Twitter is the latest literary format that's improving student learning, according to a new study. (Really.) (William Hook/Flickr Creative Commons)
Hey, Dad – no pressure, but your advice plays a major role in the development of your teen's approach to sex. So says a new study, which according to HealthDay, found that teenagers have less sex if their fathers talk to them about the sensitive topic more. There's a few caveats, but nothing that compromises the notion that "fathers do make a difference," as the lead author said, adding that it's "not just about mothers."
Reuters reports that antidepressants have been linked to an upped risk of brain bleeds, although the risk is still very small. The drugs in question include popular brands like Prozac and Zoloft, and according to researchers, make users up to 50 percent more likely to bleed in or around the brain. That may sound like a big number, authors said, but they assure antidepressant users that the risks to any one individual are "extremely low."
HealthDay has more on depression: A new survey has found that 79 percent of people who suffer from depression report experiencing some form of discrimination. A lot of people with depression also anticipate discrimination, which leads them to avoid doing certain things – applying for a job or initiating a relationship, for example. But the report also said nearly half of the people who thought they would experience discrimination, in fact, did not.
Older folks – in this case between the ages of 70 and 89 – may want to cut back on the carbs. USA Today reports on a new study which found that carbohydrates and sugars can increase a person's risk of mild cognitive impairment – which is often a precursor to Alzheimer's disease – fourfold.
Fungal meningitis has claimed four more lives, says CBS News, upping the the recent outbreak's nationwide death roll to 19. Federal health officials are currently reporting 247 infections in 15 states, including California.
And finally: Twitter is the latest literary format that's improving student learning. (Yes, that Twitter.) A new study appearing in Educational Forum found that college kids who tweet as part of their coursework are more engaged with the content, the professor and other students. They also have higher grades. And we're way over our 140-character limit.
Photo by William Hook via Flickr Creative Commons.
