, too, that exercise can alter how far-flung parts of the brain talk among themselves. In a 2016 M.R.I. study, for instance, researchers found that disparate parts of the brain light up at the same time among collegiate runners but less so among sedentary students. This paired brain activity is believed to be a form of communication, allowing parts of the brain to work together and improve thinking skills, despite not sharing a physical connection. In the runners, the synchronized portions related to attention, decision making and working memory, suggesting that running and fitness might have contributed to keener minds.But those students were young and healthy, facing scant imminent threat of memory loss. Little was known yet about whether and how exercise might alter the communications systems of creakier, older brains and what effects, if any, the rewiring would have on thinking.So, for the new study, which was published in January in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Mark Gluck, a professor of neuroscience at Rutgers University in Newark, N.J., and his colleagues decided to see what happened inside the brains and minds of much older people if they began to work out.In particular, he wondered about their medial temporal lobes. This portion of the brain contains the hippocampus and is the core of our memory center. Unfortunately, its inner workings often begin to sputter with age, leading to declines in thinking and memory. But Dr. Gluck suspected that exercise might alter that trajectory.Helpfully, as the director of the Aging & Brain Health Alliance at Rutgers, he already was leading an ongoing exercise experiment. Working with local churches and community centers, he and his collaborators previously had recruited sedentary, older African-American men and women from the Newark area. The volunteers, most of them in their 60s, visited Dr. Gluck’s lab for checks of their health and fitness, along with cognitive testing. A few also agreed to have their brain activity scanned.Some then started working out, while others opted to be a sedentary control group. All shared similar fitness and memory function at the start. The exercise group attended hourlong aerobic dance classes twice a week at a church or community center for 20 weeks.Now, Dr. Gluck and his research associate Neha Sinha, along with other colleagues, invited 34 of those volunteers who had completed an earlier brain scan to return for another. Seventeen of them had been exercising in the meantime; the rest had not. The groups also repeated the cognitive tests.Then the scientists started comparing and quickly noticed subtle differences in how the exercisers’ brains operated. Their scans showed more-synchronized activity throughout their medial temporal lobes than among the sedentary group, and this activity was more dynamic. Portions of the exercisers’ lobes would light up together and then, within seconds, realign and light up with other sections of the lobe. Such promiscuous synchronizing indicates a kind of youthful flexibility in the brain, Dr. Gluck says, as if the circuits were smoothly trading dance partners at a ball. The exercisers’ brains would “flexibly rearrange their connections,” he says, in a way that the sedentary group’s brains could not.Just as important, those changes played out in people’s thinking and memories. The exercisers performed better than before on a test of their ability to learn and retain information and apply it logically in new situations. This kind of agile thinking involves the medial temporal lobe, Dr. Gluck says, and tends to decline with age. But the older exercisers scored higher than at the start, and those whose brains displayed the most new interconnections now outperformed the rest.This study involved older African-Americans, though, a group that is underrepresented in health research but may not be representative of all aging people. Still, even with that caveat, “it seems that neural flexibility” gained by exercising a few times a week “leads directly to memory flexibility,” Dr. Gluck says.AdvertisementContinue reading the main story

SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightReutersThe US will have enough coronavirus vaccines for every adult by the end of May, President Joe Biden has said.This will be two months earlier than previously expected, but Mr Biden said the vaccination drive must be extended, too, and people convinced to take it.And he warned people to “stay vigilant” because “this fight is far from over”, with new variants a major concern.His caution is at odds with some states, which are relaxing restrictions in order to boost their economies.Although there has been a sharp fall in cases since the start of the year, in some areas that drop has been levelling off, fuelling fears of another wave.Covid-19 variants pose ‘real threat’ to vaccine progress, CDC warnsBiden calls 500,000 death toll a heartbreaking milestoneThe US has recorded 28.7 million infections and 516,000 deaths related to Covid-19 since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University research.More than 76 million vaccination doses have been administered – covering 15.3% of the population and the US remains on track to meet Mr Biden’s pledge of delivering 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office.What was in Mr Biden’s latest announcement?The president said that drug manufacturer Merck – which this year discontinued work