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"This is a novel and surprising finding." — Prof. Aparna Nadig

(Canada) — Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often have a hard time switching gears from one task to another. But being bilingual may actually make it a bit easier for them to do so, according to a new study which was recently published in Child Development. (Photo Credit: Pexels)

"This is a novel and surprising finding," says Prof. Aparna Nadig, the senior author of the paper, from the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at McGill University. "Over the past 15 years there has been a significant debate in the field about whether there is a 'bilingual advantage' in terms of executive functions. Some researchers have argued convincingly that living as a bilingual person and having to switch languages unconsciously to respond to the linguistic context in which the communication is taking place increases cognitive flexibility. But no one has yet published research that clearly demonstrates that this advantage may also extend to children on the autism spectrum. And, so, it's very exciting to find that it does."

The researchers arrived at this conclusion after comparing how easily...

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Spontaneous rupture of the back of the throat is rare, and usually caused by trauma, or sometimes by vomiting, retching or heavy coughing. So, the symptoms of 34-year-old admitted recently to the emergency room after pinching his nose and closing his mouth when he sneezed, surprised doctors.

(The UK) — Pinching your nose while clamping your mouth shut to contain a forceful sneeze isn't a good idea, warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports. (Photo Credit: Flickr)

One young man managed to rupture the back of his throat during this maneuver, leaving him barely able to speak or swallow, and in considerable pain.

Spontaneous rupture of the back of the throat is rare, and usually caused by trauma, or sometimes by vomiting, retching or heavy coughing, so the 34-year-old's symptoms initially surprised the emergency care doctors.

The young man explained that...

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Heart patients who followed the diet reduced death from all causes by 37 percent during the seven-year study [whereas] Statin drugs are believed to reduce major heart problems by only 24 percent.

(The UK) — [Newsmax Health] The Mediterranean diet, which is often rated as the No. 1 diet for losing weight, is also touted as boosting brain health, preventing cancer, and helping prevent and control diabetes. (Photo Credit: Flickr)

But a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that it may also help keep people…

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