Compared with unexposed children, those who were prenatally exposed to cannabis had a thicker prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain involved in complex cognition, decision-making, and working memory.Author of the study Dr. Hanan El Marroun, of Erasmus University Medical Center in The Netherlands, said:…

New research presented at this year’s European Obesity Summit shows that a high body mass index (BMI) in childhood, and also gains in BMI, are associated with an increased risk of early stroke in adults for both men and women. Adult body mass index (BMI)…

A study of almost 150,000 men from 8 European countries, presented at this year’s European Obesity Summit shows that higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference are associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. This analysis of the European Prospective Investigation into…

A study of more than 250,000 people in Denmark has shown that children who have a higher body mass index at 13 years have an increased risk of colon cancer in adulthood. The study was presented at this year’s European Obesity Summit.Adult obesity is a…

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has discussed its concept paper for evaluating trial results on treatments for acute coronary syndromes with doctors and drug companies. The conclusions are published today in European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care.1Ahead of updating its internal guidance, the EMA requested…

Drugs used to treat diabetes could also be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, and vice versa, according to new research from the University of Aberdeen.This is also the first study of its kind to show that Alzheimer’s disease can lead to diabetes, as opposed to…

Being married could improve your likelihood of surviving a heart attack and is associated with reduced length of hospital stay – according to research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) Conference in Manchester.The team – a collaboration between researchers at institutions including Aston Medical…

Being more physically fit in your mid- to late-40s was associated with lower stroke risks after age 65, independent of traditional stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and atrial fibrillation. Researchers suggest that physicians consider low fitness level a stroke…

Focus on low-fat diets and lack of differentiation between healthy and unhealthy fat has led to ‘paradoxical policies’ about healthy eating Eating a non-calorie restricted Mediterranean diet high in vegetable fats such as olive oil or nuts does not lead to significant weight gain compared…

Pregnant women overestimate the risks of taking over the counter and prescribed medication – according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).The findings reveal that women choose not to medicate common pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, heartburn and aches and pains.Most worryingly,…

New research presented at this year’s European Obesity Summit (Gothenburg, Sweden, 1-4 June) shows that young children are consuming well over the recommended levels of free sugars in their diet, and that the largest single source of these is sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs). The findings…

Three quarters of strokes worldwide could be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors such as smoking, poor diet and low physical activity Air pollution – including environmental and household air pollution – has emerged as a leading risk factor for stroke worldwide, associated with about…