Category Archives: health

Amanda Bynes, 39, Unveils 20-Pound Ozempic Weight-Loss In Rare Video — After Former Child-Star Underwent Multiple Cosmetic Procedures

Posted on by
Reply

**Amanda Bynes Shares Personal Update on Ozempic Weight Loss Journey**

*Published: November 5, 2025, 6:00 p.m. ET*

Former child actress Amanda Bynes has opened up to fans about her weight loss progress while using Ozempic. The ex-Nickelodeon star revealed on social media that she has lost 20 pounds so far and set a weight loss goal of 50 pounds, RadarOnline.com can confirm.

Bynes expressed her excitement about the progress she’s made after switching from a GLP-1 oral medication to an injectable form of Ozempic.

### Bynes Shares Ozempic Journey Update

Amanda Bynes first announced she was taking Ozempic in June. Ozempic is a medication primarily prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes but has become popular for weight loss support. The actress decided to try Ozempic after struggling with weight gain and wanting to “look better in paparazzi pictures.”

At the time, she shared, “Oh, I’m going on Ozempic. So excited. I’m 173 now, so I hope to get down to like 130, which would be awesome, so I look better in paparazzi pictures.”

After months of silence on the topic, the 39-year-old provided an update on her progress in a rare Instagram Story video on Wednesday, November 5.

“I wanted to make a quick post to give a quick update on my Ozempic journey,” Bynes began. “I’ve lost 20 pounds so far. I’m so excited about that to be honest.”

Despite the positive results, Bynes made it clear she still has more weight to lose. “I want to lose about 15 more pounds,” she shared.

The *She’s the Man* star also revealed she has tried both the pill and injectable forms of Ozempic, noting fluctuations in her weight during that time.

“I’m 163 now. I actually shot up on the Ozempic pill to 180 from 173, I was able to lose 20 pounds from 180, and now I’m down to 163 on the Ozempic injection,” Bynes explained. “So, I’m really glad that I’m on the injection, it’s really working for me.”

She added, “I’m trying to lose more weight just to feel skinny and cute, so I will keep taking Ozempic.”

### Experimenting With Her Look

Since her well-publicized mental health struggles in 2013, Amanda Bynes has been experimenting with her appearance in various ways. She has tried multiple hairstyles, from jet black extensions to bleached blonde blocks, and periodically dyes her eyebrows black.

In addition to changing up makeup styles, Bynes has adorned her face with a heart tattoo on her cheek and pierced her septum. Like many celebrities, she has also embraced cosmetic procedures to enhance her look.

### Bynes’ Previous Cosmetic Procedures

In August, Bynes shared a photo showing her freshly plumped lips following filler injections. Earlier, in December 2023, she revealed she underwent blepharoplasty surgery to remove excess skin around her eyelids.

Reflecting on the procedure, Bynes said, “It was one of the best things I could’ve ever done for my self-confidence, and it made me feel a lot better in my skin.”

—

Amanda Bynes continues to be open about her journey toward health and self-confidence, sharing candid updates with her supporters along the way.
https://radaronline.com/p/amanda-bynes-ozempic-weight-loss-unrecognizable-cosmetic-procedures/

There’s No Gender Equality in Heart Health – Liberty Nation News

Posted on by
Reply

If you think a quick jog or a few gym sessions a week will keep your heart in top shape, you might want to think again—especially if you’re a man. New research suggests men may need to exercise twice as much as women to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

### When It Comes to a Healthy Heart, Sex Matters

A large study published in *Nature Cardiovascular Research* examined how much exercise men and women need to lower their risk of heart disease. Researchers tracked more than 85,000 adults from the UK Biobank—people who did not have heart disease at the start—and followed them for nearly eight years.

Instead of relying on self-reported exercise habits, participants wore devices such as fitness trackers that recorded how much they actually moved throughout the day. The results revealed a surprising difference between men and women.

### Exercise Benefits: Women vs. Men

Women who exercised a few hours a week experienced major heart benefits. Specifically, women who got about four hours of moderate-to-vigorous activity weekly reduced their risk of heart disease by roughly 30%.

Men, however, needed nearly twice as much activity—around nine hours per week—to achieve the same level of protection.

The study also investigated deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD), which can lead to heart attacks. Women who met the standard exercise guidelines of about 150 minutes per week were 70% less likely to die from CHD. In contrast, men saw a much smaller reduction in mortality risk—only about 19%.

### Current Exercise Guidelines vs. Study Findings

Currently, major health organizations like the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association recommend the same amount of exercise for everyone: at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (like running) per week.

This study suggests that this one-size-fits-all recommendation may not be sufficient for men to achieve optimal heart health.

### Why the Difference? Biological and Hormonal Factors

The researchers did not pinpoint exactly why the results differ by sex but suspect biological and hormonal factors play a role. Women naturally produce more estrogen, which helps keep blood vessels flexible and may affect how the heart responds to physical activity.

Men and women also store fat differently and have different body compositions, which could influence how exercise impacts their cardiovascular systems.

A report published by PubMed Central explains:
> “While it is widely recognized that the female heart is smaller than the male heart, it has long been ignored that it also has a different microstructural architecture.
> On average, the mass of the adult female heart ranges from 230 to 280 g and is about 26% lighter than the male heart, which varies from 280 to 340 g. For both women and men, the mass of the heart continues to increase with age, and female hearts remain consistently smaller than male hearts.”

