Spanking kids can cause long-term harm: Canada study (Reuters)

Reuters - Spanking children can cause long-term developmental damage and may even lower a child's IQ, according to a new Canadian analysis that seeks to shift the ethical debate over corporal punishment into the medical sphere.

Obama administration to spend $50 million more immediately (Reuters)

Reuters - The Obama administration said on Tuesday it plans to spend an additional $50 million this year and will seek an extra $80 million in fiscal 2013 to bolster research for Alzheimer's disease, a fatal brain-wasting condition that affects more than 5 million Americans.

Obama administration to spend $50 million more immediately (Reuters)

Reuters - The Obama administration said on Tuesday it plans to spend an additional $50 million this year and will seek an extra $80 million in fiscal 2013 to bolster research for Alzheimer's disease, a fatal brain-wasting condition that affects more than 5 million Americans.

CDC: Breads top list of salt sources in US diet (AP)

AP - Bread and rolls are the No. 1 source of salt in the American diet, accounting for more than twice as much sodium as snacks like potato chips and pretzels.

Obama to seek more Alzheimer's research money (AP)

AP - The Obama administration is increasing spending on Alzheimer's research — planning to surpass half a billion dollars next year — as part of a quest to find effective treatments for the brain-destroying disease by 2025.

Obama to seek more Alzheimer's research money (AP)

AP - The Obama administration is increasing spending on Alzheimer's research — planning to surpass half a billion dollars next year — as part of a quest to find effective treatments for the brain-destroying disease by 2025.

Behavior programs may cut child obesity risk (Reuters)

Reuters - Programs that teach parenting skills early on may help prevent obesity in poor U.S. kids, a study published Monday suggests.

Study Finds Half of Elementary Schools Still Offer Unhealthy Snacks (ContributorNetwork)

ContributorNetwork - Despite efforts to help kids make healthier eating choices and reducing their access to junk foods at school, a report says eating behavior among children is largely unchanged. Surveys from 2006 to 2010 found approximately 50 percent of public and private schools had vending machines or other avenues that offered unhealthy snacks, according to the Associated Press.

Gene Research Offers Clues to Parkinson's Disease (HealthDay)

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- In certain people with Parkinson's disease, mutations in the parkin gene disrupt the proper function of dopamine, the brain chemical that controls body movement.

Breast Cancer Drug May Weaken Bones, Study Finds (HealthDay)

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A drug used to prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease appears to cause bone loss in some postmenopausal women, a new study finds.

Breast Cancer Drug May Weaken Bones, Study Finds (HealthDay)

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A drug used to prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease appears to cause bone loss in some postmenopausal women, a new study finds.

Pa. college machine dispenses 'morning-after' pill (AP)

AP - Students at a Pennsylvania university can obtain the "morning-after" pill from an unusual source — a vending machine at the campus health center.

Government health spending seen hitting $1.8 trillion (Reuters)

Reuters - Government spending for Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs will more than double over the next decade to $1.8 trillion, or 7.3 percent of the country's total economic output, congressional researchers said on Tuesday.

Government health spending seen hitting $1.8 trillion (Reuters)

Reuters - Government spending for Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs will more than double over the next decade to $1.8 trillion, or 7.3 percent of the country's total economic output, congressional researchers said on Tuesday.

Health Tip: How to Protect Seniors From Injury (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Creating a home safety checklist can help seniors prevent injuries and let them prepare if they happen to fall or hurt themselves.

New Criteria Could Change Who Is Diagnosed With Alzheimer's (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- New guidelines for diagnosing the mental decline that can come with several diseases of aging may create confusion among doctors and patients about who has early Alzheimer's disease and who simply has mild cognitive impairment, a new report warns.

Certain Cancer Drugs May Have Fatal Side Effects: Analysis (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with three relatively new cancer drugs may be linked to a slightly increased risk of death, a new analysis suggests.

Certain Cancer Drugs May Have Fatal Side Effects: Analysis (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with three relatively new cancer drugs may be linked to a slightly increased risk of death, a new analysis suggests.

Antidepressants May Not Raise Suicide Risk in Youth: Study (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Antidepressant drugs such as Prozac do not raise suicide risk in young people, a new study says.

Pancreas May 'Taste' Fructose, Hinting at Links to Diabetes (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- New research shows that the pancreas has sweet-taste receptors -- like those found on the tongue -- that can "taste" fructose.

Does Abortion in First Trimester Raise Risk of Mental Ills' Return? (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Women with a history of mental illness do not seem to be at increased risk of readmission to a psychiatric hospital after having an abortion in their first trimester, a new study suggests.

Blurry line in diagnosing early Alzheimer's: study (Reuters)

Reuters - The revised definition of a brain condition called mild cognitive impairment means that many people now considered to have mild or early Alzheimer's disease could easily be given that diagnosis instead, suggests a new study.

Ovarian cancer screening popular despite guidelines (Reuters)

Reuters - Despite expert guidelines and scientific evidence to the contrary, a third of U.S. primary care physicians believe ovarian cancer screening is effective and many would offer it to patients, according to a new survey.

Ovarian cancer screening popular despite guidelines (Reuters)

Reuters - Despite expert guidelines and scientific evidence to the contrary, a third of U.S. primary care physicians believe ovarian cancer screening is effective and many would offer it to patients, according to a new survey.

Diet supplements recalled on unlabeled drug worries (Reuters)

Reuters - Healthy People Co is recalling 15 lots of seven different dietary supplements because they contain appetite suppressants or a drug for male erectile dysfunction, the Long Beach, California, company said.

New Alzheimer's Criteria Would Change Diagnosis for Millions (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - Almost everyone currently diagnosed with a mild form of Alzheimer's disease would be downgraded to not having the condition, if new proposed criteria for the diagnosis of cognitive problems were applied, a new study shows.

FDA questions Amgen drug for prostate cancer (AP)

AP - Scientists for the Food and Drug Administration say that an Amgen drug slowed the spread of cancer to the bone in men with hard-to-treat prostate cancer, though the drug did not extend life and carried significant side effects.

Green tea drinkers show less disability with age: study (Reuters)

Reuters - Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people.

Study: Breastfeeding Strengthens Children's Lungs (ContributorNetwork)

ContributorNetwork - A study published by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reverses some earlier thinking that breastfeeding by mothers with asthma might increase the child's risk for the disease. The study found breastfeeding strengthens children's lungs, even if the mother has asthma. Here are details about breastfeeding and lung health in children.

Winter Can Pose Hazards for Seniors (HealthDay)

HealthDay - SATURDAY, Feb. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Winter weather can be challenging for some seniors, especially those with mobility or other health issues.