Increasingly, loneliness is being linked to a host of medical conditions and diseases. The latest is the neurological disorder Parkinson's disease. A new study found that even after accounting for confounding factors such as physical and mental health and sociodemographic differences, loneliness was deemed to boost the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Researchers said impaired metabolic, inflammatory and neuroendocrine pathways might be a reason.

Define 'Infertility'

Until recently, an official diagnosis of infertility was characterized as the inability of heterosexual couples to conceive a child after trying for a year while having intercourse without protection.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has expanded the definition to include, but not be limited to, "the use of donor gametes or donor embryos in order to achieve a successful pregnancy either as an individual or with a partner."

The change reflects evolving perceptions in society and infertility medicine.

"What we're really trying to do is to acknowledge the reality that there are multiple reasons why patients may need medical intervention in order to build their families," said Sean Tipton at ASRM. "It also could be that someone is single or is partnered with someone who is of the same sex as they are, and those people deserve access every bit as much as anybody else."

Body of Knowledge

By the age of 60, it's estimated that 40% of women and 60% of men will snore. Snoring becomes more common with age because upper airway muscles lose tone, weight gain impairs air passage and alcohol and medications may exacerbate the issue.

The loudest snore recorded measured approximately 111.6 decibels, or the equivalent of a jet flying over your bed.

Doc Talk

Neoplasm — an abnormal growth of tissues (tumor) that can be either cancerous or benign

Phobia of the Week

Caligynephobia — fear of beautiful women

Food for Thought

Activated charcoal is charcoal created by combining high temperature with a gas or activating agent to expand the charcoal's surface area. It's used to color food black (for dramatic effect) and as a purported health ingredient because activated charcoal binds with almost any compound and thus is touted to promote digestive health, reduce cholesterol and eliminate impurities from the body.

That binding, however, isn't particularly discerning. While activated charcoal is used as a remedy for some ingested poisons, it can also bind to foods and block absorption of nutrients or medications, which is a serious consideration when precise drug dosages are essential.

Best Medicine

Roses are red, violets are blue

I'm schizophrenic, and so am I.

Hypochondriac's Guide

Geographic tongue is an inflammatory but harmless condition in which the tongue's surface, covered with papillae or taste buds, exhibits raised patches of seemingly missing papillae. The resulting patterns can move around, sort of like palate tectonics.

Geographic tongue does not cause health issues. It's not related to infection or cancer. The cause is unknown but may be associated with other immune system-related conditions, such as psoriasis. The condition may continue for days, months or years. It often goes away on its own, though it may recur. There is no specific treatment.

Observation

"Everyone should have a few bad habits so he'll have something he can give up if his health fails." — American writer Franklin P. Jones (1908-1980)

Medical History

This week in 1827 in the city of Boston, the School Committee voted to require that public school students show that they had been vaccinated against smallpox prior to school entrance. Certificates to the board of health were to be issued where necessary for free vaccination. The initiative came just three decades after Edward Jenner's discovery of a method to immunize against smallpox. Massachusetts passed the first statewide school vaccination law in 1855, followed by New York (1862) and Connecticut (1872).

Ig Nobel Apprised

The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate achievements that make people laugh, then think. A look at real science that's hard to take seriously, and even harder to ignore.

In 2021, the Ig Nobel Prize in physics went to a team of Chinese and Dutch researchers for explaining why pedestrians do not constantly collide with other pedestrians.

If only the same could be said of pedestrians versus cars. Last year, the Governors Highway Safety Association reported that 7,485 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2021, the highest number in 40 years.

Med School

Q: What is the largest hollow space in the human body?

a) Ventral cavity

b) Dorsal cavity

c) Abdominal cavity

d) Oral cavity

A: c) The abdominal cavity is the largest hollow space, containing the greater part of the digestive tract, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and adrenal glands. If you said oral cavity, wash your mouth out.

Last Words

"Let's have a really good red wine tonight." — Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung (1875-1961). Jung died at his Swiss villa. He was recovering from multiple strokes and had made the beverage request of a friend.

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Milad Fakurian at Unsplash