on its own vaccine – would now be helping Johnson & Johnson to produce its newly approved one-shot drug.”We’re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May,” he said, adding it was “the type of collaboration between companies we saw in World War Two”.But the president acknowledged that supply was only one issue, with the nation needing to extend its vaccination drive and convince people to take the shots.”We need vaccinators, people who put the shots in people’s arms, millions of Americans’ arms,” he said.”Great news, but stay vigilant,” Mr Biden said. “It’s not over yet.”Another key announcement was the pledge to give every teacher at least one shot by the end of March, and speed up the reopening of schools.But on a general reopening, he was more cautious, saying he was unsure when a return to normal would be possible, although he did then say before “this time next year”.What are the states doing on reopenings?Some are now relaxing rules, despite a warning from top federal health officials last week not to ease up.Mr Biden repeated that, saying: “We cannot let our guard down now or assure that victory is inevitable. We can’t assume that.”The governor of Texas on Tuesday issued an executive order, effective from 10 March, that rescinds most of the coronavirus measures he imposed earlier in the pandemic.image copyrightReutersGreg Abbott lifted the regulation ordering people to wear masks and said businesses would be allowed to resume full capacity next week, “It is now time to open Texas 100%,” the Republican said. “Too many small business owners have struggled to pay their bills. This must end.”He said that with increased vaccinations and improved treatment for Covid-19, the state was “in a far better position now”.The Democratic party in the state said the “crazy” move would throw away all of the gains.Mississippi has followed Texas in removing the order on mask wearing, but it will come into effect even earlier – from Wednesday.Other states, including Michigan and Louisiana, have also announced relaxation of some rules.Michigan, which has a Democratic governor, is to ease capacity limits on restaurants, and on public and residential gatherings.Individual states are in charge of public health policy in the US. At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, most introduced restrictions on businesses and travel.About 35 required face coverings to be worn in public places, although enforcement of these mask mandates has been patchy.Health officials have warned that the pandemic is far from over and cases could pick up if curbs are lifted too soon.On Monday the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of a “potential fourth surge of cases” if the country lapsed into complacency. Covid-19 data shows that, while infections and deaths have declined in recent weeks, they are still at high levels relative to other countries.The emergence of new variants could also require booster shots for those already vaccinated.How has Covid affected the US?The 28.7 million total confirmed US infections is nearly double that of second-highest India (11 million) and Brazil (10.5 million), according to Johns Hopkins University researchBut the US ranks ninth in terms of deaths per 100,000 population, behind countries such as the UK and ItalyAt least 90,000 more Americans are expected to have died with the virus by 1 June, an Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projection says. By late May, the virus will kill around 500 Americans per day – down from approximately 2,000 now

SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightReutersTexas will lift its mask requirement and allow businesses to reopen at full capacity next week, Governor Greg Abbott has announced.”It is now time to open Texas 100%,” the Republican said on Tuesday.Texas is the largest US state to end its mask mandate. Mr Abbott has faced criticism from his party over the measure, which was imposed last July.But the administration of US President Joe Biden has made it clear coronavirus restrictions are still necessary.The announcement in Texas came as similar rules were lifted in other states, including Michigan, Louisiana, and Mississippi, which also ended its mask mandate.The roll-out of vaccinations against Covid-19 has boosted confidence in a return to pre-pandemic life in the US.On Tuesday, President Biden said the US was on track to have enough vaccines for every adult in the country by the end of May.Yet the wave of reopenings has put states at odds with the Biden administration and its senior health officials, who have reacted with dismay to the relaxation of coronavirus measures at a precarious time in the pandemic.Covid-19 variants pose ‘real threat’ to vaccine progress, CDC warnsBiden calls 500,000 death toll a heartbreaking milestoneOn Monday the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of a “potential fourth surge of cases” if the country lapsed into complacency. Covid-19 data shows that, while infections and deaths have declined in recent weeks, they are still at high levels relative to other countries.In total, the US has recorded more than 28 million infections and 516,000 deaths related to Covid-19, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University.What did the Texas governor announce?Mr Abbott issued an executive order that rescinded most of the coronavirus measures he imposed earlier in the pandemic.The new executive order, which is