Why women may age slower than men: Estrogen protects cells from wear-and-tear, study finds
(Natalie Rahhal/ Daily Mail) — Women tend to live longer than men, and the key may be in the protective effects estrogen has on chromosomes, new research suggests.
One of our best gauges of longevity is the length of telomeres, the set of genetic information at the tips of chromosomes.
Women’s telomeres tend to be longer than men’s …
Study shows HPV vaccination does not cause riskier sexual behaviour among teens
(CBC News) — There is no evidence that getting an HPV vaccination encourages teenage girls to engage in riskier sexual behaviour, according to a new study.
The study, published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, used data from the B.C. Adolescent Health Survey, which collects health information every …
Cannabis ‘more harmful than alcohol’ for teen brains: study
(BBC News) — Teenagers using cannabis are causing long-lasting damage to their developing brains, a Canadian study suggests.
It found the impact on thinking skills, memory and behaviour was worse than that of teenage drinking.
The researchers, from the University of Montreal, urged teenagers to delay their use of cannabis …
Burnout, depression and even suicidal thoughts reported in survey of Canadian doctors
(Canadian Press) — A majority of the country’s doctors report having good mental health overall, but a significant proportion report experiencing burnout, depression and even thoughts of suicide, a survey by the Canadian Medical Association suggests.
Results of the national online survey completed by 2,547 physicians …
Doctors can soon prescribe visits to Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
(Brendan Kelly/ Montreal Gazette) — The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts announced Thursday that physicians who are members of Médecins francophones du Canada will be able to send patients on visits to the MMFA, allowing patients, accompanied by caregivers or family members, to enjoy the health benefits of a free trip to see some …
French watchdog calls for ban on tanning beds
(BBC News) — France’s health watchdog says the risk of cancer from sunlamps and sunbeds is proven and authorities should act to stop people being exposed to artificial ultraviolet rays.
Brazil and Australia have already banned sunbeds commercially, and France is one of a number of countries that have already limited their use. …
Soccer headers cause more brain damage in female players
(Daniel Ackerman/ Scientific American) — Repeatedly heading a soccer ball exacts a toll on an athlete’s brain. But this cost—measured by the volume of brain cells damaged—is five times greater for women than for men, new research suggests.
The study provides a biological explanation for why women report more severe symptoms …
PET scans show fibromyalgia patients have inflammation in the brain
(Serena Gordon/ HealthDay News) — People with fibromyalgia have widespread inflammation in their brains, new research reveals.
“Finding an objective neurochemical change in the brains of people who are used to being told that their problems are imaginary is pretty important,” explained senior study author …
MUHC given multi-million dollar grant to cure rare kidney disease
(CTV Montreal) — The MUHC has been given a $2 million grant to help fight a rare kidney disease.
Cystinosis causes cysteine, an amino acid, to accumulate in different organs.
Crystals build up and can eventually lead to organ failure.
The disease is usually diagnosed in children under the age of two, and could lead to end stage kidney failure …