Research links variations in the gene GRIN2A to a higher risk of developing schizophrenia and other forms of mental illness. A team of physicians specializing in genetics and neurology discovered that mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are closely linked to mutations in the GRIN2A gene. The scientists mantain that identifying this genetic risk factor opens up the possibility of designing preventive therapies in the future. The GRIN2A gene regulates communication between neurons by producing the GluN2A protein. When functioning optimally, it promotes the transmission of electrical signals between nerve cells and facilitates essential processes such as learning, memory, language, and brain development.

Scientists were out to prove sleep was just a waste of time. Among the students who participated in the sleep deprivation study was the future head of the psychology department at George Washington University. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. The grueling Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, was first devised in the 1920s by George Washington University professor Frederick August Moss. Originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test for Medical Students, Moss developed the readiness test as a way to curb high dropout rates in medical schools.

Researchers confirmed that sperm accumulate mutations over the years, increasing the risk of transmitting diseases to offspring. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Human semen not only accumulates genetic mutations with age; as the percentage of sperm carrying potentially serious mutations increases, so does the risk of developing diseases in offspring. This is according to a new study by researchers at the Sanger Institute and King's College London.

What we know, and don't, about the link between painkillers and autism Scientific evidence is lacking to support the US government's decisions to caution against using a common painkiller in pregnancy and fast-track the approval of an experimental medication for autism On Monday, the US government announced two initiatives related to autism . It will update labelling on the common painkiller paracetamol, also called acetaminophen, warning use during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism and ADHD in children . It will also approve a drug called leucovorin for use in some children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neither of these moves is based on robust scientific findings, and they are likely to have minimal effect on autism rates in the US. The announcement comes after the country's highest ranking public health official, Robert F Kennedy Jr, pledged in April to identify the causes of autism by the end of September.

Amanda Harpell-Franz, mother of a 7-year-old boy with autism, shares how the boy's service dog, Kalvin, has helped him socially and emotionally. Left-handedness and certain neurological disorders could go hand-in-hand, a new study revealed, though the researchers and others acknowledged potential limitations. While about 10% of people in the world are left-handed, people with autism are 3.5 times more likely to have the trait, according to an international team of researchers that analyzed data from over 200,000 individuals. The study, published in the journal Psychological Bulletin, indicated that left- and mixed-handedness also appear more often in people who have diagnoses such as schizophrenia, autism and intellectual disability. Mixed-handedness refers to a situation in which people may use their left hand for a certain task and their right hand for others, according to psychology experts.

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Fox News Digital publishes an array of health pieces all week long to keep you in the know on a range of wellness topics: health care access, innovative surgeries, cancer research, mental health trends and more -- plus, personal stories of people and families overcoming great obstacles. As you wind down your weekend, check out some of the top stories of the week in Health that you may have missed, or have been meaning to check out. These are just a few of what's new, of course.

The more lead that people are exposed to in childhood or in the uterus, the more likely they are to engage in criminal behaviour as teenagers or adults, according to a review of 17 studies. "The evidence shows an excess risk for criminal behaviour years later," says Maria Jose Talayero at the George Washington University in Washington DC. Lead exposure has fallen in many countries, mainly due to the removal of lead additives from petrol (gasoline). However, there is no safe level – any amount of exposure is thought to be harmful. It is estimated that 1 in 3 children globally have blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per decilitre, which can result in decreased intelligence, behavioural difficulties and learning problems.

More than 1.3 million Californians may be drinking high levels of manganese, enough to cause cognitive disabilities in children and Parkinson's-like symptoms in adults. The discovery was made by researchers at the University of California - Riverside (UCR), who discovered the mineral is thriving in untreated wells throughout Central Valley. The study found private wells and public water systems, with nearly half of the affected residents living in disadvantaged communities - almost 89 percent are likely to access water highly contaminated with manganese. While manganese is found in water supplies worldwide, the US is one of the only nations not enforcing a maximum level. The research comes as the University of Los Angeles may have uncovered a link between lithium in drinking water and autism.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making inroads in the healthcare industry in various ways. From improving medical diagnoses to finding new cures for diseases, AI is revolutionizing the way healthcare professionals approach their work. One exciting example of AI in healthcare is its application to electrocardiograms (ECGs), which are used to monitor and diagnose heart health. Researchers in northern Alberta, Canada, are utilizing AI to glean more information from ECGs and improve patient care and the healthcare system as a whole. ECGs are a standard test in hospitals, used to check the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart.

A new AI-based model showed the ability to identify eyes with normal topographies at risk for developing post-LASIK ectasia. "This method increases the number of cases correctly identified as at risk and reduces the number of eyes that had been inadequately considered at risk," the authors wrote. Six features, including percent tissue altered (PTA), residual stromal bed, corneal thickness, flap thickness, central ablation depth and age, were used to engineer through machine learning 14 additional features. The different interactions between these 20 variables were tested, sampling thousands of models with diverse predictive performance. Following fivefold cross-validation, the best performing model was selected.