Memory

Patrick J. Skerrett

At Harvard Forum, experts debate how much vitamin D is enough

Patrick J. Skerrett, Executive Editor, Harvard Health
Hand-and-sun

A panel discussion at Harvard School of Public Health called “Boosting Vitamin D: Not Enough or Too Much?” highlights the current controversy over the once-overlooked sunshine vitamin. A panel of experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine recommends a daily dose of 600 IU per day for everyone from ages 1 to 70 and 800 IU for those over 70. Other experts think the IOM recommendation is too low. One way to get vitamin D is to spend a few minutes a day outside in the sun, but that’s a hot-button issue because sun exposure is a cause of skin cancer.

Read more »
Ann MacDonald
Patrick J. Skerrett

Cell phone use stimulates brain activity

Patrick J. Skerrett, Executive Editor, Harvard Health

An elegant new study showing that a cell phone can stimulate brain activity is certain to heat up the debate about whether or not cell phone use is linked to cancer. It’s an important signal that it’s high time scientists take a harder look at how the energy radiated by a cell phone, a mobile phone, or any other energy-emitting device we hold next to our heads affects the brain.

Read more »
Peter Wehrwein

Football and concussions: Old school, new school, and a conversation with Jerry Kramer

Peter Wehrwein, Editor, Harvard Health

Tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m., tens of millions of television sets will be turned on as Americans sit down and participate in that unofficial national holiday called “watching the Super Bowl.” For many, it’s an excuse to see funny ads and the half-time show and to eat (how many of those spanking new Dietary Guidelines will be broken?), drink, and socialize. But [...]

Read more »
Michael Craig Miller, M.D.

More on Brain Injury in the NFL

Michael Craig Miller, M.D., Senior Editor, Mental Health Publishing, Harvard Health Publications

If you watch football on Thanksgiving, keep the players’ brain health in mind. Alan Schwarz of the NY Times has been a dogged defensive end, in hot pursuit of this story. Read his latest contribution here. He points out that the National Football League (NFL) has been slow to assess penalties on players who take violent [...]

Read more »
Michael Craig Miller, M.D.

Concussions in Football

Michael Craig Miller, M.D., Senior Editor, Mental Health Publishing, Harvard Health Publications

I have to applaud today’s editorial in the New York Times that anticipates a new football season. Here is the first paragraph — The millionaire players of professional football are suiting up for the new season with a startling caution on their locker room walls. A poster headlined “CONCUSSION” warns players that lifelong brain damage [...]

Read more »