Just one brain scan can now diagnose Alzheimer’s
Many advances have been made in diagnosing, understanding, preventing, and treating Alzheimer’s disease over the past 100 years. Some of these include a nasal spray that could help prevent the disease and the discovery that our gut diversity plays a role in the risk of the condition. Doctors Read More...
Four surprising reasons to add more mushrooms to your diet
Here at The Optimist Daily, we are huge fans of mushrooms. As each year passes, more scientists are turning toward fantastic fungi to treat a range of mental health conditions and look to their impressive networks for inspiration in building complex computing devices. Mushrooms have soared in Read More...
This algorithm makes predicting the future more accessible
Some professions require the prophetic task of using existing data to predict future outcomes as accurately as possible. This can come in the form of trying to predict the upcoming week's weather, estimating a person's risk of developing a disease, or anticipating the best time to sell Read More...
How do we measure itchiness?
Doctors commonly ask their patients to rate their pain from one to 10, although it is rare that we would be asked to scale our itchiness in this way. Gauging an itch Some readers may be wondering, why do we even need an itchiness scale? If you've ever had a condition which causes you to Read More...
An effective treatment for gaming and internet addiction in teens
Everyone loves playing games. Whether that be a physical sport, board games, or video games, there is something innately human about wanting to play them. But for some, these hobbies can become addictive. The World Health Organization now recognizes being addicted to video games as a disease. Read More...
Scientists invent the fastest DNA sequencing tool yet
A record breaking technique A team from the Stanford School of Medicine has created a new method of mega-sequencing. Using this, individuals can have their three billion plus nucleotides read in just over five hours, a record breaking time! "A few weeks is what most clinicians call 'rapid' when Read More...
Here’s why grapes are good for your gut
The health benefits of grapes Grapes are the perfect, portable healthy snack to eat. Enclosed in their bite-size shells, they are a widely popular choice across the globe. The fruit is actually known to be a great source of potassium which helps balance fluids in the body. A new study, Read More...
Chemicals from thyme and oregano carry anti-tumor properties
Medicinal plant properties Thyme and oregano aren’t just for cooking. The plants have been used for centuries as herbal remedies to treat a number of illnesses. Thymol, a compound that carries antibacterial properties and fights against muscle spasms, can be extracted from thyme. This Read More...
Research shows that many animals also practice social distancing
For most of us, this is our first experience with social distancing, but among other animals, the practice of maintaining distance to mitigate the spread of disease is quite common. It turns out that many animals including bats, bees, and tortoises also practice social distancing. Seeking to Read More...
Pomegranates may hold key compound to slowing down aging
Since aging is a key driver of many diseases, targeting that process could be a handy catch-all for treating a range of diseases and improving the quality of life for pretty much everybody. That’s why, for a long time, researchers have been busy looking for various ways to slow down the process Read More...