Women also tend to have higher resting heart rates than men, but their hearts take longer to transition from contraction to relaxation.

### Additional Factors Increasing Men’s Risk

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discussed the study on *America’s Newsroom*, noting that men typically have higher testosterone levels, which can be “bad for cholesterol.” Men also tend to accumulate fat “in the wrong places,” such as in the gut, leading to inflammation.

Lifestyle factors contribute as well. Dr. Siegel pointed out, “We smoke more, we drink more, we don’t exercise as much. All of that puts us at risk for heart disease.”

### Sex-Specific Heart Disease Prevention

The study’s findings add to what doctors have long observed: men and women often experience heart disease differently. Women tend to develop heart disease later in life, often after menopause when estrogen levels decline, whereas men usually develop it earlier.

The authors emphasized the importance of tailored prevention strategies:
> “Our findings underscore the value of sex-specific tailored CHD [coronary heart disease] prevention strategies using wearable devices, which may help bridge the ‘gender gap’ by motivating females to engage in physical activity.”

### Participant Details and the Bigger Picture

The average age of participants was around 61, with 57.3% women included in the primary study. In the mortality analysis, the average age was 66, and women made up 30% of that group.

Heart disease remains the world’s leading cause of death, responsible for nearly 18 million deaths annually according to the World Health Organization. In the United States alone, it causes one in every five deaths.

—

**Bottom line:** While any exercise is better than none, men may need to double their workout time compared to women to significantly reduce heart disease risk. This new evidence could revolutionize exercise guidelines and promote more personalized heart health recommendations for both sexes.
https://www.libertynation.com/theres-no-gender-equality-in-heart-health/

Denmark Has Killed Almost Every Baby With Down Syndrome in Abortion

Posted on by
Reply

Life News
November 1, 2025
By Steven Ertelt

—

Back in 2019, we reposted a story revealing the grim reality facing babies with Down syndrome in Denmark. That year, there were virtually none—just 18 babies born with Down syndrome.

When I read “The Last Children of Down Syndrome” by Sarah Zhang, I was immediately reminded of a 2017 story she wrote that appeared in *The Atlantic* magazine. The subhead of Zhang’s piece puts the story into a broader context:

*“Prenatal screening is changing who gets born and who doesn’t. This is just the beginning.”*

Nobody questions the legality of abortion in Denmark, Zhang writes. “Danes are quite open about abortion—astonishingly so to my American ears—but abortions for a fetal anomaly, and especially Down syndrome, are different. They still carry a stigma.”

Why this stigma exists runs as the main thread throughout this long, must-read story.

—

The backdrop is that in 2004, Denmark became one of the first countries in the world to offer prenatal Down syndrome screening to every pregnant woman, regardless of age or other risk factors, Zhang explains. Nearly all expecting mothers choose to take the test; of those who receive a Down syndrome diagnosis, more than 95 percent choose to abort.

The few babies born with Down syndrome are typically due to a “misdiagnosis” or because parents are told the odds of having a baby with an extra chromosome were almost infinitesimally small.

—

One question raised is why women choose abortion and how influential bleak prognostications can be. Ann Katrine, the sister of Karl Emil—an 18-year-old young man with Down syndrome who is the heart of the story—put it this way:

*“If you handed any expecting parent a whole list of everything their child could possibly encounter during their entire lifespan—illnesses and stuff like that—then anyone would be scared.”*

Their mother, Grete Fält-Hansen, added,

*“Nobody would have a baby.”*

Or, looked at another way, are women truly exercising genuine “choice” in such a cultural setting? When the expectation is that a woman carrying a baby with Down syndrome will abort, how free is that choice?

—

While the language has evolved—“mongoloid” is no longer used—physicians are perhaps no less blunt about these children’s futures. Even though less emphasis is publicly placed on “saving money” by aborting than in years past, the message still rings clear: aren’t all of us, including the child, “better off” if he or she is aborted?

As Zhang writes,

*“The decisions parents make after prenatal testing are private and individual ones. But when the decisions so overwhelmingly swing one way—to abort—it does seem to reflect something more: an entire society’s judgment about the lives of people with Down syndrome. That’s what I saw reflected in Karl Emil’s face.”*

—

The cultural narrative is a constant back-and-forth between the near absence of children with Down syndrome and a collective guilt that Danes, in doing so, are not living up to their own image of themselves or their culture.

*“I think it’s because we as a society like to think of ourselves as inclusive,”* said Stina Lou, a researcher.

*“We are a rich society, and we think it’s important that different types of people should be here.”*

For some women who choose abortion, their own self-understanding is shaken.

*“They have to accept they aren’t the kind of person like they thought,”* Lou said. *“They were not the type of person who would choose to have a child with a disability.”*

—

One powerful thought comes from Stephanie Meredith, director of the National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources at the University of Kentucky. She shared a story about her 20-year-old son seeing his sister collide painfully with another player on the basketball court. She hit the ground so hard an audible crack went through the gym.

Before Meredith could react, her son leapt from the bleachers and picked his sister up.

*“He wasn’t worried about the rules; he wasn’t worried about decorum. It was just responding and taking care of her,”* Meredith recounted.

