Author: John

It may seem easy to ask what a 14-year-old girl’s “perfect weight” is, but the answer is not at all straightforward. Growth spurts, hormonal changes, and metabolic oscillations are all hallmarks of the incredibly dynamic adolescent stage. At this point in life, weight is more a reflection of ongoing development than a fixed goal. The emphasis should be on proportionate growth, personal health history, and physical maturity rather than a single figure. A 14-year-old girl usually weighs between 49 and 52 kg, based on pediatric averages. Clinical evidence, however, indicates that a healthy weight range can logically range from 45…

Few people can understand the life that Abby and Brittany Hensel have spent decades leading, and even fewer would persevere with such grace. Despite being born in 1990 with dicephalic parapagus, a rare condition in which two heads share one body, they have never complied with social norms or standard medical expectations. They have made the decision to create a new normal rather than living as an exception. Their shared life is characterized by strategy, adaptation, and an unwavering bond that has changed public perception over time, rather than by limitations. The twins had a particularly important surgery at Gillette…

Because she is six feet seven, Lauren Betts’s height always made her presence known before she did. Even though her height was impressive on court, it hardly ever reflected how she felt on the inside. Betts struggled from an early age with a sense of not quite fitting in, frequently combining insecurity and power in equal measure. For a while, basketball provided her with guidance. However, the pressure of expectations, particularly as the top high school recruit in the country, gradually turned that course into a liability. The thrill of committing to Stanford faded more quickly than expected. Her once-safe…

One of the most puzzling and emotionally devastating hereditary brain disorders that modern neurology is aware of is Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease, or GSS for short. Clinicians describe GSS as a rare prion disease that doesn’t show symptoms right away and frequently goes unnoticed by diagnostics. Rather, it quietly simmers for years, waiting to upend lives with a disconcerting mix of cognitive decline and motor dysfunction. The disease starts slowly, maybe with a small trip on a staircase or a strange stumble on a morning walk. It’s strikingly similar to a slow-burning fuse. Beneath those commonplace accidents, however, is a genetic time…

A confusing disorder that suddenly upends children’s lives, pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) poses difficulties for both families and medical professionals. At least two additional neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, irritability, or tics, are present in PANS, which is characterized by the abrupt onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or restrictive eating behaviors. When a child’s behavior changes so quickly, parents are frequently left looking for solutions and successful interventions. ​ Although the precise cause of PANS is still unknown, infections, metabolic disorders, or inflammatory responses are frequently linked to it. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS)…

The central and autonomic nervous systems of the body are affected by Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare and progressive neurodegenerative disease. Think of the nervous system as a complicated orchestra. In MSA, the conductor malfunctions, resulting in a flurry of symptoms that impact involuntary processes like blood pressure regulation and bladder control, as well as movement and balance. MSA, which usually manifests in the 50s or 60s, progresses more quickly than Parkinson’s disease and poses a significant obstacle for those who are diagnosed. ​ Because MSA’s symptoms can be confused with those of other neurological disorders, most notably Parkinson’s…

Although it is not a recognized diagnosis, the term “football disease” has come to refer to the gradual and catastrophic damage that contact sports can cause to the brain. Most frequently, it alludes to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disorder brought on by repeated head trauma. Years of impacts cause the brain to fail in subtle but increasingly destructive ways, much like a worn circuit board eventually shorts out from too many tiny surges. The silence of CTE is what makes it so eerie. An athlete may feel perfect for years, even decades. However, beneath the surface, tau proteins—which…

While Fabry disease doesn’t happen as quickly as an unexpected illness, its silent persistence can be just as destructive. This genetic disorder gradually affects the body’s most vital systems, building momentum over time like a slow-burning fuse. It results from a genetic glitch that causes the body to produce insufficient amounts of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A, which is caused by a defective gene on the X chromosome. Globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) is a fat-like molecule that this enzyme is meant to break down; however, when it is absent or inactive, the molecule accumulates in the body’s cells, particularly those in the heart,…

Social media was ablaze when Selena Gomez arrived on the red carpet at the 2025 SAG Awards wearing a sculpted navy Celine gown. Both admiration and concern were aroused by her notably thinner figure. Within hours, rumors began to circulate, ranging from encouraging remarks to shocking assertions that she had fallen victim to Hollywood’s purported Ozempic frenzy. Beneath the headlines, however, is a more nuanced and deeply human tale—one influenced by long-term sickness, continuous care, and a growing sense of self-awareness. The consistency with which Gomez has addressed her body changes over the years may surprise those who are quick…

Known for his action-hero tenacity and godlike strength, Chris Hemsworth encountered an unexpected reality check while working on a project that was supposed to test his mental and physical limits. He learned about his own genetic vulnerability while filming Limitless for National Geographic, a show that explores the boundaries of human performance. He carries two copies of the APOE4 gene, a variant that is remarkably associated with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the results of routine genetic testing. This was a possible blueprint for the years to come, not just another health update. The ramifications were immediate and intimate for Hemsworth.…