You’ve heard of therapy dogs, but what about therapy donkeys? It may sound crazy, but a psychiatric hospital in France says that it works. The patients, who suffer from a variety of mental conditions, visit the donkeys in an animal sanctuary adjoining the hospital. Both patients and staff report significant improvements in their mental health. Presumably these donkeys are happier than Eeyore!
You probably know that the bacteria in your gut can affect your health in some ways. However, researchers recently found that some of these bacteria can directly contribute to the aging and stiffening of blood vessels, which in turn can cause higher blood pressure and increased chance of a stroke. Other types of gut bacteria have beneficial effects — helping relax and repair blood vessels. Who would have thought?
Read more: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-00864-8