Meredith was recently asked a simple but profound question:

*What are you most proud of about your son that isn’t an achievement or a milestone?*

The incident on the basketball court was the first to come to mind.

*“It doesn’t have to do with accomplishment,”* she said. *“It has to do with caring about another human being.”*

This question stayed with Meredith—and it stayed with me—because of how subtly yet powerfully it reframes what parents should value in their children: not grades, basketball trophies, or college acceptance letters, but empathy and caring. It opens the door to a world less obsessed with achievement.

Meredith also pointed out that Down syndrome is defined and diagnosed by a medical system made up of people who themselves must be highly successful to get there, people who likely base part of their identity on their intelligence. This is the system offering parents the tools to decide what kind of children to have. Might it be biased in judging whose lives have value?

—

**Topics:** Chit/Chat
**Keywords:** abortion, Denmark, Down syndrome, prolife

—

**Comments:**

1. *”Once they are able to detect who will be short or more often ill or physically not as strong, they will eventually be aborted as well. Nothing less than a superior human will be allowed to be born as they piece together how genes interact with each other.”* — Morgana

2. *”(I’ve been diagnosed as being polemic and there is no cure.)”* — Jonty30

—

*Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected.*
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4350177/posts

Smoke shops in Philly suburbs mislead consumers by selling ‘straight-up marijuana,’ district attorney says

Posted on by
Reply

Hundreds of unregulated smoke shops selling hemp products in the Philadelphia suburbs are using fraudulent lab reports that leave customers “dangerously uninformed” about the potency of the drugs they’re taking, according to a Montgomery County grand jury report released Thursday.

The 10-month investigation, led by the district attorneys of Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester counties, examined a patchwork of businesses launched in recent years to take advantage of federal laws allowing hemp products to be sold legally with low levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele called an “unintended consequence” of the 2018 Farm Bill the proliferation of unregulated smoke shops selling a wide range of products that claim to meet legal standards but are actually much stronger than advertised.

“What we found in a lot of them is they’re selling straight-up marijuana,” Steele said at a news conference Thursday.

Narcotics detectives from all three counties went undercover to purchase products from smoke shops and have them lab-tested for potency. The grand jury found that more than 90% of the edibles, THC vapes, and loose flower products analyzed exceeded federal standards. Many were mislabeled or backed by dubious certificates from suppliers.

“This deception means that adults and children alike are exposed to substances whose potency and risks are hidden from view,” the report states.

Steele highlighted the most troubling facet of the smoke shop industry: products often marketed toward children and sold to anyone who walks through the door. Some shops also carry other intoxicating substances, including kratom and tianeptine, which have been linked to hospitalizations and substance abuse issues.

The grand jury report details nine incidents in the past year where children were sickened after ingesting THC products commonly sold at these shops.

“They’re selling illegal products without oversight, and without concern for the health of Pennsylvanians, especially without regard for the health of our children,” Steele said.

The 107-page report calls on state lawmakers to impose standards for product safety and require testing at accredited labs. It also urges the establishment of a minimum age limit of 21 for THC products and regulation of THC marketing with the same rigor as tobacco and nicotine products.

Additionally, the report recommends lawmakers create clear definitions of marijuana derivatives—such as Delta-8, Delta-10, and THCA—to prevent them from being sold under the banner of “legal hemp.”

Steele noted that Montgomery County’s 240 smoke shops now outnumber schools and have turned vague federal hemp laws into a lucrative business.

“People are hiding behind that, saying this is Farm Bill compliant,” he said.

Joining Steele at the news conference were Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe, who described the deceptive practices of smoke shops as “flagrant” and “unsustainable.”

In Chester County, De Barrena-Sarobe has already issued 16 search warrants at smoke shops, arrested some lawbreakers, and seized more than half a million dollars in cash and other proceeds. Steele’s office has taken similar actions when illegal activities are discovered.

“People that are selling drugs out of their stores—selling marijuana—that’s a felony,” Steele said. “If you continue on in this way, plan on getting arrested.”

The grand jury report comes amid Pennsylvania’s ongoing, slow-moving efforts to legalize recreational marijuana. Such a move would create clear standards and a licensing process for drug sales. Currently, state lawmakers are considering establishing a cannabis control board to lay the groundwork for regulating marijuana derivatives.

Steele emphasized that the problems found at smoke shops are separate from the state’s licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, noting that the legal industry has been negatively impacted by unregulated stores circumventing taxes and restrictions on cannabis.

Last week, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday joined colleagues nationwide in a joint letter urging Congress to close the loophole that has allowed “intoxicating hemp-derived THC products” to flourish in businesses prioritizing profits over public safety and health.

Steele warned that smoke shops in the region openly market products appealing to kids and teens. He displayed a photo from the grand jury report showing packages of edible THC products found in local shops.

“You’ve got Cheetos with marijuana leaves on it,” he said.
https://www.phillyvoice.com/smoke-shops-hemp-marijuana-montgomery-county/?utm_source=pv-rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pv-site

New blood test can predict risk of postpartum depression with more than 80% accuracy

Posted on by
Reply

Like many first-time mothers, Lisette Lopez-Rose thought childbirth would usher in a time of joy. Instead, she experienced panic attacks as she imagined something bad happening to her baby, coupled with a heavy sadness that wouldn’t lift. The San Francisco Bay Area mother recognized that her extreme emotions weren’t normal, but she was afraid to tell her obstetrician. What if they took her baby away?

