The mathematical model reflects how the booster effect can fade quickly in patients with suppressed immune responses, including cancer patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment. iStock by Getty Images Health Measuring the power of vaccines Tracy Hampton MGH News and Public Affairs January 9, 2023 3 min read Comparison of booster effectiveness shows that different patient groups have different needs Researchers have designed a mathematical model that can predict the course of vaccine-induced immunity against COVID-19 in...

Health Weekend ‘catch-up sleep’ might offer a lifeline Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer January 6, 2023 6 min read Experts offer some tips on how to do better with getting enough rest, the first being admitting there’s a problem Most people are not getting enough sleep, specialists say, and the problems that result are apparent — and potentially serious. “Absenteeism, ‘presenteeism’ — people showing up for work really tired — car accidents, medical errors,” said...

Researchers took advantage of living tumor cells’ unique ability to travel long distances across the brain to return to the site of their fellow tumor cells. iStock by Getty Images Health Killing cancer with cancer BWH Communications January 4, 2023 3 min read Scientists develop cell therapy engineered to kill and prevent brain cancer in advanced mouse model Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital are harnessing a new way to turn cancer cells into potent,...

An Americares relief worker examines a Hurricane Dorian survivor. Harvard has teamed up with Americares to create a climate-change “toolkit.” Photo by Jemps Civil/Americares Health With an eye on climate, a helping hand for health care’s front lines Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer January 3, 2023 5 min read C-CHANGE climate toolkit looks to fill training, education gap An elderly woman struggles into a community health clinic in rural Texas amid a record-breaking heat wave....

CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell illustration. Christoph Burgstedt/Science Photo Library Health How serious is FDA warning about revolutionary blood-cancer treatment? Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer December 7, 2023 8 min read Dana-Farber researcher details promise, peril of CAR T-cell therapy, which enlists body’s immune system to fight disease The Food and Drug Administration announced last week that it’s investigating reports of secondary cancers in patients who received CAR T-cell therapy, one of a suite of...

Health Don’t need high cholesterol to benefit from statins Miles Martin BWH Communications December 6, 2023 4 min read Studies find drug protects against heart disease in high-risk groups Two new studies found that statins, the most prescribed class of drugs to treat high cholesterol, are protective for high-risk groups who haven’t yet had a heart attack or stroke but could be at risk of one, according to Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The results...

Health Scorecard reveals risk of dementia, stroke MGH Communications December 1, 2023 4 min read Researchers developed Brain Care Score to assess how current habits will impact future brain health By focusing on a list of 12 steps covering modifiable behaviors, adults can greatly reduce their risk of developing brain diseases such as dementia and stroke, according to a new study. The list, which looks at physical, lifestyle, and social-emotional components of health, was developed...

Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer Health Legacy of heading off deaths from industrial air pollution Alvin Powell Harvard Staff Writer November 30, 2023 8 min read Dominici details decades-old Harvard roots of latest findings showing particles from coal-fired power plants deadliest The latest development made headlines this month. A new study indicates that the tiny particles released from coal-fired electric plants are the deadliest of all fuel-burning power sources, including power plant emissions and automobile exhaust....

Health Headache or sore all over after bad night’s sleep? Caitlin McDermott-Murphy Harvard Correspondent November 28, 2023 6 min read Newly identified chemical link between chronic pain, sleep loss could help sever vicious cycle It’s a common experience. Too much caffeine, anxiety, or insomnia muddled your sleep, keeping you tossing all night. But whatever the cause, the result is the same: The next morning, you feel beat up, achy pain pestering your head, lower back,...

Health After decades of improvement, cardiovascular health rates on worrying path Jacqueline Mitchell BIDMC Communications November 27, 2023 3 min read CDC reports trend is stagnating — and for middle-aged, even declining Public health experts and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report a steady decline in cardiovascular health, including an increase in deaths from heart disease — specifically among middle-aged adults with low incomes. New research led by investigators at Harvard-affiliated...