to take effect on 10 March, lifts all mask requirements and forbids local authorities from penalising residents who do not wear a face covering. It removes all restrictions on businesses in counties without a high number of Covid-19 patients in hospital.image copyrightReuters”Too many Texans have been sidelined from employment opportunities,” Mr Abbott said in a speech at the Chamber of Commerce in the city of Lubbock. “Too many small business owners have struggled to pay their bills. This must end.”He said that with increased vaccinations and improved treatment for Covid-19, the state was “in a far better position now”.But, he added, “Covid has not suddenly disappeared”. Following weeks of decline, coronavirus infections and related deaths are creeping up again in Texas, data from the Covid Tracking Project showed.Texas has recorded more than 43,000 deaths related to Covid-19, the third-highest state toll in the US.Texas puts White House relations to the testAngelica Casas, reporting from San Antonio, TexasGovernor Abbott’s announcement was no surprise to Texans. After all, the state’s pandemic response has been political from the start.The state’s Republican leadership favoured former President Donald Trump’s relatively relaxed approach to imposing restrictions. But that created tension with local officials in the state’s major cities, which all lean Democrat.It was control of the disease vs control of the economy. Mask requirements vs maintaining personal liberties. And when the surges came, state politicians were more reactive than proactive.A year later, not much has changed. The state’s death toll and current case rate are still among the highest in the US. That’s why critics say Governor Abbott’s decision does not follow the science.So the decision will be a test to the state – but also to Mr Abbott’s relationship with President Biden, who has addressed the pandemic with more urgency than his predecessor.What about other US states?Individual states are in charge of public health policy in the US. At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, most introduced restrictions on businesses and travel.About 35 required face coverings to be worn in public places – either or outdoor – although enforcement of these mask mandates has been patchy.With cases and deaths falling sharply in recent weeks, several states have begun easing the restrictions.Shortly after Mr Abbott’s announcement, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said he would do the same in an even shorter time frame.”Starting tomorrow, we are lifting all of our county mask mandates and businesses will be able to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules,” Mr Reeves said.Health experts have warned that the pandemic was far from over and cases could pick up if curbs were lifted too soon.image copyrightReutersPresident Biden – in contrast with his predecessor Mr Trump – has made fighting the virus a priority for his administration.On Tuesday, Mr Biden said he was upbeat about reaching his goal of delivering 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office, but urged Americans to remain vigilant in wearing masks and observing social distancing.”Today’s announcements are a huge step in our effort to beat this pandemic,” Biden said in a televised statement from the White House. “But I have to be honest with you. This fight is far from over.”How has Covid affected the US?The 28.7 million total confirmed US infections is nearly double that of second-highest India (11 million) and Brazil (10.5 million), according to Johns Hopkins University researchBut the US ranks ninth in terms of deaths per 100,000 population, behind countries such as the UK and ItalyAt least 90,000 more Americans are expected to have died with the virus by 1 June, an Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projection says. By late May, the virus will kill around 500 Americans per day – down from approximately 2,000 nowHospital admission rates have fallen sharply since JanuaryThe growing number of new variants, which could spark further outbreaks, remains a concern

SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCountry star Dolly Parton has been given a Covid-19 vaccine dose, after urging others to follow her example by reimagining one of her hit songs.Parton, 75, sang an adapted version of Jolene before receiving the shot at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday.”Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging of you, please don’t hesitate,” Parton sang in a video.She was injected with a vaccine developed by Moderna.Parton was credited with helping fund the Moderna vaccine after donating $1m (£716,000) to Vanderbilt University Medical Centre.A portion of the singer’s money went towards funding an early stage-trial of the Moderna vaccine. In trials, the Moderna vaccine was found to offer nearly 95% protection against severe Covid-19.image copyrightReutersThe Grammy-winning musician said she had been “waiting a while” for her vaccination.”I’m old enough to get it and I’m smart enough to get it,” the singer told fans in a video posted from the university.Last month Parton told the Associated Press she wanted to wait until vaccines were more widely available because “I don’t want it to look like I’m jumping the line”.Now vaccine supply has increased – in the US at least – Parton said she “wanted to encourage everybody” to get theirs.Dolly Parton ‘honoured and proud’ to help Covid-19 battleModerna: Covid-19 vaccine shows nearly 95% protection”I just want to say to all of you cowards out there – don’t be such a chicken squat. Get out there and get your shot,” she said.The 9 to 5 singer is the latest star to promote coronavirus vaccinations.Other celebrities who have had a Covid-19 vaccine include:- Sir David AttenboroughThe naturalist and broadcaster, 94, received the Covid-19 jab in January, months after speaking of the “immense suffering” caused by the pandemic.