At about six months postpartum, Lopez-Rose discovered an online network of women with similar experiences and ultimately opened up to her primary care doctor. “About two months after I started medication, I started to feel like I was coming out of a deep hole and seeing light again,” she says.

Today, Lopez-Rose works at Postpartum Support International, coordinating volunteers to help new mothers form online connections.

—

### Understanding Postpartum Depression

About one in eight U.S. women go through a period of postpartum depression (PPD), making it one of the most common complications of childbirth. It typically occurs in the first few weeks after delivery, coinciding with a sudden drop in the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone.

As scientists unravel the chemical and genetic changes caused by these shifting hormones, they are discovering new ways to diagnose and treat postpartum depression — and even ways to identify who is at risk.

—

### A New Era in Postpartum Depression Diagnosis and Treatment

The first-ever drug specifically for postpartum depression, containing a derivative of progesterone, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2019. This marked a new approach to treating the disorder.

This winter, in another major advance, a San Diego–based startup will launch a blood test called myLuma that predicts a pregnant woman’s risk of postpartum depression with more than 80 percent accuracy. This product will be the first commercially available test to use biomarkers in the blood to predict the onset of a psychiatric disorder, much like blood tests that detect signs of diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Pregnant women who learn they are at risk for postpartum depression could take preventive steps, such as starting antidepressants after childbirth or arranging for extra support.

Jennifer Payne, a reproductive psychiatrist at the University of Virginia and a lead investigator on the studies behind myLuma, says, “If we have a blood test, it brings psychiatry down to the level of biology, which I think your average person can understand as something that needs treatment and isn’t just in somebody’s head.”

—

### The Unpredictable Effects of Hormones

In 2001, Payne became intrigued by postpartum depression as a window into the onset of mood disorders. This raised a key question: Why does the sudden drop in hormones after childbirth significantly affect some women but not others?

While transient feelings of anxiety and sadness are common within days of giving birth, only some women develop a deeper, more persistent depression.

Payne teamed up with Zachary Kaminsky, an epigeneticist then at Johns Hopkins University, who studied how estrogen affects mouse brains. Epigenetics involves small chemical groups called methyl groups attaching to genes, affecting how active these genes are. Environmental factors like pollution and nutrition can influence this reversible methylation.

By comparing female mice given high estrogen levels to those without, Kaminsky found estrogen caused specific gene methylation patterns in the hippocampus—a brain region involved in mood control.

These findings guided analyses of blood samples Payne collected from 51 women with histories of mood disorders, tracked throughout pregnancy and afterward. Two estrogen-sensitive genes — HP1BP3 and TTC9B — emerged as significant. Over 80 percent of women who developed postpartum depression showed greater methylation on one gene and less on the other.

Moreover, these gene changes were detectable throughout pregnancy, meaning “you can predict which women will develop postpartum depression,” Kaminsky says.

—

### Validating the Biomarkers

Kaminsky, Payne, and collaborators replicated the findings in further studies. A 2016 Neuropharmacology paper reported that methylation patterns of these genes correctly predicted over 80 percent of postpartum depression cases in 240 pregnant women without psychiatric histories.

Another 2020 study published in Psychiatry Research, involving scientists from Johns Hopkins, Emory University, and the University of California, Irvine, confirmed these results in 285 pregnant women.

This epigenetic research forms the basis of the myLuma test, which also incorporates additional biomarkers to improve accuracy, according to Kaminsky.

Beginning January 2026, myLuma is expected to be available in some doctors’ offices in Florida, Texas, and California. Although not yet FDA-approved, doctors may use such lab tests to assist clinical decisions.

—

### Exploring Other Hormonal Factors: Neuroactive Steroids

Not all postpartum depression cases involve these epigenetic changes. Researchers continue to explore other biomarkers, focusing on neuroactive steroids — molecules produced from progesterone in the brain and other tissues.

One key neuroactive steroid, allopregnanolone, has calming effects by affecting a brain receptor called GABA-A, known for stress reduction. Allopregnanolone levels rise during pregnancy and drop sharply after delivery.

Other related steroids include pregnanolone, which has similar effects, and isoallopregnanolone, which reduces the antidepressant effect of allopregnanolone, increasing stress.

A 2025 study in Neuropsychopharmacology on 136 pregnant women found that an imbalance of pregnanolone and isoallopregnanolone during pregnancy increased the likelihood of developing postpartum depression.

Measuring these chemicals’ ratios in blood could provide another way to predict postpartum depression, says reproductive psychiatrist Lauren M. Osborne of Weill Cornell Medicine.

—

### Advances in Treatment: Synthetic Neuroactive Steroids

Allopregnanolone has also proven valuable in treating postpartum depression. A synthetic form, brexanolone, developed by Sage Therapeutics, was FDA-approved in 2019, becoming the first drug specifically for postpartum depression.

These “transformative therapies” work rapidly, according to a 2025 Annual Review of Medicine article.

Women at high risk might benefit from preventive use of zuranolone, another drug under study, though this has not yet been tested, notes Samantha Meltzer-Brody, a reproductive psychiatrist at the University of North Carolina.

The availability of blood tests like myLuma “opens up that entire line of questioning on how do you get ahead of it, so you don’t have to wait until someone starts suffering,” she adds.

