U.S. Birth Rates Continue to Drop as Age of New Moms Rises

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 -- American women are having fewer children, and they're having them later in life, a new government report shows.

"Overall, we saw continuing decreasing trends in total fertility," said report author Danielle Ely, a health statistician at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Number of Autism Genes Now Tops 100

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 -- The number of genes known to be associated with autism now stands at 102, researchers report.

They also said that they've made significant progress in distinguishing between genes associated with autism and those associated with intellectual disability and developmental delay, conditions that often overlap with autism.

Pounds Regained After Weight-Loss Op Can Tell Your Doc a Lot

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 -- Tracking pounds regained after weight-loss surgery can help predict a patient's risk for serious health problems like diabetes, a new study says.

"Clinicians and patients want to know the extent of weight regain following bariatric surgery and how it may affect their health," said study lead author Wendy King, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Take 10 for Mindfulness

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 -- Feel yourself being pulled in a million directions and losing track of what's really important? The meditative practice called mindfulness can help you get centered and re-focus on what's meaningful to you.

And it doesn't take time that's already in short supply on your busy schedule. You can reap the benefits in less time than it takes for a coffee break.

Scientists Closer to Drug That Cuts Nicotine Dependence

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 -- Researchers say they've created an enzyme that might one day reduce nicotine cravings in smokers.

The scientists gave the enzyme to nicotine-dependent rats and found it broke down nicotine in the bloodstream before it could reach the brain.

Map of Mouse Hippocampus Could Be Weapon Against Alzheimer's

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 -- A precision map of a part of the brain of the lowly mouse could be a potent new research tool against Alzheimer's, researchers say.

The highly detailed look at the mouse hippocampus should provide new insight into a range of brain diseases in humans, according to the research team from the University of Southern California.

AHA: Why It's So Hard to Quit Smoking

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (American Heart Association) -- The science behind why it's so difficult to quit smoking is crystal clear: Nicotine is addictive -- reportedly as addictive as cocaine or heroin.

Yet any adult can stroll into a drug store and buy a pack of cigarettes, no questions asked.

AHA: No Direct Link Between Preeclampsia and Cognitive Impairment, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (American Heart Association) -- While preeclampsia puts women at greater risk for stroke and high blood pressure following childbirth, a new study found that the pregnancy-related condition may not predispose them to significant cognitive impairment later in life.

Instead, other physical and social risk factors related to the condition may be contributing to those subtle cognitive changes, according to the Canadian study published Oct. 17 in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.

Preeclampsia Tied to Tripling of Dementia in Later Life

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 -- High blood pressure during pregnancy can be a sign of preeclampsia -- a potentially life-threatening complication. Now, new research suggests preeclampsia might also make women more vulnerable to a specific type of dementia.

Women with a history of preeclampsia were 3.4 times more likely to suffer from vascular dementia later in life, the researchers found. This form of dementia is triggered by impaired blood flow in the brain.

Omega-3s in Seafood May Keep You Healthier, Longer

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 -- Tuna, salmon, mackerel, cod: Whatever your preference, eating more seafood may help you stay healthy as you age, new research suggests.

In a study spanning 22 years, researchers found that higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood were associated with a better chance of healthy aging.