York University

Hormonal Influences on Asthma Risk: New Studies Reveal Gender-Specific Patterns

a month ago

• Women experiencing later menopause face an increased risk of developing asthma, contrary to previous research suggesting early menopause carries greater health risks. • Young women under 35 taking progesterone-only contraceptive pills have a 39% higher risk of asthma attacks, while combined estrogen/progesterone pills showed no similar effect. • These findings highlight significant sex-based differences in asthma prevalence, with women twice as likely to die from asthma as men, emphasizing the need for gender-specific treatment approaches.

Dance Therapy Shows Promising Results for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Patients

a month ago

• Recent studies demonstrate that dance therapy significantly reduces depression symptoms in Parkinson's patients, with brain scans confirming positive changes in mood-related neural circuits. • For Alzheimer's patients, structured dance classes effectively reduced agitation and improved mood, with participants able to recall dance movements even after the sessions concluded. • Researchers suggest dance offers dual benefits through music activating reward signals while movement engages sensory and motor circuits, potentially improving quality of life for neurodegenerative disease patients.

Ziresovir Shows Breakthrough Efficacy Against RSV in Infants Under 6 Months with Long-Term Benefits

a month ago

• Phase III trial results published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health demonstrate ziresovir is the first RSV-targeted antiviral to show significant clinical efficacy in hospitalized infants under 6 months of age. • Treatment with ziresovir led to a 54.5% greater reduction in bronchiolitis symptoms and significantly faster viral clearance compared to placebo, with improvements in respiratory rate, wheezing, and chest retractions. • Two-year follow-up data revealed long-term respiratory benefits, including 3.6 times lower incidence of recurrent wheezing and reduced asthma rates, suggesting early antiviral intervention may prevent chronic respiratory conditions.