Posted 11:18 pm Sunday, January 13, 2013
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U.S. dead last in life expectancy among other industrialized nations
In a report commissioned by the National Institutes of Health, researchers found that the life expectancy of Americans lags behind other wealthy nations. American men’s life expectancy is the lowest among 17 nations, which include Canada, Japan, Australia, and much of western Europe. American women’s life expectancy is the second lowest, ahead of Danish women, with 80.7 years.
The report cited America’s high rate of violent deaths, particularly gun violence as a contributor to the low ranking. There are six violent deaths per 100,000 residents in the U.S., a significantly higher ratio than the other 16 countries. The report pointed to other areas where the U.S. is below average: high infant mortality rates, STDs, drug-related deaths, homicides, obesity and diabetes.
The report cited America’s high rate of violent deaths, particularly gun violence as a contributor to the low ranking. There are six violent deaths per 100,000 residents in the U.S., a significantly higher ratio than the other 16 countries. The report pointed to other areas where the U.S. is below average: high infant mortality rates, STDs, drug-related deaths, homicides, obesity and diabetes.
Researchers: Paps may also detect ovarian cancer.
Currently there are no tests available to detect ovarian cancer but researchers are trying to retool the pap test, used to detect cervical cancer, to spot other gynecological cancers. Using samples collected from routine pap smears, scientists were able to spot genetic changes caused by ovarian and endometrial cancers. Experts say there is a lot of potential in retooling the pap test but may be years away from widespread use.
Alzheimer’s drug may be an answer for hearing problems.
This may be good news for people who frequented loud rock ‘n’ roll concerts in their youth. Boston researchers found that a drug developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease may partially reverse hearing loss caused by extremely loud sounds, according to an NPR report. Loud noises cause hearing loss by injuring or killing hair cells, cells in the inner ear that transform sounds into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. The drug, tested on mice, regenerated their damaged hair cells. It may take some time though for scientists to restore hearing in humans through regeneration, scientists said.
