FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Extended synaptic development may explain why humans are intellectually superior to primates, a new study suggests.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Breast-feeding is associated with improved lung function in school-age children, particularly those with asthmatic mothers, a new study says.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Areas in the United States where people have the highest risk of contracting Lyme disease are pinpointed in a new map created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

FRIDAY. Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The babies of women who develop an epidural-related fever while in labor are at greater risk of having problems right at birth, including poor muscle tone, breathing difficulties, low Apgar scores and seizures, a new study suggests.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- People who start using hard drugs -- such as cocaine, opiates and amphetamines -- as young adults and continue to use them into their 50s have a fivefold increased risk of early death, researchers report.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetes is associated with hearing loss in women, especially if the blood sugar disease isn't well-controlled, new research indicates.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Soy supplements do not protect women against breast cancer, a new study suggests.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- A major head-to-head trial finds that aspirin is equally as good as warfarin in preventing stroke and death in heart failure patients.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- While a clot-busting medication can often help stop a stroke in its tracks if it's given promptly, a new study finds that a high number of stroke victims continue to fail to get to the emergency room quickly enough to get the drug.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- People who consume a few alcoholic drinks a day and have a family history of colorectal cancer are at increased risk for developing colon cancer, new research suggests.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- A smaller plate won't help you eat less, says a new study that challenges a widely held belief.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Norovirus was the most common culprit responsible for infection outbreaks in U.S. hospitals in 2008 and 2009, new research finds.

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Malaria killed 1.2 million people worldwide in 2010, a figure nearly double other estimates, a new study says.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- A series of specific "yes" or "no" questions could help doctors distinguish between people who have normal memory loss that comes with age and those with a condition known as amnestic mild cognitive impairment, according to a new study.

FRIDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Depression can be a tough condition to diagnose accurately, but new research suggests that someday a blood test might help.

(HealthDay News) -- Preparations for successful breast-feeding begin during pregnancy.

(HealthDay News) -- Toddler tantrums can challenge even the most patient parent, but being firm and consistent can help you discipline your toddler in an effective, loving way.