Millions of Americans are living with the aftermath of having a stroke. A former Miss Arizona talks about her stroke at age 26. Researchers are looking for safer ways to treat strokes when they happen.

The finding that some extremely long-lived people have a gene mutation that makes them short (see “Height & Long Life”) struck close to home for ScienCentral CEO Eliene Augenbraun. As a short child, she was part of a study on human growth hormone that, over time, went horribly wrong.

Scientists have found yet another reason for you to shed those excess pounds. Researchers working with mice have found that obesity lessens the body’s ability to handle infection.

As the infamous Randy Newman song goes, “Short people got no reason to live.” Well, researchers now say some short people might actually be living longer, thanks to their genes. A gene that affects people’s growth might also help control aging.