Rates of leg and foot amputations in Illinois hospitals increased 65% between 2016 and 2023, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. 

Men, Black patients, and those living in areas with low socioeconomic status were disproportionally affected, the study found. The dramatic spike is largely attributed to a growing prevalence of diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD), two chronic conditions that often lead to lower extremity amputation, the study authors said. 

Newly decoded brain circuits make memories more stable as part of learning, according to a new study led by NYU Langone Health researchers. Problems with related neural computations can lead to symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia or post-traumatic stress disorder, the study authors say – where the stability and precision of memories fail.