According to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), older Americans with chronic low back pain who received acupuncture had greater improvement in physical function and reduced pain than those who received usual medical care only, generally prescribed medications or physical therapy. Chronic low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects over one-third of older adults in the United States. Treatment options range from pain-relieving drugs to complementary therapies, including acupuncture. There is an urgent need for safe, effective, and non-addictive pain management approaches.  

About The Study: In this cohort study, childhood loneliness was associated with cognitive decline and dementia risk in middle and later adulthood, even in the absence of adult loneliness. Early interventions aimed at reducing childhood loneliness may help promote lifelong cognitive health and reducing dementia risk.

About The Study: This cohort study found an association of parental diseases of despair (defined as a suicide attempt, alcohol-related disease, or substance use disorder) with youth suicidal events; this finding may be underlying the increase in adolescent suicidal behavior observed in the U.S. over the past 2 decades. Improved access to care for parents with diseases of despair and systematic screening and referral of their offspring could help to reduce the adolescent suicide rate.

About The Study: The findings of this randomized clinical trial of older adults with chronic low back pain suggest that acupuncture needling provided greater improvements in back pain–related disability at 6 months and at 12 months compared with usual medical care alone. These findings support acupuncture needling as an effective and safe treatment option for older adults with chronic low back pain.

Parents of children with variable levels of walking impairment perceive significant quality of life improvements in their children after six months of living with a mobility assistance dog, according to the first qualitative assessment of its type that provides important evidence in an area of growing therapeutic interest.

Specifically, the parents of 10 children aged 6-12 with neurological and/or physical impairments in their walking perceived improvements in most of the childrens’ physical activity levels, as well as in their social engagement and family life.