Owning a pet may help slow cognitive decline in older adults, study finds

Owning a pet, particularly five years or longer, may help keep individuals sharper as they age, according to a new preliminary study.

Elk Grove Village mayor wants suburb to have its own health department

Bucking state-mandated mask requirements, the mayor of Elk Grove Village wants to take his community’s health into the village’s hands.  

Rare multisystem inflammatory syndrome appears in some teenagers after COVID-19 vaccination: study

"Patients with MIS-C usually present with persistent fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, mucocutaneous lesions and, in severe cases, with hypotension and shock," the CDC said on their website.

CDC's COVID-19 mask guidelines to loosen Friday, AP sources say

The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Elk Grove Village looking to create own health department
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The mayor of Elk Grove Village does not want to leave the next health crisis to outside guidance. He announced plans to establish the town's own health department. Mayor Craig Johnson joins First at Four to discuss this plan.

'Doug the Pug' celebrates a young cancer survivor in new song of hope
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Horizon Therapeutics connected young cancer survivor Leonor Formo, and social media superstar "Doug the Pug," in a story-telling way. Now, that story has been turned into a song.

Chicago researchers lay out more detailed picture of what drugs do to our brains

Since the late 1980s, we thought we had a good idea of what drugs do to our brains. Now, researchers in Chicago have an even more detailed picture.

Chicago researchers provide a new look at your brain on drugs
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Since the late 1980s, we thought we had a good idea of what drugs do to our brains. Now, researchers in Chicago have an even more detailed picture.

New Chicago study focuses on mental health of young men of color

The study recruited young African American and Hispanic men to conduct their own research, among their peers, to determine what was impacting their mental health the most.

Young men of color lead Chicago study on mental health
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A new study in Chicago led by young men of color shows that normalization of trauma and systemic inequity is leading to worsening mental health.

Ivermectin does not prevent severe COVID-19 illness, study finds

A new study suggests that ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug, is not effective in preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Illinois reports 20,896 new coronavirus cases, 417 deaths in past week

Illinois public health officials on Friday announced 20,896 new cases of the coronavirus in the state and 417 additional deaths have been recorded in the past week.

Influential model finds 73% of US now immune to omicron

This winter's omicron wave in the U.S. also bolstered our defenses, leaving enough protection against the coronavirus that future spikes will likely require much less disruption to society.

COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women may protect newborns, study shows

The study showed the completion of vaccination during pregnancy was associated with reduced risk for COVID-19-associated hospitalizations in newborn babies.