—

### Additional Biomarker Research

In a 2022 Molecular Psychiatry article, neuroscientist Sarven Sabunciyan and colleagues described a study showing that RNA types carried in blood differ in women who develop postpartum depression. Specifically, RNA related to autophagy — the cellular cleanup process — decreased. Autophagy has links to other psychiatric disorders.

Clinical psychologist Eynav Accortt from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found altered protein patterns in plasma samples from women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression. These proteins are involved in neuron function and inflammation, which is known to contribute to depression.

—

### Moving Towards FDA Approval

Payne is leading a large clinical trial to provide more detailed data on myLuma, particularly regarding false positives (women identified as at risk who don’t develop postpartum depression) and false negatives (women who develop postpartum depression but weren’t identified).

This step is essential for FDA approval, which would eventually allow the test to be offered directly to pregnant women.

—

### Looking Back: A Mother’s Perspective

Lopez-Rose recalls the fear she felt in the months after her daughter’s birth. In those dark times, she quit her job, barely slept, and was overwhelmed by negative thoughts and self-doubt.

Now, she understands that reaching out for help was a sign of strength and a good mother.

Today, her daughter is four and thriving, as is Lopez-Rose. She says a blood test would have warned her what to watch for, “instead of it being so shocking when I was going through my depression.”
https://www.livescience.com/health/fertility-pregnancy-birth/new-blood-test-can-predict-risk-of-postpartum-depression-with-more-than-80-percent-accuracy

Does the full moon make us sleepless? A neurologist explains the science behind sleep, mood and lunar myths

Posted on by
Reply

Have you ever tossed and turned under a full moon and wondered if its glow was keeping you awake? For generations, people have believed that the Moon has the power to stir up sleepless nights and strange behavior—even madness itself. The word “lunacy” comes directly from *luna*, Latin for Moon.

Police officers, hospital staff, and emergency workers often swear that their nights get busier under a full moon. But does science back that up? The answer is, of course, more nuanced than folklore suggests.

—

### What the Full Moon Really Does to Sleep

Several studies show that people really do sleep differently in the days leading up to the full moon, when moonlight shines brightest in the evening sky. During this period, people sleep about 20 minutes less, take longer to fall asleep, and spend less time in deep, restorative sleep.

Large population studies confirm this pattern, finding that people across different cultures tend to go to bed later and sleep for shorter periods in the nights before a full moon.

The most likely reason? Light. A bright moon in the evening can delay the body’s internal clock, reduce melatonin—the hormone that signals bedtime—and keep the brain more alert.

The changes are modest. Most people lose only 15 to 30 minutes of sleep, but the effect is measurable. It is strongest in places without artificial light, such as rural areas or while camping.

Some research also suggests that men and women may be affected differently. For instance, men seem to lose more sleep during the waxing phase, while women experience slightly less deep and restful sleep around the full moon.

—

### The Link with Mental Health

For centuries, people have blamed the full moon for stirring up madness. Folklore suggested that its glow could spark mania in bipolar disorder, provoke seizures in people with epilepsy, or trigger psychosis in those with schizophrenia.

The theory was simple: lose sleep under a bright moon and vulnerable minds might unravel.

Modern science adds an important twist. Research is clear that sleep loss itself is a powerful driver of mental health problems. Even one rough night can heighten anxiety and drag down mood. Ongoing sleep disruption raises the risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, and flare-ups of conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

That means even the modest sleep loss seen around a full moon could matter more for people who are already at risk. Someone with bipolar disorder, for example, may be far more sensitive to shortened or fragmented sleep than the average person.

But here’s the catch: when researchers step back and look at large groups of people, the evidence that lunar phases trigger psychiatric crises is weak. No reliable pattern has been found between the Moon and hospital admissions, discharges, or lengths of stay.

A few studies suggest there may be small effects. In India, psychiatric hospitals recorded more use of restraints during full moons, based on data collected between 2016 and 2017. In China, researchers noted a slight rise in schizophrenia admissions around the full moon, using hospital records from 2012 to 2017.

Still, these findings are not consistent worldwide and may reflect cultural factors or local hospital practices as much as biology.

—

### Other Theories Fall Short

Over the years, scientists have explored other explanations for supposed lunar effects—from gravitational “tidal” pulls on the body to subtle geomagnetic changes and shifts in barometric pressure.

Yet, none of these mechanisms hold up under scrutiny. The gravitational forces that move oceans are far too weak to affect human physiology, and studies of geomagnetic and atmospheric changes during lunar phases have yielded inconsistent or negligible results.

This makes sleep disruption from nighttime light exposure the most plausible link between the Moon and human behavior.

—

### Why the Myth Lingers

If the science is so inconclusive, why do so many people believe in the “full moon effect”?

Psychologists point to a concept called *illusory correlation*. We notice and remember the unusual nights that coincide with a full moon but forget the many nights when nothing happened.

The Moon is also highly visible. Unlike hidden sleep disruptors such as stress, caffeine, or scrolling on a phone, the Moon is right there in the sky—easy to blame.

—

### Lessons from the Moon for Modern Sleep

Even if the Moon does not drive us “mad,” its small influence on sleep highlights something important: light at night matters.

