Language News and Research

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Language skills are essential to a child’s ability to communicate and develop. These skills enable children to engage with other people and learn from their surroundings and in the classroom.

Speaking more languages may lower risk of developing memory problems

People who speak more than two languages may lower their risk of developing memory problems, according a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16, 2011.

23 Feb 2011

Tropical seaweed's antifungal chemical cues may have promising antimalarial properties for humans

A group of chemical compounds used by a species of tropical seaweed to ward off fungus attacks may have promising antimalarial properties for humans. The compounds are part of a unique chemical signaling system that seaweeds use to battle enemies - and that may provide a wealth of potential new pharmaceutical compounds.

22 Feb 2011

Scientist to present neuroimaging evidence on impact of cognitive functions in bilingual processing at AAAS

Sonja Kotz leads the Minerva research group "Neurocognition of Rhythm in Communication" at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig. She will present evidence from neuroimaging on the impact of cognitive functions on bilingual processing at the AAAS symposium "Crossing Borders in Language Science: What Bilinguals Tell Us About Mind and Brain".

21 Feb 2011

Language skills promote cognitive function and delay Alzheimer’s: Study

A new study suggests that bilingual speakers hold Alzheimer’s disease at bay for an extra four years on average compared with people who spoke only one language. Knowing more languages can improve cognitive skills and delay the onset of dementia, according to researchers.

20 Feb 2011

Watson's performance on Jeopardy! inspires 700% spike in volunteers for World Community Grid

Watson wasn't the only computer system that won this week when it competed successfully against two human champions on the Jeopardy! game show.

19 Feb 2011

Recent releases in Global Health

Factors Contributing to Health Of Women Worldwide: The Kaiser Family Foundation features a narrated slide tutorial by epidemiologist Laurel Spielberg on the health issues facing women around the world. The tutorial touches on issues such as economic status and biological, social, and cultural factors that affect women's health, as well as access to health services such as family planning (2/17).

19 Feb 2011

AAWC develops series of brochures in Spanish for skin care and treatment of wounds

The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care has developed three educational brochures for the care of skin and treatment of wounds. Widely used by clinicians as a resource for patients and their caregivers, AAWC recently converted the brochures into Spanish due to popular demand.

19 Feb 2011

Bilingualism enhances multi-tasking skills

Once likened to a confusing tower of Babel, speaking more than one language can actually bolster brain function by serving as a mental gymnasium, according to researchers.

18 Feb 2011

Canadian experts to discuss on latest developments in speech research at AASS

Three leading Canadian language and speech experts will take centre stage in discussions on the latest developments in speech research at this year's annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C.

18 Feb 2011

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

A law under consideration in South Dakota would expand the definition of "justifiable homicide" to include killings that are intended to prevent harm to a fetus—a move that could make it legal to kill doctors who perform abortions.

18 Feb 2011

New study: Latino siblings of children with disability may face risk of negative outcomes

Latino siblings of children developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism may face their own challenges, including anxiety and lower school performance, according to a new study led by researchers with the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center.

17 Feb 2011

Study: 1 in 5 homeless people with tuberculosis die within a year of diagnosis

One in five homeless people with tuberculosis die within a year of their diagnosis, according to a study led by St. Michael's Hospital's Dr. Kamran Khan. And that number remains unchanged over the last decade despite recommendations calling for greater improvements in prevention and control of tuberculosis in homeless shelters.

17 Feb 2011

3M, Nuance partner to deliver ICD-10-ready clinical documentation, coding solutions

Nuance Communications, Inc. and 3M Health Information Systems, two leaders in healthcare IT, today announced a broad, strategic partnership in which the companies are working together to deliver a suite of next generation, ICD-10-ready clinical documentation and coding solutions.

16 Feb 2011

Joslin upgrades its website to raise awareness about diabetes in Latino population

Latinos are twice as likely to develop diabetes as Caucasians, and half the Latinos born in the United States in this century are expected to get the disease. Helping to meet this challenge, Joslin Diabetes Center's Latino Diabetes Initiative—a comprehensive effort that combines clinical care, patient education, community outreach, research and healthcare team education—has upgraded its website with additional resources for Latinos with diabetes and their families in both English and Spanish.

15 Feb 2011

HealthCare Alert introduces new web site and mobile application

HealthCare Alert, a new mobile health care company, launches its web site www.HealthCareAlert.com and mobile application HealthCare Alert on February 14, 2011 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

14 Feb 2011

State roundup: Fla. preps for Medicaid overhaul; Funding cut fears in Mass., Texas; Calif. exchange board's challenges

Both President Barack Obama and House Republicans are moving to rein in federal spending by reducing aid to states and cities, which would deepen their fiscal woes just as economic-stimulus funds from Washington are drying up. ...

11 Feb 2011

New resources made available to increase awareness of PCIP

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today made new resources available to the media, consumer groups, states, health care providers, and others to increase awareness of the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, a health plan for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions created by the Affordable Care Act.

11 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: Sebelius on empowering states; NY Times on insurance mandate; WSJ on 'next repeal target'

As governor of Kansas, I saw up close the urgent need for health-care reform. I heard it when factory owners told me their biggest concern was not manufacturing costs but rising insurance premiums, and when families said they felt like hostages to insurance companies that could deny or cancel coverage with little accountability.

11 Feb 2011

Patients with sensorineural hearing loss can benefit from mucosa-derived stem cell transplant

Stem Cell scientists in Australia have found that patients suffering from hearing problems which began during infancy and childhood could benefit from a transplant of stem cells from their nose. The research, published today in STEM CELLS, reveals that mucosa-derived stem cells can help preserve hearing function during the early-onset of sensorineural hearing loss.

10 Feb 2011

Study unveils surprising mechanism that controls brain formation

A study from The Scripps Research Institute has unveiled a surprising mechanism that controls brain formation. The findings have implications for understanding a host of diseases, including some forms of mental retardation, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism.

10 Feb 2011

Language News and Research

Further Reading

Speaking more languages may lower risk of developing memory problems

Tropical seaweed's antifungal chemical cues may have promising antimalarial properties for humans

Scientist to present neuroimaging evidence on impact of cognitive functions in bilingual processing at AAAS

Language skills promote cognitive function and delay Alzheimer’s: Study

Watson's performance on Jeopardy! inspires 700% spike in volunteers for World Community Grid

Recent releases in Global Health

AAWC develops series of brochures in Spanish for skin care and treatment of wounds

Bilingualism enhances multi-tasking skills

Canadian experts to discuss on latest developments in speech research at AASS

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

New study: Latino siblings of children with disability may face risk of negative outcomes

Study: 1 in 5 homeless people with tuberculosis die within a year of diagnosis

3M, Nuance partner to deliver ICD-10-ready clinical documentation, coding solutions

Joslin upgrades its website to raise awareness about diabetes in Latino population

HealthCare Alert introduces new web site and mobile application

State roundup: Fla. preps for Medicaid overhaul; Funding cut fears in Mass., Texas; Calif. exchange board's challenges

New resources made available to increase awareness of PCIP

Viewpoints: Sebelius on empowering states; NY Times on insurance mandate; WSJ on 'next repeal target'

Patients with sensorineural hearing loss can benefit from mucosa-derived stem cell transplant

Study unveils surprising mechanism that controls brain formation

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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