Fairfax, VA, USA. Contrary to previous reports, higher spending levels on medical services means better overall health for Medicare participants, a conclusion drawn from analyzing data from more than 17,000 Medicare beneficiaries.

Policymakers consider limiting Medicare payments in high-cost areas to curb perceived cost overruns because previous reports suggested that Medicare spending varies greatly by geographic area, but with little to show for it.

Bristol, United Kingdom. Thirty percent of women would trade at least one year of their life to achieve their ideal body weight and shape.

Findings from a survey of university women in the United Kingdom highlight that body image issues are not limited to adolescent girls, but affect all women. Moreover, the majority of women surveyed said that more needs to be done to promote positive body image on their university campuses.

Medford/Somerville, MA, USA. There is a basic problem with colonoscopy: when the endoscope is inserted into the colon during routine screening, its tip can impinge against the colon wall and stall the procedure as an endoscopist navigates the scope through bends and turns in the colon.

Colonoscopy is regarded as the most thorough way to screen for colon cancer but the potentially life-saving procedure can also be painful. Scientists and engineers continually research new ways to reduce patient

Chicago, IL, USA. Frequent social activity may help to prevent or delay cognitive decline in old age, according to new research. So if you want to keep your brain healthy, it turns out that visiting friends, attending parties, and even going to church might be just as good for you as crossword puzzles.

The researchers were particularly careful in their analysis to try and rule out the possibility that cognitive decline precedes, or causes, social isolation, and not the reverse.

Boston, MA, USA. Researchers report widespread and increasing use of medications among pregnant women. The study also found that medication use varied by socioeconomic status, maternal age, race/ethnicity and state of residence.

Although a number of antenatal medication exposures are known to cause birth defects, there is insufficient information on the risks and safety for the vast majority of medications, whether they are obtained by prescription or over-the-counter (OTC).