Our bodies are designed to follow the natural cycle of light and dark. Extra light in the evening—whether from moonlight, streetlights, or phone screens—can delay circadian rhythms, reduce melatonin, and lead to lighter, more fragmented sleep.

This same biology helps explain the health risks of daylight saving time. When clocks “spring forward,” evenings stay artificially brighter. That shift delays sleep and disrupts circadian timing on a much larger scale than the Moon, contributing to increased accidents and cardiovascular risks, as well as reduced workplace safety.

In our modern world, artificial light has a much bigger impact on sleep than the Moon ever will. That is why many sleep experts argue for permanent standard time, which better matches our biological rhythms.

—

### Conclusion

So if you find yourself restless on a full moon night, you may not be imagining things—the Moon can tug at your sleep. But if sleeplessness happens often, look closer to home.

It is likely a culprit of the light in your hand rather than the one in the sky.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/26/does-the-full-moon-make-us-sleepless-a-neurologist-explains-the-science-behind-sleep-mood-and-lunar-myths/

Too much social media may hurt kids’ thinking and memory skills

Posted on by
Reply

Spending too much time on social media might be hurting how children think, remember, and learn. A new study published in the journal *JAMA* found that kids who use social media more often tend to perform worse on tests that measure memory, reading, and vocabulary.

The study looked at 6,554 children between the ages of 9 and 13. These kids were part of a larger research project called the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which is tracking the health and brain development of over 11,000 children in the U.S. as they grow up.

Researchers discovered that the average preteen spends about five and a half hours each day looking at screens for fun — and much of that time is spent on social media. Unlike watching TV or videos, social media involves constant interaction. Kids are scrolling, posting, checking for likes and comments, and messaging friends. This keeps the brain very busy and always alert.

Scientists already know that spending too much time on social media can lead to mental health problems like anxiety and depression in teens. However, until now, it wasn’t clear if social media use could also affect how kids think and learn.

To find out, the researchers studied social media habits over three years and grouped the children into three categories based on how much time they spent on social media:

– About 58% of kids barely used social media.
– Around 37% used it a little and gradually increased their time.
– A small group, about 6%, used social media heavily and kept increasing their time as they got older.

The researchers then tested the children’s brain skills using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. These tests measured how well the children could read, remember information, process data quickly, and understand vocabulary.

The results showed a clear pattern: the more social media kids used, the worse they did on these cognitive tests. Children in the heavy-use group scored the lowest, especially on memory and language tests. Those who didn’t use social media or used it very little scored the highest.

It is important to note that this study does not prove social media causes the lower test scores, but it does reveal a strong connection. More research is needed to understand exactly how social media affects brain development and whether certain platforms or activities might be more harmful than others.

Still, these findings suggest that it might be a good idea for parents and teachers to set limits on social media use, especially for younger children. Keeping screen time under control could help protect important brain skills that children need for school and learning.

As kids grow up in a digital world, understanding how technology affects their brains is more important than ever. This study is a strong reminder that not all screen time is the same — and some of it might be doing more harm than good.

If you care about Alzheimer’s, please consider reading studies about the likely causes of Alzheimer’s disease and new non-drug treatments that could help prevent it. For more health information, check out recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, as well as research showing that some dementia cases could be prevented by changing these 12 lifestyle factors.

The full study is published in *JAMA*.
https://knowridge.com/2025/10/too-much-social-media-may-hurt-kids-thinking-and-memory-skills/

Trump Slowly Deflates the Higher Education Bubble – Liberty Nation News

Posted on by
Reply

The Neuroscience Behind Student Loans and the Higher Education Bubble

Neuroscience teaches us that the prefrontal cortex, which governs executive functions like decision-making, impulse control, and planning, is the last part of the brain to mature. Scientists argue that the brain’s efficiency and wiring are not fully completed until age 25.

Why does this matter to something like student loans? This developmental factor is a significant reason behind the higher education bubble.

For years, the federal government has operated on the premise that politicians and bureaucrats can offer a 19-year-old—fresh out of high school and with no real-world experience—a loan of $100,000 with a sky-high interest rate. These government-backed student loans have also enabled universities and colleges to keep raising their tuition rates, knowing the state is subsidizing their students.

This cycle has created financial paralysis for millions of young Americans, but it could soon come to an end.

The Higher Education Bubble

This past summer, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While most attention focused on tax cuts and the debt ceiling, the legislation also included a key student loan provision.

As part of the Republican megabill, Washington will cap student loan borrowing effective July 1, 2026. The law introduces annual and lifetime caps on borrowing for parents of undergraduates, professional degree students, and graduate enrollees. It also establishes a total lifetime cap for all borrowers at $257,500.

This is perhaps one of the most significant reforms to higher education in years.

Post-secondary institutions are already beginning to respond. Recently, the Santa Clara School of Law announced it would reduce tuition from approximately $66,000 per year to $50,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. The institution stated that the $16,000 tuition scholarship for all incoming full-time JD students was “designed to offset the impact of the recent repeal of the Graduate Plus federal-loan program, which is effective July 1, 2026.”

With fewer young Americans enrolling in college—total enrollment is roughly 3% below pre-pandemic levels—it’s almost guaranteed that other institutions will follow Santa Clara’s lead to stimulate demand. If so, the country will witness the slow deflation of the higher education bubble.

Subsidizing Demand

Former President Ronald Reagan famously said that if you subsidize something, you get more of it. Considering what has transpired at universities and colleges this century, he has been proven correct.

