Harness Big Data for Health, Well Being and the Environment
Hearing aids slow cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss and at risk for cognitive decline
July 18, 2023 Results from the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders study found that hearing aids slowed cognitive decline in older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss by 48% in a pre-specified set of participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
New study reveals strong connection between heart and brain health
June 1, 2023 Biostatistics researchers at UNC have collaborated on research that sheds light on the close relationship between cardiovascular diseases and brain diseases, unraveling the underlying genetic signatures and inter-organ connections between the heart and brain.
A bubbling innovation for kids with visual impairment
May 9, 2023 Halima Hasan, a graduating senior in health policy and management, is part of App Team Carolina, a student iOS development team that worked with teachers of students with visual impairments to design an app to improve the reading skills of children with Cortical Visual Impairment.
New research uncovers link between neurodegenerative disease and changes in brain shape
April 14, 2023 New research from UNC and Florida State University demonstrates how neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, can significantly accelerate changes in subcortical areas of the brain in older adults.
New UNC study quantifies $562M in financial risk from Hurricane Florence using novel modeling approach that evaluates risk of mortgage default and property abandonment
March 31, 2023 A new study from Carolina researchers estimates $562 million in previously unquantified financial risks arising from property value changes and uninsured flood damages in eastern North Carolina as a result of Hurricane Florence.
Leveling up diagnostics for social good
January 26, 2023 Dr. Sean Sylvia is collaborating on a digitized way to make diagnostic training more accessible for health care providers with a new app called “CollectiveGoodMD,” which aims to test and grow diagnostic skills through gamification and peer-sourced knowledge.
Study links N.C. hog feeding operations to acute gastrointestinal illness
November 23, 2022 North Carolina’s rapidly growing human population is nearly matched by the number of hogs, which at nine million, makes N.C. one of the highest hog producers in the country. Examining the health impact of large hog operations on nearby communities, a group of UNC researchers found significantly elevated rates of acute gastrointestinal illness — with the greatest impact on rural, Black and American Indian populations.
Could an app help scientists understand wildfire smoke’s impact on cognition?
August 16, 2022 With help from the brain training app Lumosity, environmental health scientists found that adult attention spans are significantly lower in the hours and days after exposure to fine particulate matter and wildfire smoke. This finding was especially prominent in the western U.S., where wildfires have been increasing.
Gillings faculty complete innovative Round 6, COVID-19 GILs
August 12, 2022 Gillings faculty have recently completed four GILs, including two from Round 6 of GIL funding and two from the special COVID-19 round of funding. The results of their work have furthered our understanding of energy storage, brain health, environmental exposures, viral transmission, pandemic response and more.
Risk of death rises as climate change causes nighttime temperatures to climb
August 8, 2022 Mortality rates from excessively hot nights caused by climate change are predicted to increase up to 60% across three countries by the end of the century, according to a new study that includes climate research from Dr. Yuqiang Zhang at the Gillings School.