- Jane FondaThe Academy Award-winning actress, 83, shared the news of her jab in an Instagram post in February, posting: “It doesn’t hurt”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jane Fonda (@janefonda)- Sir Ian McKellenThe veteran actor, 81, was vaccinated at Queen Mary’s University Hospital in London, saying afterwards that he felt “euphoric”.- Arnold SchwarzeneggerThe former politician and action hero, 73, had his jab in January in Los Angeles and nodded to one of his best-known movie lines when he said: “Come with me if you want to live.”Today was a good day. I have never been happier to wait in a line. If you’re eligible, join me and sign up to get your vaccine. Come with me if you want to live! pic.twitter.com/xJi86qQNcm— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) January 20, 2021
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter- Bette Midler The Broadway singer and actress, 75, announced she got the Pfizer vaccine on US talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live in February.- Sir Elton John and Sir Michael CaineThe pair urged the public to get vaccinated against coronavirus in an National Health Service (NHS) advert released in February.I am proud to join forces with @themichaelcaine to promote the fantastic @NHSEngland #COVIDVaccine program, demonstrating how quick and easy it is to get vaccinated and why it’s so important. Let’s all come together and do our bit in the fight against this wretched disease. pic.twitter.com/Ub7npvyF6U— Elton John (@eltonofficial) February 10, 2021
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

#masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }The Coronavirus OutbreakliveLatest UpdatesMaps and CasesRisk Near YouVaccine RolloutNew Variants TrackerAdvertisementContinue reading the main storySupported byContinue reading the main storyBiden Vows Enough Vaccine ‘for Every Adult American’ by End of MayThe pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. agreed to help manufacture Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine, in a deal partly brokered by the White House.President Biden said his administration had provided support to Johnson & Johnson that would enable the United States and its partners to make coronavirus vaccines around the clock. Credit…Doug Mills/The New York TimesSheryl Gay Stolberg, Sharon LaFraniere, Katie Thomas and March 2, 2021, 7:48 p.m. ETWASHINGTON — President Biden said on Tuesday that the United States was “on track” to have enough supply of coronavirus vaccines “for every adult in America by the end of May,” accelerating his effort to deliver the nation from the worst public health crisis in a century.In a brief speech at the White House, Mr. Biden said his administration had provided support to Johnson & Johnson that would enable the company and its partners to make vaccines around the clock. The administration had also brokered a deal in which the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. would help manufacture the new Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.Merck is the world’s second-largest vaccine manufacturer, though its own attempt at a coronavirus vaccine was unsuccessful. Officials described the partnership between the two competitors as historic and said it harks back to Mr. Biden’s vision of a wartime effort to fight the coronavirus, similar to the manufacturing campaigns when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president.“As a consequence of the stepped-up process that I’ve ordered and just outlined, this country will have enough vaccine supply — I’ll say it again — for every adult in America by the end of May,” Mr. Biden said. “By the end of May. That’s progress — important progress.”He also said he wanted all teachers vaccinated by the end of this month.The president’s time table, if it comes to pass, provides a bright light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, though he acknowledged that the nation remained in a tenuous situation. The announcement on Tuesday came days after the Food and Drug Administration gave Johnson & Johnson emergency authorization for its vaccine, which unlike the two others that are available requires just one dose.Public health officials fear a fourth surge of the coronavirus pandemic, fueled by worrisome new variants, as states like Texas and Mississippi rush to fully reopen. While daily caseloads have undergone a steep drop since January, the decline appears to be leveling off, and top federal health officials warned governors last week against relaxing coronavirus restrictions.