Government-guaranteed student loans have fueled the steep climb in college costs. With the government underwriting the risk, universities have faced little pressure to economize. Instead of streamlining operations, many have constructed lavish buildings, ballooning bureaucracies, and have hired celebrity professors with light teaching loads—all while tuition continued climbing.

Over the past 25 years, US university tuition has rocketed 100%, outpacing general inflation. Likewise, federal student loan debt has increased from around $200 billion to almost $1.7 trillion.

The federal government has routinely attempted short-term remedies to patch up the mess both parties have created over the last few decades—from suspending interest payments to bailing out specific categories of students and graduates. But these measures have merely masked the problem.

This situation is comparable to the current government shutdown debate regarding the Affordable Care Act. Because Obamacare has been a fiscal burden for US taxpayers, politicians have had to offer subsidies to the expensive program, benefiting insurance companies.

In 2021, economists at the New York Federal Reserve concluded that government student loans raise tuition costs.

> “We find a pass-through effect on tuition of changes in subsidized loan maximums of about 60 cents on the dollar, and smaller but positive effects for unsubsidized federal loans. The subsidized loan effect is most pronounced for more expensive degrees, those offered by private institutions, and for two-year or vocational programs,” they wrote.

Unintended Consequences

There have been other unintended consequences of government-student loans. One example: social media is flooded with videos of young graduates announcing their majors in “decolonizing the fine arts” and “combating white supremacy in ant farming.”

Without the discipline of the private market, individuals enroll in degrees that offer little chance of securing steady paychecks and rewarding careers. If the free market were to take over the student loan system, lenders would ensure that borrowers are enrolling in careers in high demand. If not? Be prepared to pay a higher rate of interest to study “Orange Man Bad Studies.”

Medieval Times and the Liberal Arts

The term “liberal arts” has become a pejorative—and rightly so—but this was not always the case. It derives from the Latin *artes liberales*, meaning “tools of freedom.”

During Medieval times, the liberal arts were divided into seven main subjects within two larger categories:
– Arts of language: grammar, logic, and rhetoric
– Arts of number: arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and music

Considering that graduates’ IQ has declined about 17 points since 1939, it’s safe to say that today’s 20-somethings would struggle with a Medieval education.

Put simply, despite the $1.7 trillion worth of student loan debt, taxpayers have subsidized mediocrity and a system that holds contempt for Western civilization.

The higher education bubble is on the brink of popping. Good riddance.
https://www.libertynation.com/trump-slowly-deflates-the-higher-education-bubble/

Philadelphia seniors ‘strut’ into aging as they take charge of their health and find community

Posted on by
Reply

Seniors warm up ahead of the Philadelphia Corporation For Aging’s 13th annual Senior Strut along Boathouse Row on Oct. 17, 2025. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

—

Margie Witts (left), 70, and Brenda Smith (right), 68, lead the PHL Huntington Park Walkers group, who get together a few times a week. They participated in the Philadelphia Corporation For Aging’s 13th annual Senior Strut along Boathouse Row on Oct. 17, 2025. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

—

A group of seniors, all wearing matching T-shirts and headbands with fuzzy yellow pom-poms, walked down the Schuylkill River Trail with determination and purpose. Other walkers, bikers, and runners sped by on the trail during a recent Friday morning, but members of the Hunting Park We Walk PHL group were undeterred. Most of them are in their 60s, 70s, or 80s.

“We let them know, we’re not sitting home in a rocking chair,” said Brenda Smith, 68, who lives in Germantown.

The walking group is part of a free citywide program that coordinates meetups for people who want to exercise and improve their health. It’s also an opportunity for older residents to meet new people and create new support systems as they age.

“Some people don’t have anybody to talk to at all. They don’t even have family,” said Margie Witts, 70, who lives in Hunting Park. “You get to become a family.”

—

The group joined more than 500 older city residents at Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row on Friday to participate in the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s 13th annual Senior Strut health event, which featured presentations, exhibits, and music from the Philadelphia Mummers.

“Social isolation is unfortunately an issue that impacts the older adult community in Philadelphia and across the country,” said Bill Conallen, public relations specialist at the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. “Events like this bring people together, allow them opportunities for socialization and really build community and connection that they might not typically have.”

—

With their yellow pom-poms bouncing on their heads with every step, the Hunting Park walkers were easily spotted in the crowd.

“If we see people walking, we tell them to come join us,” Smith said. “A lot of times when we’re exercising and people are standing back looking, we’ll encourage them to come on and be a part of it.”

—

**Finding Support and Friendship Through Exercise**

Walking has many benefits for older adults, research shows. It can reduce the risks or severity of heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, and dementia. It’s also associated with better mental health and sleep.

The Hunting Park walkers regularly meet about three times a week and spend about an hour together outside in their neighborhood.

“We have a slow, medium and a fast group, so everybody walks at a different speed, but we all finish in 45 minutes and then we do a cool down and we’re done,” Smith said.

They’re even out during the coldest months of winter with about 15-20 people, she said. “Scarves, hats, gloves, earmuffs — we out here walking.”

When Smith joined in 2017, she didn’t know anyone in the group. Her doctor had recommended more exercise, so when she learned about the walkers, she went out to a meetup.

