Muscle wasting, or atrophy, is a serious condition that affects millions of Americans. Aging is the most common cause, but muscle atrophy also happens as a result of muscle disuse—after injury or spinal cord damage, for example—malnutrition, critical illness, or advanced chronic diseases like cancer.

Of all the accolades given to Deborah Ann Turner ('78 MD, '82 R), the honor she cherishes most arrived in the mail with little fanfare. It was a certificate from the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care. Through the center's Honor Your Caregiver program, grateful patients make a donation in a caregiver's name to the nonprofit Schwartz Center, known for supporting, educating, and training caregivers in delivering compassionate care.

If asked to list problems that bad gut bacteria can cause, most would likely name digestive issues: constipation, excessive gas, or diarrhea. Researchers are now saying bad gut bacteria—or an insufficient amount of good bacteria—may have a direct link to multiple sclerosis as well.