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Researchers designed an app to help identify toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD can cause problems with communication and social behaviors. Symptoms usually appear before a child turns two. But ASD can be tricky to diagnose. The new app tracks eye movements while toddlers watch specially designed videos on a tablet or smartphone. Past studies found that toddlers with ASD tend to…

It’s peak tick weather! Ticks get more active when it’s warm outside. Some carry diseases that can be passed on to you through their bite. The most common disease ticks carry is called Lyme disease. It’s a bacterial infection that can cause serious health problems. Each year, an estimated 300,000 people in the U.S. get Lyme disease. The number of cases has risen dramatically over the last 10…

Microscopic bugs called microbes can be found in your eyes, mouth, gut, skin, and everywhere else. But don’t be alarmed. Most of your microbes are useful. They help you digest food. They prevent dangerous infections in your organs. And so much more. They’re vital for your health. This collection of microbes in your body includes bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Together, it’s called the human…, Restoring Balance, One of the big jobs for our helpful microbes is to take up space. They live in places in the body that might otherwise be filled by harmful microbes that can cause disease, says Dr. Yasmine Belkaid, an [qtip:immune system|The body’s defense against germs and microscopic threats.] expert at NIH. “This is one way your microbiome prevents infection,” she says. Your immune system normally attacks…, Clostridioides difficile., C. difficile, can cause fatal diarrhea, especially in older adults. It’s often resistant to treatment. Researchers have developed a type of treatment for, C. difficile, infection called fecal microbial transplant. A patient is given microbes from the large intestine of a healthy person. This is done by transferring stool (poop) via tubes or pills. Researchers don’t yet know exactly which of the microbes are needed for a healthy gut microbiome. So for now, they transfer the entire microbiome. “Fecal transplants are a full-spectrum treatment. We’re just trying to…, C. difficile, . In a nationwide study, they found that about nine out of 10 people who received fecal transplants were cured of, C. difficile, . “It works marvelously well for treating this infection,” Wu says. The team continues to track people who have had fecal transplants. They want to learn more about its long-term safety. Researchers are also testing this treatment for other conditions. These include IBD and other conditions that cause gut [qtip:inflammation|Heat, swelling, and redness caused by the body’s protective response to…, Microbes and Obesity, Microbes in the gut do much more than just take up space, says Chang. “Gut microbes help regulate our metabolism—the digestion, absorption, and use of nutrients,” he explains. His research team and others study proteins that gut bacteria release into the bloodstream. “These tell us how much we eat, when to eat, and what to eat,” he says. This communication between our cells and our microbes seems…, Keep Your Microbes Healthy, Researchers have started testing whether altering microbes can impact other areas of health. Belkaid and her team found that changing the gut microbiome may improve how well a certain cancer treatment works. They’re also doing studies in mice to see if changing a female’s microbiome during pregnancy can boost her offspring’s immune system. For now, what can you do daily to keep your helpful…

Clues about your health could be right at your fingertips. Take a look at your nails. They could give insight about possible health concerns. Many nail changes are normal and nothing to worry about. But sometimes changes in the way your nails look and grow can be a sign of disease. Nails are actually specialized skin cells. They’re made of keratin, a protein also found in your hair and skin. “…

Vaccines against COVID-19 were developed early in the pandemic. But the virus has been changing. Now there are different versions, called variants, all over the world. Researchers found that the single-shot COVID-19 vaccine still protects against new variants. In the study, 20 volunteers received the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Researchers took blood samples about two months later. The…

Your sense of smell enriches your experience of the world around you. Different scents can change your mood, transport you back to a distant memory, and may even help you bond with loved ones. Your ability to smell also plays a key role in your health. If your ability to smell declines, it can affect your diet and nutrition, physical well-being, and everyday safety. Whether coffee brewing, pine…

Hair loss is often associated with men and aging, but it can happen to women and children, too. Many people have thinning hair or bald areas on their head.  You can lose hair slowly or quickly. Whether or not your hair will eventually grow back depends on the cause. A family history of baldness, medical conditions or their treatments, and many other things cause hair loss.  The most common type…

It seems like a new health risk is in the news every day. How do you know which risks are worth worrying about? NIH has created a one-page guide called, Making Sense of Your Health Risks, to help you put risks into perspective. A health risk is something that increases your chance of developing a disease. For example, getting too much sun on your skin may put you at higher risk for skin cancer. That doesn’t mean that you will definitely get skin cancer. You can take steps to lower your risk by protecting your skin from sun exposure. When you hear about a health risk, ask yourself…

Parents have an important job. Raising kids is both rewarding and challenging. You’re likely to get a lot of advice along the way, from doctors, family, friends, and even strangers. But every parent and child is unique. Being sensitive and responsive to your kids can help you build positive, healthy relationships together. “Being a sensitive parent and responding to your kids cuts across all…, Building Bonds, Strong emotional bonds help children learn how to manage their own feelings and behaviors and develop self-confidence. They help create a safe base from which they can explore, learn, and relate to others. Experts call this type of strong connection between children and their caregivers “secure attachment.” Securely attached children are more likely to be able to cope with challenges like poverty…, Being Available, Modern life is full of things that can influence your ability to be sensitive and responsive to your child. These include competing priorities, extra work, lack of sleep, and things like mobile devices. Some experts are concerned about the effects that distracted parenting may have on emotional bonding and children’s language development, social interaction, and safety. If parents are…, Meeting Needs, As children grow up, it’s important to remember that giving them what they need doesn’t mean giving them everything they want. “These two things are very different,” Crnic explains. “Really hone in on exactly what’s going on with your kid in the moment. This is an incredibly important parenting skill and it’s linked to so many great outcomes for kids.” Think about where a child is in life and…

People deal with difficult feelings in all sorts of ways. They may talk with friends, go work out, or listen to music. But some people may feel an urge to hurt themselves when distressed. Harming or thinking about harming yourself doesn’t mean you have a mental disorder. But it is an unhealthy way to cope with strong feelings. Finding new ways to cope can help you get through difficult times.…