Nerdy Nexus – where science and health meet society Taking Care of Each Other: Resources and Information for Immigrants, Allies, and Neighbors Public health is full of interesting puzzles: How do we keep everyone safe while respecting personal choices? Civil rights ensure we *all* get a fair shot at being healthy—access to good healthcare, safe Read more…
Continued research is needed, but in the meantime, avoiding unproven and harmful therapies is the best medicine. For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), effective therapies for social/communication symptoms and medications to help co-occurring conditions (depression, anxiety, irritability) exist. Continued research is needed, but in the meantime, avoiding unproven and harmful therapies is the best Read more…
This year’s Black History Month theme—”A Century of Black History Commemorations”—reminds us to honor a full century of contributions while charting the path forward. For Black women in STEM, this century tells a story of groundbreaking achievement against extraordinary odds. These women include the NASA mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, whose calculations Read more…
Implementation science is the study of how to make sure good, evidence-based ideas in medicine and public health actually reach people. In the hospital, very sick patients may need a central line to receive important medicines and fluids. In the past, these helpful tubes too often led to serious infections in the bloodstream. Doctors already Read more…
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Camille Seaberry, MPS Camille is a professional data nerd. As a senior research associate at DataHaven, a nonprofit based in New Haven, CT, she does data analysis, data science, and data Read more…
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Kelly Valentin Kelly has a passion for psychiatric epidemiology, and her research interests include psychopharmacology, behavioral health, social determinants of mental health outcomes, and psychopathology. Currently, she is pursuing a Master Read more…
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA, CHES® Kenzie is a social epidemiologist and health communications specialist who loves discussing all things health equity. Her specific research passions are the sociology of body image; Read more…
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
A: Current evidence suggests that puberty blockers, which hit the pause button on puberty and are reversible, significantly improve the mental health of trans youth while reducing the risk of needing future surgeries. (Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on January 23, 2024.) A recent study showed that Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
