Health
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Researchers Use Animal Models to Advance Neurodegenerative Knowledge
In the United States, there are 1 million people living with Parkinson’s and 7 million with Alzheimer’s. As the American population continues to age, the number of neurodegenerative disease cases is projected to increase with no current cures in the market. The Isakson Center for Neurological Disease Research at the…
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Fighting Back: Athens Gyms Offer Specialized Classes for Those With Parkinson’s
At X3 Sports training gym off of Milledge Avenue, participants in the Knock Out Parkinson’s Disease (or KOPD) class started their workout by calling out words that sounded like they belonged in a planetarium instead of a boxing gym. “Evil aliens!” “Friendship 7!” “James Webb telescope!” “Lunar!” “Meteorite!” This exercise…
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‘Ticket to Ride’ Underscores Importance of Access, Equity to Trail, Green Spaces
Over 200 Athens-area cyclists participated in the Firefly Trail Ticket to Ride event to increase awareness on the importance of improving access to trail and green spaces. The 14th annual bike ride raised nearly $34,000 for the trail’s expansion, emphasizing efforts to connect residents. “The trail is breathing new life…
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Slow Girl Run Club: Where Female Friendship, Connection Runs Free
On a warm, sunny evening in April, more than 40 women gathered at Fleet Feet in Athens for their Thursday night ritual: Slow Girl Run Club. Dressed in colorful running gear, some stretched while others checked their Garmin watches, preparing for the mile-long run ahead. It was a perfect night…
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The Invisible Enemy: Inside Mental Health Battles Student-Athletes Fight
The signs weren’t obvious. No note was left behind. Many of the details surrounding the pain Tyler Hilinski went through remain unknown to his parents, but they mourn his death every day. The Washington State quarterback was just 21 years old when he died by suicide. Now, Kym and Mark…
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Forgotten Essentials: How Donating Personal Care Items Can Help
For many, buying shampoo, conditioner, deodorant or laundry detergent is an afterthought. But for thousands of families in Athens, these essentials are a financial burden often forcing difficult trade-offs between hygiene and other necessities like rent, utilities and food. Hygiene insecurity, sometimes referred to as hygiene poverty, describes the inability…
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Schools, Mental Health Professionals Call For More Parent Involvement with Social Media
Clarke County School District staff and local mental health professionals called for increased parental involvement in student well-being at the Mental Health Town Hall Monday, referencing behavioral changes related to adolescent social media use. “All social media and the internet just kind of snowballed, and nobody was like, ‘Here, let…
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Religious Contacts, Student Volunteers Find Themselves in Midst of Mental Health Crisis
Rylie Hamilton meets on Tuesday evenings with three female University of Georgia students to discuss a range of topics, from spirituality to navigating the dating sphere to test anxiety. Mental health is frequently part of the conversation. Hamilton, whose role in the Wesley ministry is referred to as “student discipler,”…
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Potential NIH Funding Cuts Threaten Neurodegenerative Research
Possible National Institutes of Health funding cuts remain a concern for researchers and institutions nationwide, including those in the state of Georgia. On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump’s administration attempted to freeze NIH funding in order to review the current allocations and determine which grants and institutions will continue to…
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New UGA School of Medicine Expected to Combat Physician Shortage
The University of Georgia announced the launch of the University of Georgia’s new School of Medicine for 2026 with the intention to help address the state’s shortage of medical professionals. Georgia’s healthcare system has faced a physician shortage for decades, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Thirty-six Georgia counties received a…