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Experts warn tiny plastics in arteries may raise heart attack risk

Experts caution that nanoplastics and microplastics may constitute an emerging cardiovascular risk factor, with particles identified in arterial plaques associated with a 4.5-fold increase in major adverse cardiovascular events. Experimental evidence points to inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular injury as key mechanisms.

10 Sep 2025

Early parent-focused programs fail to reduce childhood obesity by age two

Existing approaches to parent-focused behavioral programs delivered up to 12 months of age which aim to combat childhood obesity are insufficient to improve body mass index (BMI) at approximately two years of age, according to the largest study to date on the topic published in The Lancet.

10 Sep 2025

Can cannabis use disrupt women’s fertility? New study finds strong evidence

Researchers found that THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, alters oocyte gene expression, spindle formation, and chromosome segregation, lowering embryo euploidy rates in IVF. This provides direct human evidence linking cannabis exposure to impaired female fertility outcomes.

10 Sep 2025

Specific microbial changes linked to poor growth in children

Malnutrition is responsible for more than half of all deaths in children under the age of five worldwide.

10 Sep 2025

Precision nutrition offers new pathways to slow biological aging

Diet doesn't just fuel the body, it sends molecular signals that can slow down or speed up biological aging, according to a new perspective in npj Aging (Nature Portfolio).

10 Sep 2025

RFK Jr. said ‘everybody can get’ a covid vaccine. Is that true?

When health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Sept. 4, several senators criticized him for restricting the covid-19 shots after promising in November he wouldn't “take away anybody's vaccines.”

10 Sep 2025

Lice pose no health threat, yet some parents push back on rules to allow affected kids in class

Any evidence of lice was once a reason for immediate dismissal from school, not to return until the student's head was lice-free.

10 Sep 2025

New Center for SUNSHINE aims to build aging resilience

America's population is the oldest it has ever been. And though older people are more independent than ever, they face a huge care gap, one that challenges families, communities and healthcare systems.

9 Sep 2025

Global climate warming fuels rising dengue burden across Asia and the Americas

Warmer weather across the globe is reshaping the landscape of human health. Case in point: dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease once confined largely to the tropics which often brings flu-like symptoms and without proper medical care can escalate to severe bleeding, organ failure, and even death.

9 Sep 2025

Kids with fluctuating gut microbiome show poorer growth

Malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under age 5, and nearly 150 million children globally under this age have stunted growth from lack of nutrition.

9 Sep 2025

Special MRI technique predicts onset of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline

A special MRI technique that detects iron levels in different regions of the brain can predict the onset of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in cognitively unimpaired older adults, potentially creating a pathway to earlier interventions, according to a study published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America.

9 Sep 2025

Pesticide exposure during pregnancy linked to higher death risk in children with leukemia

Public concern continues to grow about the harmful effects of pesticides and other environmental pollutants, especially for children. Pesticides have previously been linked to a higher risk of developing childhood leukemia.

9 Sep 2025

Why pregnant women struggle to follow healthy diets despite knowing what to eat

A UK study found that women trying to conceive, pregnant, or new mothers face major barriers to eating healthily, from fatigue and nausea to high food costs and generic advice. Support from family, personalized dietetic guidance, and co-created resources were highlighted as key facilitators.

9 Sep 2025

Researchers reveal why no level of air pollution is safe for respiratory health

A review in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows how particulate matter damages the lungs through oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune disruption. It links air pollution to asthma, COPD, lung cancer, infections, and millions of premature deaths, with no safe exposure threshold.

9 Sep 2025

High consumption of ultra-processed foods increases a sensitive marker of inflammation

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially altered products – like soda, snacks and processed meats – packed with additives and stripped of nutrients.

9 Sep 2025

Study reveals impact of Medicaid unwinding on children's emergency department visits in Texas

As the COVID-19 pandemic wound down, so did the federal government's funding to states that allowed all Medicaid enrollees to keep their coverage even if they no longer would have been eligible otherwise.

9 Sep 2025

Using AI models to improve prediction of CKD's progression to end-stage renal disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex condition marked by a gradual decline in kidney function, which can ultimately progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

9 Sep 2025

Daily walking reduces the chances of chronic low back pain

A study reveals that increased walking volume lowers the risk of chronic low back pain, highlighting the importance of daily physical activity for prevention.

9 Sep 2025

Black adolescents in Canada face barriers to mental health care access

Black adolescents with mental distress are less likely to use mental health services than their White peers, and Black girls are the least likely to access care, according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241733.

9 Sep 2025

Air pollution exposure linked to faster progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Exposure to high concentrations of air pollution may worsen Alzheimer's disease (AD) by accelerating the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain and speeding up cognitive decline.

8 Sep 2025