“They welcomed me with open arms and I’ve been there ever since,” she said.

It quickly became more than a place to work up a sweat. It’s a group where neighbors can share with each other the celebrations and joys of aging in Philly, as well as the challenges and hardships that come with getting older.

“When you sit down and talk to other people, you find out that they’re either going through something or they’ve been through it, and then they can give you some advice to tell you how they dealt with it,” Smith said.

When Margie Witts’ son died in 2018 and she became depressed, she found the walking group a comforting and supportive presence.

“I found out other people had the same situation I had, if not worse,” she said.

—

Newcomer Jackie Jackson, 60, also found out about the group on Facebook and started walking with them about two days a week. She retired last December.

“I was looking for different things, because when you hit that retirement age, you start feeling like, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do? I worked all my life, what am I going to do?’ It’s scary,” she said, laughing.

This year was her first time participating in the Senior Strut event.

“Most of the times, it’s relaxed, it’s beautiful, like this morning,” Jackson said.

—

**Stay Informed and Connected**

Subscribe to The Philadelphia Tribune NOW! [Click Here]

—

**Community Guidelines**

Please keep discussions respectful and constructive:

– Avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist, or sexually-oriented language.
– Do not use ALL CAPS.
– Threats of harm will not be tolerated.
– Be truthful; do not knowingly spread misinformation.
– No racism, sexism, or any other degrading language.
– Use the ‘Report’ link to notify us of abusive posts.
– Share your eyewitness accounts or the history behind articles.

—

**In Other News**

Misty Copeland broke barriers as the first Black female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Now, through her nonprofit, she’s making dance more accessible for children of color.

—

*Photos by Kimberly Paynter/WHYY*
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/health/philadelphia-seniors-strut-into-aging-as-they-take-charge-of-their-health-and-find-community/article_251f6ded-5568-4b6b-87cf-69352107cd0a.html

EXCLUSIVE: Kate Middleton Set to Lean on Royal ‘Rock’ Who Lives Only 10 Minutes From Future ‘Forever Home’ as She Continues to Recover From Cancer Nightmare

Posted on by
Reply

Oct. 17, 2025, Published 7:20 p.m. ET

Kate Middleton will lean heavily on one of her closest friends in the royal family, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as she continues her recovery from cancer. The two women are soon to become near neighbors, RadarOnline.com can reveal.

The Princess of Wales, 43, and Prince William, also 43, are preparing to move later this year from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge, a larger residence on the Windsor estate described by royal insiders as their “forever home.” Their property lies just a 10-minute drive from Sophie’s residence, Bagshot Park – a proximity royal sources say will allow the two women’s already deep friendship to “grow even stronger.”

A Friendship Built on Loyalty and Trust

A palace source shared, “Sophie has been a constant presence in Kate’s life over the past year – calm, loyal, and completely dependable. She’s the one person Kate feels she can really talk to without judgment.”

“Kate’s move means they’ll be able to see each other far more often, and that support network will be invaluable as Kate continues her recovery.”

Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis in 2024, revealing she had begun preventative chemotherapy after abdominal surgery. Since then, she has stepped back from public duties to focus on her health and her three children – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

According to sources, Sophie has become “a rock” for the Princess during this difficult period, offering both private reassurance and practical help.

Shared Experiences Strengthen Sophie and Middleton’s Bond

One royal expert explained that the women’s shared experiences have formed the foundation of their friendship. “They’re still incredibly close,” they said. “Both came from similar, down-to-earth backgrounds and had to navigate the same maze of royal protocol and expectations. That shared experience has created a bond and understanding between them that very few people could ever have.”

The source added that the two women’s relationship has always been rooted in warmth and authenticity. Their first public display of camaraderie occurred during a carriage procession at Royal Ascot in 2017, when Sophie lost her balance and fell on top of Middleton, and they both erupted in laughter.

A Friendship Marked by Genuine Affection

A source recalled, “It was completely natural and unguarded – nothing staged about it. In that moment, everyone watching could see their friendship was genuine and full of warmth.”

Their closeness deepened following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and later Kate’s health crisis. “Sophie stood beside Kate on the Foreign Office balcony in November 2024, only a few months after Kate had completed her chemotherapy. She gently placed a hand on her back – such a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes about the depth of their friendship.”

Another royal insider noted the pair’s friendship has taken on a “sisterly” quality. “They might be aunt and niece by marriage, but their relationship has always felt much closer than that,” the source said. “They share everything – laughter, worries, and the pressures that come with family and royal life. Sophie has become a calm, reassuring anchor for Kate at a time when she needs it most.”

Sophie’s Steady Support During a New Chapter

Insiders have also highlighted the deep trust between the two women. One said, “It’s difficult to see them simply as relatives – their connection is more like that of sisters or very close cousins. Sophie’s been a tremendous source of guidance, helping Kate navigate royal life while balancing motherhood and public duty.”

“She’s offered real comfort and stability to both Kate and William over what’s been an incredibly challenging 18 months.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to complete their move to Forest Lodge before the end of the year, with aides describing it as a “permanent base” even after William becomes King – a new chapter for the family, and for Middleton, one which will be made easier by having what pals call her “royal rock,” Sophie, close at hand.

https://radaronline.com/p/kate-middleton-recovery-sophie-duchess-edinburgh-forever-home-cancer-battle/