New research has found that mothers with poor sleep quality in late pregnancy had babies with lower weight in the first 6 months of life, but higher weight after age 1-2 years. This effect was strongest in male infants and in babies born at term. The findings from the study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, suggest that incorporating sleep quality assessments into routine prenatal care could facilitate early identification of at-risk pregnancies, and addressing poor sleep quality could be beneficial for the health of both mother and child.

With Western Australia projected to record the nation’s fastest growth in dementia cases, a new Curtin University-led resource aims to help people protect their brain health and reduce their risk.

Brain Health WA — launched during Dementia Action Week ­— is a new resource that translates the latest brain health evidence into practical advice, everyday actions and connections to support services for people of every age and community.

A landmark new collection in leading journal The Lancet is calling for arts and cultural engagement to become an integral part of how health is understood, promoted and delivered worldwide. The new global framework calls for the arts to be integrated across health promotion, prevention, public health and clinical care.

A UCLA Health study suggests that a commonly used strategy in cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce activity in the brain's sensory regions in autistic children and teens.