“We cannot let our guard down now or assure that victory is inevitable,” Mr. Biden said. “We can’t assume that.”He had previously said that there would be enough coronavirus vaccines for every American by the end of July. While the president’s remarks on Tuesday set a new marker against which he will be measured, his administration and his predecessor’s had already laid the groundwork to cover the 260 million eligible adults by the end of May.Two other vaccine manufacturers, Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech, pledged last month to deliver together enough to cover 200 million Americans by that date. Johnson & Johnson’s $1 billion contract, negotiated last year when Donald J. Trump was president, calls for the company to deliver enough doses for another 87 million Americans by the end of May, which would have given the country enough vaccine for all adults 18 and older.But Johnson & Johnson and its partners fell behind in their manufacturing. The company was supposed to deliver its first 37 million doses by the end of March, but it has said it would be able to deliver only 20 million doses by that date, which made Biden aides nervous.In late January, Jeffrey D. Zients, Mr. Biden’s coronavirus response coordinator, and Dr. David Kessler, who is managing vaccine distribution for the White House, reached out to top officials at the company, including Alex Gorsky, its chief executive, with a blunt message: This is unacceptable.That led to a series of negotiations in February in which administration officials repeatedly pressured Johnson & Johnson to accept that they needed help, while urging Merck to be part of the solution, according to two administration officials who participated in the discussions.In a statement on Tuesday, Merck said the federal government would pay it up to $269 million to adapt and make available its existing facilities to produce coronavirus vaccines. Michael T. Nally, the executive vice president of human health at Merck, said in an interview that the company had been in talks with multiple companies and governments, including officials in the former Trump administration.“I think we all recognize that every day counts,” he said.Mr. Nally declined to provide an estimate for how many doses of vaccine the company could ultimately produce, saying only that it would be “substantial.” The expanded supply from Merck, though, is not likely to become available for months.One federal official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said other steps the administration took would move up Johnson & Johnson’s manufacturing timeline.Those steps, said Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, included providing a team of experts to monitor manufacturing and logistical support from the Defense Department. In addition, the president will invoke the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era law, to give Johnson & Johnson access to supplies necessary to make and package vaccines.Mr. Biden said he would also invoke the law to help Merck retrofit one of two manufacturing plants that would be used in the production process.The Coronavirus Outbreak

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most-populous county in the United States. It is a […]

#masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }The Coronavirus OutbreakliveLatest UpdatesMaps and CasesRisk Near YouVaccine RolloutNew Variants TrackerAdvertisementContinue reading the main storyUpshotSupported byContinue reading the main storyIn Their Own Words: Why Health Experts Say Elementary Schools Should OpenWith proper safety measures, doctors and scientists said in a survey, the benefits outweigh the risks.Margot Sanger-Katz and March 2, 2021Updated 4:10 p.m. ETStudents at the Child Center of N.Y. in Corona, Queens, last month.Credit…Naima Green for The New York TimesScientists and doctors who study infectious disease in children largely agreed, in a recent New York Times survey about school openings, that elementary school students should be able to attend in-person school now. With safety measures like masking and opening windows, the benefits outweigh the risks, the majority of the 175 respondents said.In some ways, they were more supportive of broad reopening than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was in recently published guidelines. But the experts pointed to the large share of schools in the United States and worldwide that have opened with minimal in-school spread while using such precautions.Below are a representative range of their comments on key topics, including the risks to children of being out of school; the risks to teachers of being in school; whether vaccines are necessary before opening schools; how to achieve distance in crowded classrooms; what kind of ventilation is needed; and whether their own children’s school districts got it right.In addition to their daily work on Covid-19, most of the experts had school-aged children themselves, half of whom were attending in-person school.They also discussed whether the new variants could change even the best-laid school opening plans. “There will be a lot of unknowns with novel variants,” said Pia MacDonald, an infectious disease epidemiologist at RTI International, a research group. “We need to plan to expect them and to develop strategies to manage school with these new threats.”What do you wish more people understood in the debate over school reopenings?Most of the respondents work in academic research, and about a quarter work as health care providers. We asked them what their expertise taught them that they felt others needed to understand. Over all, they said that data suggests that with precautions, particularly masks, the risk of in-school transmission is low for both children and adults.