Well, Well, Well
A Log of Notes and Observations
A Log of Notes and Observations
Tuesday, May 2, 2006; Page HE02
The Gender Gap Exposed
  (Mel Evans - AP) |
Men are mentally slower than women. Any woman could tell you that, but now there's proof of a sort. Vanderbilt University researchers looking at 8,000 males and females ages 2 to 90 found females to be markedly better at timed tests and tasks . The researchers said the differences, which were particularly significant in teens and preteens, did not reflect differences in overall intelligence, but they may help explain the growing school achievement gap.
Dry Eyes in the House
According to a recent survey, few women are aware that dry eye is a common symptom of menopause. A survey sponsored by the Society for Women's Health Research revealed that 62 percent of menopausal and peri-menopausal women report experiencing dry eye symptoms, but only 16 percent knew that the condition was linked to menopause . Treatments, which depend on the cause and the severity of the condition, can include artificial tear eyedrops, prescription therapies and surgery.
The Hair Up There
Common wisdom has it that male-pattern baldness is inherited from your mother's side of the family tree, but it ain't necessarily so, according to Robert Weiss, a cosmetic dermatologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "You're probably in trouble, though, if both your mother's side and your father's side are bald," Weiss told the Ivanhoe.com medical news service last week. Weiss is currently studying a new way to stimulate hair growth using a device that emits low-energy red light to energize hair follicles.
An Epidemic of Ignorance
A survey released last week by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) found that nearly half of all consumers know little or nothing about the warning signs, causes and effective treatments for mental illnesses such as depression . Of those surveyed, 84 percent said they would benefit from knowing more about those illnesses, which is a safe bet given the APA's estimate that one in five Americans is afflicted during any given year.
