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Alzheimer’s disease makes thinking, memory, and the ability to carry out daily tasks more difficult. Early treatment can help people stay mentally sharp for longer. So scientists are looking for ways to identify the disease early on. A new study showed that a blood test may help identify early brain changes related to Alzheimer’s in midlife. Alzheimer’s is characterized by the buildup of two…

We each have a unique “healthiest self.” We have different minds, bodies, living situations, and people helping to shape our health and well-being. These toolkits offer science-based health tips in five different areas. Find ways to improve your relationships, emotional and physical well-being, disease defenses, and surroundings.  

Doctors know that children who experience trauma have a higher risk of physical and mental health issues. Traumas can include abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. Some children face a different challenge: unpredictable home environments. They may not have a consistent bedtime routine. Their parents may have mood swings or the relationship between their parents may be unhealthy. Unpredictable…

A recent study showed that applying a protective coating on kids’ teeth can help stop tooth decay from growing and causing problems. More than 40% of U.S. children have tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by sugar-fueled bacteria that make acid that damages the tooth surface. The bacteria live in a sticky, colorless film called plaque. Over time, decay can lead to holes in the teeth, called…

Puberty is a normal, natural part of growing up. It’s also a time of huge change, when children’s bodies mature. With [qtip:hormones| Substances produced in one part of the body to signal another part to react a certain way.] surging, early adolescents may have mood, energy, and sleep changes. They may feel self-conscious about how they look. Everyone matures physically at their own pace. While…, How Puberty Starts, Puberty kicks off in the brain. A small part of the brain called the hypothalamus releases a hormone that tells the pituitary gland (a tiny organ connected to the hypothalamus) to release other hormones. These hormones signal the ovaries to release estrogen in females and the testicles to release testosterone in males. Together, this reproductive network is called the hypothalamic-pituitary-…, Puberty Timing, In some children, puberty starts earlier than others. This is called early (or precocious) puberty. The signs of early puberty are that girls’ breasts may start to develop before age 8, and their periods may begin before age 10. Boys’ genitals may start to grow before age 9. Early puberty can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Girls are more likely to develop depression and…, What Influences Puberty, The timing of puberty is influenced by many things, including your genetic make-up and your environment. NIH-funded researchers have been identifying specific gene changes, called mutations, that can trigger early puberty., MKRN3, mutations are considered the most common known genetic cause of early puberty. The mutations tend to run in families. The, MKRN3, gene provides instructions for making the MKRN3 protein. This protein plays a role in directing the onset of puberty. Normally, the MKRN3 protein puts the brake on activating puberty until the normal age range. But when the gene is mutated, the protein stops working normally. That causes the brake to be released and puberty to start earlier. “We’re trying to understand how the MKRN3 protein works…, MKRN3, mutations, we can start treatment earlier.” Environmental factors can also affect the timing of puberty. “Stress can speed up or delay puberty depending on the type, severity, and timing,” says Dr. Natalie Shaw, an NIH expert on hormones in children and adolescents. Being overweight or obese in childhood can contribute to early puberty. Extra body fat can cause hormonal changes that can prompt…

Find clinical research studies taking place at NIH’s Clinical Center. The Clinical Center hosts a wide range of studies from rare diseases to chronic health conditions. Volunteers for conditions being studied and healthy volunteers are needed. Search by diagnosis, sign, or symptom.  

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. A recent study found that some people diagnosed with melanoma were more likely to have mutations (or changes) in certain genes. The changes they found were also linked to a higher risk for other types of cancer. An NIH-funded research team looked at data from two large studies. One took place in the U.S. and the other in the United Kingdom. Both…

Depression causes long-lasting feelings of sadness and loss of interest. A new study suggests that simple, game-like tests may help doctors identify patients with depression more quickly. NIH-funded researchers tested two video games as screening tools for depression. The study enrolled healthy people and ones with moderate to severe depression. Participants were asked to play two video games.…

You can’t see most air pollution. You can’t smell much of it, either. But polluted air—both outdoors and indoors—can still affect your health. “Nearly everyone on the planet is exposed to unhealthy air at least some of the time,” says Dr. Stavros Garantziotis, a lung doctor and researcher at NIH. Breathing polluted air doesn’t just affect the lungs. Because the lungs connect directly to the…

Have you ever heard that something, like a gene or toxin, can cause disease? Or that a drug can prevent illness? How about a behavior, like too much sitting, that’s “linked” to health problems? Such news reports are often based on some type of clinical research, which is the study of health and illness in people. There are many types of clinical studies. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses…, Why Do Researchers Do Different Kinds of Clinical Studies?,, that outlines different types of clinical studies and explains why scientists might use them. The guide notes that a study’s strength depends on its size, methods, and design. The ideal way to prove that a treatment works is through a well-designed “randomized controlled trial.” In such trials, people are randomly assigned to either a “treatment” or a “control” group for comparison. Other…