Health News

Suppression of COVID-19 waves reflects time-dependent social activity, not herd immunity

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have developed a new mathematical model for predicting how COVID-19 spreads. This model not only accounts for individuals’ varying biological susceptibility to infection but also their levels of social activity, which naturally change over time. Using their […]

Health News

Making the case for adjusting quality measures for social risk factors

A new analysis by a team of researchers led by Dr. David Nerenz of Henry Ford Health System suggests that accounting for social risk factors like poverty, housing instability and transportation insecurity can have meaningful impact on healthcare quality measures without compromising quality of care. In a report published today in Health Affairs, researchers make […]

Health News

How and when do children recognize power and social hierarchies?

Humans, like most social animals, tend to be organized hierarchically. In any group or social relationship there are always individuals who, for various reasons, significantly influence the behavior of others. These individuals are attributed the highest status within the social group they belong to. As everyday examples of hierarchical relationships we find those of parents […]

Health News

Study suggests greater social support linked to lower diabetes distress

New research reveals a perceived lack of support from family and friends affects a patient’s ability to manage type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Among vulnerable populations, the necessary modifications to daily lifestyle can be difficult to maintain without adequate social support, leading to diabetes-related […]

Kids Health

Signs you need a social media detox

Social media is making us feel more connected than ever before, particularly with those on the other side of the world, but, some worry that the more time we spend online, the less we’re likely to spend socializing IRL with actual humans. Certain studies have also drawn links between social media use and loneliness. Recent research even […]

Health News

New study examines the accuracy of plastic surgery videos on social media

In the era of ‘Dr. Google,’ social media is a tremendous influence on patients interested in cosmetic surgery, and with more than two billion users—representing almost one-third of the internet—YouTube has emerged as an essential platform for reaching people interested in plastic surgery. However, due to a variety of factors, such as confusing terminology, inaccurate […]