Fewer Americans read for pleasure as attention spans decline, study finds
Only 16 percent of Americans age 15 and over read for leisure every day in 2023, according to a study from researchers at the University of Florida and University College London that was published Wednesday in the journal iScience, compared with 28 percent of Americans in 2003.
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Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Vitamin D Deficiency Tied to Cataract Risk in Young Adults
TOPLINE: Severe deficiency of vitamin D (< 25 nmol/L) has been associated with a significantly increased risk for cataracts, particularly in people younger than 50 years. METHODOLOGY: Researchers examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the risk for cataracts, using data from the UK Biobank. The cross-sectional analysis included 442,255 participants with data on serum levels of vitamin D; among them, 427,923 participants (mean age, 56.2 years; 53.6% women) without cataracts at baseline were followed up for an average duration of 10.8 years in the longitudinal analysis. Based on serum levels of vitamin D at baseline, participants were categorized into those with severe deficiency (< 25 nmol/L), moderate deficiency (25-49.9 nmol/L), insufficiency (50-74.9 nmol/L), or sufficiency (≥ 75 nmol/L). Cases of cataracts were confirmed from hospital records and self-reported information. TAKEAWAY: Of the 442,255 participants in the cross-sectional analysis, 3.24% had cataracts, and of the 427,923 participants in the longitudinal analysis, 13.02% developed the condition. In cross-sectional analyses, individuals with vitamin D levels < 25 nmol/L had a 12% higher risk for cataracts than those with levels ranging from 50 to 74.9 nmol/L (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.21). In the longitudinal analysis, participants with vitamin D levels below 25 nmol/L had an 11% higher risk of developing cataracts than those with levels of 50-74.9 nmol/L (aHR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.07-1.15); the risk was even greater among people younger than 50 years (aHR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.07-1.49), whereas those aged 60 years or older had a 9% increased risk (aHR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04-1.14). IN PRACTICE: 'The study identified significant cross-sectional and prospective associations between vitamin D deficiency and increased cataract risk, with younger individuals being more susceptible,' the researchers reported. 'These findings suggest a potential critical period in early adulthood when vitamin D supplementation may be most effective for cataract prevention, warranting further investigation into age-specific intervention strategies,' they added. SOURCE: This study was led by Yu Peng and Yuzhou Zhang, of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. It was published online on August 18, 2025, in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. LIMITATIONS: Not all cases of cataract may have been identified in this study. This study relied on baseline measurement of vitamin D levels, which did not account for variations during the follow-up period. The findings may not be generalizable to other populations as nearly 95% of participants in the UK Biobank were of White ethnicity. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported partly by the General Research Fund, Research Grants Council, Hong Kong; Collaborative Research Fund; Health and Medical Research Fund, Hong Kong; and other sources. The authors declared no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
How many giraffe species are in Africa? New scientific analysis quadruples the count
Giraffes-Conservation WASHINGTON (AP) — Giraffes are a majestic sight in Africa with their long necks and distinctive spots. Now it turns out there are four different giraffe species on the continent, according to a new scientific analysis released Thursday. Researchers previously considered all giraffes across Africa to belong to a single species. New data and genetic studies have led a task force of the International Union for Conservation of Nature to split the tallest mammal on land into four groups — Northern giraffes, reticulated giraffes, Masai giraffes and Southern giraffes. Key studies have emerged in the past decade highlighting significant differences between the four species, said the IUCN's Michael Brown, a researcher in Windhoek, Namibia, who led the assessment. Naming different giraffes matters because 'each species has different population sizes, threats and conservation needs,' he said. 'When you lump giraffes all together, it muddies the narrative.' Northern giraffes — whose range includes parts of Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic – face threats from political instability and poaching. Masai giraffes in Kenya and Tanzania face pressure from habitat loss, as open savannas are converted to cattle pastures and fields. Considering four giraffe species 'is absolutely the right decision, and it's long overdue,' said Stuart Pimm, a Duke University ecologist who wasn't involved in the analysis. While in the past researchers scrutinized giraffes' spots, the new categories made use of newer methods including extensive analysis of genetic data and studies highlighting key anatomical differences, such as skull shape. What appear like horns sticking up from the foreheads of giraffes are actually permanent bony protrusions from the skull, different from deer antlers that are shed annually. Over the past 20 years, scientists have also gathered genetic samples from more than 2,000 giraffes across Africa to study the differences, said Stephanie Fennessy at the nonprofit Giraffe Conservation Foundation, who helped in the research. It used to cost tens of thousands of dollars to sequence each genome, but advances in technology have brought the cost down to about $100, making it more accessible to nonprofit and conservation groups, she said. According to population estimates from the foundation, the most endangered giraffe is the Northern giraffe, with only about 7,000 individuals left in the wild. 'It's one of the most threatened large mammals in the world,' said Fennessy. Southern giraffes are the most populous species, with around 69,000 individuals. There are around 21,000 reticulated giraffes left in the wild, and 44,000 Masai giraffes, according to the foundation. 'If not all giraffes are the same, then we have to protect them individually,' said Fennessy. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
How many giraffe species are in Africa? New scientific analysis quadruples the count
Giraffes-Conservation WASHINGTON (AP) — Giraffes are a majestic sight in Africa with their long necks and distinctive spots. Now it turns out there are four different giraffe species on the continent, according to a new scientific analysis released Thursday. Researchers previously considered all giraffes across Africa to belong to a single species. New data and genetic studies have led a task force of the International Union for Conservation of Nature to split the tallest mammal on land into four groups — Northern giraffes, reticulated giraffes, Masai giraffes and Southern giraffes. Key studies have emerged in the past decade highlighting significant differences between the four species, said the IUCN's Michael Brown, a researcher in Windhoek, Namibia, who led the assessment. Naming different giraffes matters because 'each species has different population sizes, threats and conservation needs,' he said. 'When you lump giraffes all together, it muddies the narrative.' Northern giraffes — whose range includes parts of Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic – face threats from political instability and poaching. Masai giraffes in Kenya and Tanzania face pressure from habitat loss, as open savannas are converted to cattle pastures and fields. Considering four giraffe species 'is absolutely the right decision, and it's long overdue,' said Stuart Pimm, a Duke University ecologist who wasn't involved in the analysis. While in the past researchers scrutinized giraffes' spots, the new categories made use of newer methods including extensive analysis of genetic data and studies highlighting key anatomical differences, such as skull shape. What appear like horns sticking up from the foreheads of giraffes are actually permanent bony protrusions from the skull, different from deer antlers that are shed annually. Over the past 20 years, scientists have also gathered genetic samples from more than 2,000 giraffes across Africa to study the differences, said Stephanie Fennessy at the nonprofit Giraffe Conservation Foundation, who helped in the research. It used to cost tens of thousands of dollars to sequence each genome, but advances in technology have brought the cost down to about $100, making it more accessible to nonprofit and conservation groups, she said. According to population estimates from the foundation, the most endangered giraffe is the Northern giraffe, with only about 7,000 individuals left in the wild. 'It's one of the most threatened large mammals in the world,' said Fennessy. Southern giraffes are the most populous species, with around 69,000 individuals. There are around 21,000 reticulated giraffes left in the wild, and 44,000 Masai giraffes, according to the foundation. 'If not all giraffes are the same, then we have to protect them individually,' said Fennessy. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Solve the daily Crossword
