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New insights into social factors shaping mental health outcomes

Mental illnesses are thought to be caused by both biological and environmental factors in complex interaction.

22 Jul 2025

Low-cost diagnostic tool delivers COVID-19 test results in under an hour

An affordable new diagnostic tool that delivers COVID-19 test results in under an hour could help boost pandemic preparedness in resource-poor regions, according to a team of researchers.

22 Jul 2025

Are 5 million nondisabled Medicaid recipients watching TV all day? That’s unsupported

Republicans defended the GOP megabill's Medicaid changes as targeting a group of people they believe shouldn't qualify: people who can work but instead choose to stay home and chill.

22 Jul 2025

Amid PFAS fallout, a Maine doctor navigates medical risks with her patients

When Lawrence and Penny Higgins of Fairfield, Maine, first learned in 2020 that high levels of toxic chemicals called PFAS taint their home's well water, they wondered how their health might suffer.

22 Jul 2025

Extreme childhood obesity drives liver and diabetes risks

Extreme obesity in US youth has risen significantly, linked to higher rates of diabetes and liver complications, necessitating immediate public health action.

22 Jul 2025

PFAS exposure may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Exposure to a class of synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-often called "forever chemicals"-may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study led by Mount Sinai researchers.

22 Jul 2025

Uranium isotope in urine identified as early warning sign of kidney damage

A new study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health identified that uranium's isotopic composition can be used as a biomarker to noninvasively measure accumulation of uranium in the kidneys.

22 Jul 2025

New study reveals distinct form of diabetes in African youth

An international team of researchers has made a key discovery: many children and young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may have a different form of the disease - one not caused by the immune system, unlike classic T1D.

21 Jul 2025

AI and wastewater surveillance unite to detect emerging viruses

Wastewater surveillance became a popular choice among public health officials looking to track rapid virus mutations and spread patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

21 Jul 2025

Prime editing reverses symptoms of severe childhood neurological disease

Scientists use a precise form of gene editing called prime editing to correct the most common genetic mutations that cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood, a rare and severe neurological disorder that begins in infancy.

21 Jul 2025

Genetic analysis reveals early childhood markers for obesity risk

A new genetic analysis using data from over five million people has provided a clearer understanding of the risk of going on to live with obesity.

21 Jul 2025

Louisiana upholds its HIV exposure law as other states change or repeal theirs

When Robert Smith met his future girlfriend in 2010, he wanted to take things slowly. For Smith, no relationship had been easy in the years since he was diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.

21 Jul 2025

Creatine tops the list as researchers review new ways to fight osteosarcopenia

This review explores how creatine, HMB, prebiotics, and probiotics may support muscle and bone health in older adults with osteosarcopenia. While creatine shows the strongest evidence, all interventions require further research to determine their optimal use.

21 Jul 2025

Goat milk boosts muscle health better than cow’s milk in animal study

Dairy products, especially low-fat and fortified goat milk, significantly improved muscle mass, reduced inflammation, and positively modulated gut microbiota in a mouse model of sarcopenia. These findings suggest tailored dairy interventions could help delay age-related muscle loss.

21 Jul 2025

Why obesity spikes with wealth: The real culprit is on your plate

Economic development drives higher obesity rates worldwide, but not because people move less. Instead, rising consumption of ultraprocessed foods plays a much bigger role than declining physical activity in the global obesity crisis.

20 Jul 2025

Mind-body exercise best reduces frailty and boosts quality of life in older adults, study finds

A network meta-analysis of 35 RCTs found that mind-body training is the most effective exercise modality for reducing frailty and improving quality of life in older adults. Mind-body interventions outperformed aerobic, strength, and mixed training across diverse populations and settings.

20 Jul 2025

One-third of U.S. public schools mandate mental health checks for students

Nearly one-third of the nation's K-12 U.S. public schools mandate mental health screening for students, with most offering in-person treatment or referral to a community mental health professional if a student is identified as having depression or anxiety, according to a new study.

18 Jul 2025